How to talk to people who are concerned about your weight loss

If it’s not people telling you that you’re too fat and you eat too much, it’s people telling you that you’re too thin and need to eat a sandwich.

Why are other people concerned with your weight?

It can be frustrating, if you are above a certain weight you have the media, the NHS, even people on the street telling you that you need to lose weight.

People are obsessed with our weight. And you’ll notice two things

Strangers are obsessed with how big you are.
Family and friends are obsessed with how small you are.

“You work out too much.”

“You’re obsessed with eating healthy.”

“You never take a day off.”

“You’re getting an eating disorder.”

I’m a big advocate of throwing your middle finger up at anyone who is trying to derail you by making you question your new lifestyle, especially if they aim to bring you down at the same time.

I am aware though that for some people it may be genuine concern.

If you have a lot of weight to lose it can be a big shock to someone who hasn’t seen you for a while. And while it might be annoying to have your progress celebrations dampened by the worried looks of your loved ones it’s something that should be addressed.

Everyone is aware these days of the pressures put on people to lose weight, and the people closest to you love you as you are, to see such a drastic change might cause concern about your weight loss and think you are taking extreme measures to lose weight.

How to approach this situation

If someone is concerned about your weight loss, find time to talk to them, not at the dinner table, not at the gym. Take yourself away from those situations.

This allows for a more private conversation but also shows them that you’re taking the time to address their concerns.

Ask them what they are truly concerned about.

If it’s food related, explain your diet. Explain how the food you eat now makes you feel much more energised than what you ate before.

Explain that you are eating plenty of healthy foods and you are nourishing your body with each meal.

If it is exercise related, invite them along to the gym or to a class.

Show them what types of exercise you do, how busy the class is.
If you can, introduce them to your work out buddies or your trainer if you have one.
Integrate them into this part of your life and help them to see that it’s not a scary environment.

Highlight the differences between your old way of eating and living and now and how that benefits you.

To sum it up…

It can be easy to dismiss these conversations and think that these people are just trying to stop your progress. But a well timed conversation with someone who is concerned can turn a worried loved one into a supporter of your progress.

Always seek to find positive people in your life, and for those who are a bit hesitant, take the time to help them understand.

Ainzlie Xx