So you’re still skinny then?

You know when things change and you suddenly realise you’ve left a golden period? One of the things that most took me aback after my gastric bypass surgery was the comments from here, there and everywhere about my changing size and shape. Then after a while, once I’d been at my goal weight for a bit, the comments stopped. Until now. I guess the rest of my life is going to be peppered with, “So you’re still skinny then?”

Initially the changes to my body size and shape were rapid and noticeable so I’m not surprised people were compelled to comment when I was in the rapid weight loss phase. Some of the comments were funny like, “You’re melting,” and others totally unsolicited and unappreciated like, “You should stop losing weight now.” I guess I didn’t realise until I got this comment recently but I really haven’t missed people feeling the need to comment on my body All. The. Time.

I saw someone I haven’t seen in a while the other day and after the usual pleasantries I had this little nugget of, “So you’re still skinny then,” thrown at me. There’s two ways I can take this I guess and I’ll leave it up to you guys to see what you think. There’s the, “So you’re still skinny then,” which is code for good on you, you’re still doing it, yay you and then there’s the, “So you’re still skinny then,” which is code for I really thought you would have started packing the weight back on by now.

I think it was meant well and I think most of the time people only mean good by the compliments they give us, no matter how backward or backhanded they can sometimes be. I think because of how much I’ve talked about my bariatric surgery and how open I am I tend to invite more comments because it’s not a taboo topic for me and I think it’s great they feel they can talk about it with me. The only issue I have is that I don’t think we should be discussing or policing each other’s bodies with comments like these.

It does reinforce to me again just how obsessed we are as a society on our appearance and the size and shape of our bodies. I try to be really careful now not to compliment my friends on specific physical attributes anymore. I want them to know I love them for reasons other than what they look like, although all my friends are babes anyway, because change needs to start at home right?

So the answer to that is yes, I’m still happy, healthy and at a place where I’m totally comfortable with my body. Am I skinny? Who knows, that’s a very objective term and not one I ever strived for anyway. I will keep up the good fight in maintaining my weight loss, I don’t want to lose the life I’ve gained back through this process. I’m fitter and healthier than I’ve ever been and that’s the best thing I’ve achieved through this whole process.

Have you noticed the comments you get change since your weight has stabilised a bit? Do you think, or even just get the impression, that people are waiting for you to fail and gain weight again? Comment below and let me know what you have experienced, I’d love to know.