Something we seem to hear constantly these days is:
“You’re wasting away.”
Pop round to visit friends?
“You’re wasting away.”
See family for dinner?
“You’re wasting away.”
Take Dad out for a Father’s Day meal?
You guessed it… “You’re wasting away.”
It’s become this endless loop — and while we know most people mean it kindly, hearing the same phrase over and over again does start to wear you down.
For months it was:
“Oh, you’ve still got more to lose.”
Now that we’ve actually hit our goals and are both firmly in the healthy BMI range, it’s suddenly flipped to:
“You’re wasting away.”
The irony isn’t lost on us.
When Compliments Start to Feel Complicated
Here’s the thing – we’re not underweight. We’re not malnourished. We’re just… different now.
Dramatic weight loss changes how you look – your face, posture, clothes, even your energy. But what people don’t realise is that your self-image takes time to catch up too. So when everyone keeps pointing it out, even with good intentions, it can start to feel uncomfortable.
There’s something about visible transformation that seems to invite public commentary – and while most of it comes from curiosity or admiration, sometimes it just hits wrong. Especially when you’re still adjusting to the “new you” yourself.
How We’ve Learned to Handle It
It’s taken us a while to get here, but we’ve learned to manage those comments by focusing on what really matters:
We’re healthy.
We’ve worked incredibly hard for this.
We’re proud of where we are – not ashamed of it.
And honestly, the only thing truly wasting away… is our patience 😅
If you’re on this journey too, know that you’re not alone. Smile if you must, nod politely if it helps, but don’t let anyone’s comments – good or bad – steal your joy.
You’ve earned this.
Disclaimer: This post reflects our personal experience and perspective after gastric sleeve surgery. It’s not medical advice. Everyone’s weight loss journey and healthy range are different – always speak with your GP or dietitian for guidance specific to you.