People Will Comment. You Don’t Have to Smile Through It.

Here’s the other thing no one prepares you for: Once your body starts changing, people will feel weirdly entitled to talk about it. A lot.

They’ll say things like:

• “You look amazing, what’s your secret?”

• “How much weight have you lost?”

• “You’re so skinny now!”

• And eventually... “Don’t lose too much!”

And sometimes, like in many real-life examples from social gatherings or dinner parties, it escalates fast. One guest, a stranger, leads with a loud, “You look so skinny!” Then, before any boundary can be set, comes the barrage:

“How did you get that skinny?”, “You’re not still losing weight, are you?”, “People die on that medication.”, “You’ve lost enough now,” and “When are you stopping?”

All this. In front of a room full of people, and all because your body changed.

Let’s be clear: You don’t owe anyone an explanation. Not for how you lost weight. Not for why you’re on medication. Not for your goals, your progress, or your plans.

What’s happening to your body is personal. That doesn’t change just because it’s visible.

Compliments Can Be Complicated

Even the “nice” comments can sting.

“You look amazing!” can quietly imply you didn’t before. “You’re so slim now!” can make you feel like you have to stay that way to keep being worthy of praise.

It’s okay if compliments feel weird. It’s okay if they make you want to hide instead of shine. You’re allowed to say “thank you” and still feel conflicted. You’re allowed to not want to talk about it at all.

You’re navigating something complex, a physical transformation and an emotional one. Be kind to yourself as both unfold.