Some people - guys especially - are just really ignorant.
This morning I'm sitting in my office, minding my own business. This guy comes in and talks to my co-worker across the hall, and I can tell he keeps looking at me. We knew each other from about 10 years ago when we both went to the single's group at the church I work for.
I really was not in the mood to talk so I didn't really act like I noticed him. Too bad for me. He says, "Hey, weren't you in the singles group a while back?" and I'm all, "Yeah! Hey, are you the guy that lived with so and so?" blah blah blah. And do you know what he says?
"I thought that was you but you are about half your size now!"
Huh?????
And I gave him a look that said, "Oh my gosh...did you REALLY just say that?"
So he says, "I mean, your face is just all tight [did unhelpful hand motions pulling his face back to demonstrate] and you just look really healthy."
Oh, thanks. Because that sounds so much better.
For the record, I weighed 10 pounds more than I do now. I went from 110 to 100. I was such a fattie, geez.
In my early twenties I did not know how to eat. That, plus I had baby fat that literally just dropped off around the time I got married. My friends were astonished, everyone wanted to know what my secret was...I have no real explanation. I started working out and making better food choices. Yet, when I stopped working out (after the wedding was over, of course) the weight never came back. I've had 2 kids and it's still the same. The stomach's not, but that's a whole different issue reserved for a discussion with my future tummy tuck surgeon.
I, for one, pretty much never comment on a person's weight. Kind of like I don't comment to a pregnant stranger about the fact that they are pregnant unless they are literally giving birth. It's just too risky.
A simple "You look great!" will do just fine.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
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4 comments:
That is so funny! Half your size? I knew you then and you definitely did not weigh 200 pounds! I just love those kind of compliments. Kind of like my mother-in-law telling me she likes my recent hair cut, "because you just look SO much better with short hair." Um, thanks...I guess.
Yeah...and when you're pregnant and people say, "You look like you're about to pop!" What they're really saying is, "You look like a manatee!" Gee thanks.
Or when you aren't pregnant and haven't ever been and they ask you how your maternity leave is going and then look at your belly like they don't believe you when you tell them they have you confused with another teacher. Not sweet, people.
Lynnann, you've topped ALL OF THESE.
Steph, AT LEAST it was a back-handed compliment, and not, "Were you in the singles group here? I wasn't sure since you're so freakin' fat now."
Yeah, that would be a lot worse.
And please, could you lose some weight?
jennifer ross
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