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8 ways to deal with negative comments about your weight
Here are eight ways to deal with negative comments about your weight, whether they come from friends, family members, or strangers.
Eight ways to deal with negative comments about your weight include:
- Witty responses:
- Keep some responses in your back pocket that silence the commenters, such as:
- You don't have to be concerned about this.
- Yeah, I am healthier.
- I have things under control.
- My thoughts on health differ from yours.
- I am working with my doctor.
- Diets can rob you of energy.
- I am healthy and don’t deprive myself of foods my body needs.
- Keep some responses in your back pocket that silence the commenters, such as:
- Express how you feel:
- In all honesty, we cannot be offended by someone until we express our sentiments and tell them what they are doing or saying bothers us.
- Many times, people believe their comments on your appearance, diet, or food choices are “useful,” “inspiring,” or simply “trying to tell you what worked for them.”
- You have to inform them that it is your decision whether something will aid you on your path and not theirs.
- Avoid negative people:
- Sometimes, a hurtful remark is just intended to be cruel.
- When your “superiority complex” coworker makes nasty remarks about your weight and talks behind your back, the easiest way to deal with it is to simply ignore it. Most of the time, they do it to trigger a reaction from you. If you refuse to provide it to them, they will rapidly lose interest. Put their childish behavior down to simple ignorance and continue on your merry way.
- Set boundaries:
- You might just simply state, “I'm not interested in discussing this with you.”
- Make it obvious that you do not want to hear the person's thoughts about your physique or eating.
- It can be difficult. Family members, in particular, can be difficult to establish boundaries with because they are family, and the dynamics might be confusing.
- In any circumstance, be direct and forceful. If the person still doesn't understand it, emphasize how essential it is to you that they respect your request to shift the subject.
- Don’t listen:
- Even if you respond thoughtfully to someone's comments about your body (or their own bodies) and how their words make you feel, there may be a tendency to take what they say to heart.
- It's fairly common to think, “Perhaps I shouldn't eat it,” and then try to exercise dietary control out of shame, fear, or guilt. When this happens, it is important to go in the opposite direction of what shame, fear, or guilt tells you to do. Eat your pie and enjoy the festivities to keep yourself happy.
- Walk away:
- Whenever such things happen, you can always excuse yourself and walk away.
- If the person who remarked is a family member or someone you know well, you may already have a sense of their ability to respect your boundaries. Evaluate the circumstance and your emotions. You are not required to participate. You are not required to change the subject. You are free to leave.
- Recognize the good you do:
- Regardless of what others think, you have gone a long way in your weight loss and healthcare journey.
- Only you are aware of the difficulties you have encountered, hurdles you've overcome, and goals you have set and continue to pursue. When someone says something unpleasant, hush your inner critic and recall how far you have already come without them.
- Build a support system:
- Seek people who are positive and inspiring, whether they be in your family, your friends, or those you meet online.
- Remember size 0 or a particular figure is no longer a measure of health and beauty. Upbeat people are energized.
- Optimistic people look forward to their lives. Positive people focus on the positive aspects of life.
- Allow all of that positive energy to rub off on you. Keep these folks in your inner circle and seek them out when others are dragging you down.
Life is too short to let dismissive remarks ruin your day, thoughts, and life. Rise above the ugliness.
Effects of negative comments about your weight
Diet culture is widespread, and one of the most revolting aspects is that it appears that everyone believes they have the right to comment on your weight or physique.
You may receive comments such as you have gained weight and that dress could have fit you better from your family and friends.
Studies report that negative parental comments are linked to poorer reported social support from family and worse self-esteem. Moreover, family criticism has long-term harmful consequences.
All the harsh comments leave you with self-doubt, and you start thinking to yourself:
- Everyone is judging me because of my weight gain.
- I am sure they are wondering why I eat so much when I used to be this athletic healthy fit girl.
- They must think I'm fat and have let myself go.
- Someone asked me if I'm pregnant.
- She was so surprised by my weight gain and told me not to go too far with this.
Sometimes, the words may not be nasty, but they do leave a devastating effect on you.
