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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think this at least in part is in response to my weight loss

55 replies

Tulloch · 01/12/2025 19:22

Hi. So my dsis is having a tummy tuck/liposuction abroad next week and I can’t help but feel that partly this is due to the positive response (from others) that I’ve had with regards to my own weight loss. I know that might sound crazy and that I’m self absorbed but let me explain.

Ok so my sister is 5 years older and although we get on for the most part and we have a laugh when we get together she can be difficult to as she is clearly competitive despite trying her best to hide it. I am not in the least bit competitive and I have never gone out of my way to make her feel inferior in fact I am the one with anxiety, low self esteem and struggle to see my self worth so she really has nothing to worry about.

Anyway back on point. Like I said she’s always been competitive when it comes to various things and one of those things sadly is weight. We have both yo-yo’d with our weight throughout the years but I was always the bigger one until now. I however finally got my act together when I turned 40 and in the 18 months since I quiet smoking, went back to work and lost 7st in weight. All massive and what I thought to be positive changes. Dsis seemed fine with my weight loss until I got to a certain size and she realised I had lost a fair amount and then she started with the comments. Off the top of my head she has said things such as “oh you look incredibly drawn in your face so don’t lose anymore” “your legs really are like twigs” “you really need to eat more” then she’s asked me multiple times how much I weigh, asked me what size clothes I’m in and then scoffed like she didn’t believe me, and when I (stupidly) told her once how much I weighed she said not a chance you look so much smaller than that and tried to convince me to jump on her bathroom scales!

There are many more comments that I’ve endured but I can’t remember most of them but I do remember feeling upset and once she even made me cry once I got home. At one point I stopped making as much effort to see her as I couldn’t be doing with all the questions and comments about my weight. I didn’t see her for a few weeks and I thought nah don’t be silly she’s my dsis so I went round to her house for a cuppa and I was barely through the door before she told me that she’d booked this surgery abroad. I honestly didn’t know what to think but then later thought you know what you’re crazy. Usually I don’t judge what others do and won’t offer an opinion unless it’s asked for but wow just wow.

She is the type of person who will never be happy with what she sees in the mirror so it’s a completely pointless surgery. I doubt I’ll ever be 100% happy with my body even though I’m slimmer but you know what that’s fine. I‘m fitter from exercising and in general my health has improved and I don’t feel the need to put myself through voluntary surgeries. I know people are different and they can do whatever they chose but still I can’t help but think my dsis would benefit more from spending her money on therapy to address her body/confidence issues than on a potentially dangerous and unnecessary surgery.

And what’s more she’s going abroad completely on her own. I can’t go with her as I have work and dc to care for but to be fair I wouldn’t want to go even if I could. She’s going to be an absolute nightmare to care for afterwards but she has her dh for that. Christmas week though however when we all get together her new body is all I will hear about! Oh and just to add icing onto the cake she decided not to tell our parents about her surgery and has lied to them telling them she’s going on holiday to Spain for the week. What’s worse is she’s sworn me to secrecy too! I mean I know it’s not place to tell anyone and I won’t but come Christmas when my dsis is (somewhat) up on her feet again and she decides to share her “secret” with our Dp’s their next question they’ll ask after asking my dsis if she’s gone mad (I can hear my df now) is did I know about this, and what do I say, no?

OP posts:
Vodka1 · 01/12/2025 20:11

I echo another poster, sounds like you're not happy that she's going to end up skinnier.

It reads like you want it to be about you more than it actually is about you.

Ie, shes only having surgery to look better than me - why can't she be doing it for her health too? Vanity or not you should be happy for her, surgery is a massive choice and it's going to make her feel so much better about herself, that's a good thing.

Tulloch · 01/12/2025 20:15

Honestly there are tons of people out there who are skinner than me including my friends and my own mother. I couldn’t care less i‘m not that shallow! I lost weight to improve myself as I was a mess. Now im
not end of story. The side effect of losing weight is yes I’m slimmer and look nicer in my clothes but it’s my health I cared about more. There will always be someone skinner, prettier, richer, than you so my motto has always been to just do me and they do them. With my dsis though her behaviour makes it hard to ignore as she is so impulse, says things to others with no thought if it’ll upset them. So yes she’s hard work but I still love her.

OP posts:
JLou08 · 01/12/2025 20:19

You seem to be lacking in self awareness. You say you're not competitive at all and don't care what other people do. If that was the case you wouldn't be judging your sister so heavily for her having surgery and you wouldn't be linking it to your weight loss. There is a chance you are projecting on your sister and she isn't as bad as you think. Dramatic weight loss can make people look gaunt and be concerning for those around them. If it was jealousy, I think it would be more likely that she would disbelieve how much you have lost rather than think you are lighter than you say you are. What got me to thinking this was projection was you saying that there's no point in her having surgery as she will never be happy with her body, but you also say in the post that you are the one with low self-esteem. Is it actually that you are the one who will never be happy with her body and you are the one who sees it as a competition with your sister?
Even if she is getting the surgery because you lost weight, so what? Why can't you both be slim and healthy? Maybe you inspired her to do it. That's not a bad thing.

Tulloch · 01/12/2025 20:21

Also, she has made no real effort to change her lifestyle so it’s doubtful she will keep the weight off surgery. Her surgeon gave her a goal weight to get to prior to surgery and she told me she is still over a stone heavier than that. They will still go ahead with the surgery so that’s all well and good but I can’t see her wanting to put the effort in to maintain her weight or improve her actual health. She likes a drink and is in the pub quite a bit which I suspect has made it harder for her to lose the weight and I can’t see her giving that up. But I suppose time will tell.

OP posts:
Vodka1 · 01/12/2025 20:24

A tummy tuck is not weight loss surgery OP, do you know that? It won't tackle her abdominal fat only skin, and no surgeon would touch her if they didn't think they could do a proper job.

You are so bothered and it's annoying that you are trying to say your not, you really don't have much nice to say about her eh?

MrsPrendergast · 01/12/2025 20:28

Tulloch · 01/12/2025 20:21

Also, she has made no real effort to change her lifestyle so it’s doubtful she will keep the weight off surgery. Her surgeon gave her a goal weight to get to prior to surgery and she told me she is still over a stone heavier than that. They will still go ahead with the surgery so that’s all well and good but I can’t see her wanting to put the effort in to maintain her weight or improve her actual health. She likes a drink and is in the pub quite a bit which I suspect has made it harder for her to lose the weight and I can’t see her giving that up. But I suppose time will tell.

Read what you type

Actually READ IT

You're trashing her and badmouthing her and your energy towards her is so negative

If that's the way you want to be, no worries, but don't try to bs MN by telling us you're not competitive and you like your sister

Tulloch · 01/12/2025 20:28

I won’t ever be completely 100% happy with my body but the fact I recognise and accept that feeling whilst trying to work on improving my view of myself can only be a good thing. I’m not projecting anything on to my dsis as I simply don’t bring up the subject of my weight. It’s her who does that and I try and shut the conversation down as quick as I can. The comment that my dsis will never be happy with her body simply stems from witnessing her behaviour all of my life. For example on one occasion she got down to 8st, went to the gym to tone and build muscle and she looked great as far as I was concerned but she still moaned on to me constantly that she was fat.

OP posts:
MrsPrendergast · 01/12/2025 20:30

Tulloch · 01/12/2025 20:28

I won’t ever be completely 100% happy with my body but the fact I recognise and accept that feeling whilst trying to work on improving my view of myself can only be a good thing. I’m not projecting anything on to my dsis as I simply don’t bring up the subject of my weight. It’s her who does that and I try and shut the conversation down as quick as I can. The comment that my dsis will never be happy with her body simply stems from witnessing her behaviour all of my life. For example on one occasion she got down to 8st, went to the gym to tone and build muscle and she looked great as far as I was concerned but she still moaned on to me constantly that she was fat.

There's no helping you. You're a lost cause.

I hope you can get some therapy

Tulloch · 01/12/2025 20:31

MrsPrendergast · 01/12/2025 20:28

Read what you type

Actually READ IT

You're trashing her and badmouthing her and your energy towards her is so negative

If that's the way you want to be, no worries, but don't try to bs MN by telling us you're not competitive and you like your sister

I’m not bad mouthing her I’m simply explaining her past behaviour and giving you and overview. She basically thinks surgery is a quick fix and that she can’t regain the weight but she of course can.

OP posts:
Shizzlestix · 01/12/2025 20:31

Is it Nords? The surgeons there won’t allow surgery over a certain bmi (which I think is actually quite high)

I’ve had comments from family re looking haggard and tbh, I’ve only recently decided I fancy losing more and sod the ‘haggard’ comments. Support your dsis, she must be lacking confidence if she wants a tt, it’s not an operation for the faint hearted. Congratulations on losing 7st, that’s a heck of a feat without surgery!

Eenameenadeeka · 01/12/2025 20:32

You both sound really competitive, she shouldn't be making the comments she has on your body and you are very judgemental of her. It sounds like a really unhealthy relationship which is a shame.

KilkennyCats · 01/12/2025 20:33

Thinkingaloud85 · 01/12/2025 19:36

I think she might not be the only competitive one…

This.
Seriously, op, let it go.

Shizzlestix · 01/12/2025 20:33

Tulloch · 01/12/2025 20:31

I’m not bad mouthing her I’m simply explaining her past behaviour and giving you and overview. She basically thinks surgery is a quick fix and that she can’t regain the weight but she of course can.

Very true. A tiny part of me not regaining weight has been not wanting the money I spent to be wasted!

HappyNewTaxYear · 01/12/2025 20:33

FuzzyWolf · 01/12/2025 19:27

Nobody on here will know why she is doing it. You’ve obviously written it with a bias slant to support your theory but it might not have anything to do with you.

It’s biased not bias and of course she’s written it from her point of view… why wouldn’t she?

Tulloch · 01/12/2025 20:33

MrsPrendergast · 01/12/2025 20:30

There's no helping you. You're a lost cause.

I hope you can get some therapy

How am I a lost cause? I explain my dais’s previous/past behaviour to give you an oversight of the situation. That’s all.

OP posts:
5128gap · 01/12/2025 20:35

All you can do is keep your fingers crossed she's done her due diligence and all goes well. As far as your parents are concerned, say nothing, and explain she swore you to secrecy. They will have to respect that. Beyond that, you need to keep your focus on yourself and your own health. Because by giving this headspace you're buying into the competition. When she starts going on about weight, be firm. Say 'Dsis, I don't want to have this conversation' on repeat and don't engage.

PatThePenguin · 01/12/2025 20:35

Tulloch · 01/12/2025 20:31

I’m not bad mouthing her I’m simply explaining her past behaviour and giving you and overview. She basically thinks surgery is a quick fix and that she can’t regain the weight but she of course can.

You're fooling absolutely no-one here OP.

No-one at all.

Brefugee · 01/12/2025 20:37

Tulloch · 01/12/2025 19:32

I’ve not written it with bias at all. Everything I wrote in my post is factual as in it actually happened. Like I said i usually don’t care what people do. My SiL had a breast lift and reduction a couple of years ago and my friend has a tummy tuck and repair as she had c-sections with big babies and muscle damage. I didn’t give two hoots as it was their choice like it is my dsis’s choice except she is the only one who has made me feel sh*t about my weight loss and overall health improvement. So yes it does make me wonder if her choice to have surgery is partly to do with the fact she’s jealous of my progress.

if you say so.

How about you concentrate on yourself and let her get on with her life

alecks · 01/12/2025 20:38

Thinkingaloud85 · 01/12/2025 19:36

I think she might not be the only competitive one…

This, bloody hell OP that’s a huge post of stuff that actually doesn’t matter. Why do you care? You do you and all that.

Tulloch · 01/12/2025 20:38

Thank you @5128gap i of course hope it goes well for her but you’re right that by giving it headspace I am unwilling engaging in the competition that she has created but that I firmly do not want between us.

OP posts:
PinkSkies2026 · 01/12/2025 20:40

You could read this another way - she's inspired by your weight loss journey and wants to lose weight as a result.

In regards to the comments, and your relationship with your body, I highly recommend strength training, it gave me so much confidence.

Re. Your DSis, if you posted 'my Dsis is having lipo-suction and I'm worried about her / the op' then you'd get a different set of answers. I'm not sure why you gave all the backstory.

But also wanted to say well done on your loss- I'd really just put your energy into celebrating your weight loss, and try and care less what your sister thinks or does.

JLou08 · 01/12/2025 20:42

Tulloch · 01/12/2025 20:33

How am I a lost cause? I explain my dais’s previous/past behaviour to give you an oversight of the situation. That’s all.

Read your posts, try and imagine it is your sister posting about you. It might give you some perspective on how nasty you have been about her. Do it again and try and imagine it's strangers, you may see that the things you write put you in the same light as you describe your sister.

InSpainTheRain · 01/12/2025 20:43

I don’t think it’s anything to do with you. Her DH is onboard and will look after her. If you are asked afterwards if you knew then the answer is “yes, but she swore me to secrecy” if pushed just rinse and repeat and say “it wasn’t my news to share and her and her DH were together so I didn’t see a problem”. Job done.

Franklyannoyed · 01/12/2025 20:48

I’m afraid I also read this and thought god how competitive is she. Sibling rivalry at its worst. So then started to read the thread and saw it was obvious to everyone else too.

stop comparing yourself with your sister, her journey is hers, irs not about you, your weight loss or how happy you are or are not about your own body. Nor does it matter what she’s like to care for, it’s not something you will be involved in. So congratulate her and stop fretting about if her body will be better or if you will need to hear about it over xmas

just try to calm down, not make it about you and stop competing.

BauhausOfEliott · 01/12/2025 20:49

Hell of a lot of projection going on here.

Ultimately it doesn’t matter why she’s doing it. It’s her body and she can do whatever she wants to it.

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