Being called "Skinny", "Slim", etc...

Okay, I know 120 pounds ago I would have laughed at the thought of being called any one of these things but lately it's starting to get to me. I'm noticing it comes mostly from people I don't consider myself too close to, like at work or casually around people I only run into once in a while.

I'm just wondering what others think about it. Does it ever stop or do i need to start looking for a new job where people will just see me as a "regular" guy? Sometimes, I feel like it adds to the pressure of living up to someone else's standard on what is an acceptable weight for me. Maybe I'm just being overly sensitive and just need to take it as a compliment...

HEY,
At 420 lbs. and at least 390 for the better part of the last 9yrs. I have been getting that forever...I don't expect it to stop as the weight come off.I consider it myway of being noticed or recognized by my peers as long as it is not being done out of spite or malice it dosen't bother me.If it being used as a namesake i wouldent let it bother me, but, if it does bother you just politely(or NOT)ask then to stop
Thanx,
TED

At first I took it as a compliment and I kinda thought it was cool. Now that I feel like I've steadied out, as far as size is concerned, I just want to be regular. There are a lot of new employees that never knew me big so for them, all this calling me "skinny" and whatnot leads to questions which leads to feelings of being uncomfortable.

Brian:

I know what you mean, I've been called a lot of things in my life, but until recently, skinny wasn't on that list...

Like you, I wish people could see me as just a regular guy, because that's how I looked at myself when I was bigger, and the way I want to see myself now.  I don't know about anyone else, but part of the hangup I have with being called 'skinny' and being told I 'look so much better' says to me that these same people must have thought I was a fat slob who looked horrible before, but were just too nice to say it in front of me.  Maybe I'm paranoid or overly sensitive, too.  People want to be complimentary, I suppose, when they see someone make a positive change.  I try to look at it like that.  And, I guess once everyone sees you, its bound to stop sooner or later.

I know that I looked forward to the day I would be a 'regular' guy since i decided on WLS, and I don't want to go back, and I bet you feel the same way.  Its just that I wasn't  completely prepared for the changes, and that's because I didn't know what was ahead.  Shoot, there is a lot of pressure out there:  fighting head hunger, wardrobe changes, proper eating habits, exercise routines, relationship struggles, etc.  I think that contributes a lot to being self-conscious about everything around us.

Just my 2 cents, guess you can tell I've had this on my mind, too.  Thanks for your post.

You guys are all new to this.   At the point you guys are at you are overly sensitive mostly because of the steady stream of hormones being released from your fat cells and bombarding your body.  You are overly sensitive, but you can't help it.  Hang in there, it won't be long and no one will remember how you looked when you were fat, and your hormones will be back to normal.

My friends at work now refer to me as "Slim Jim".  I think it is there way of trying to support me.  The people I don't consider a real friend really don't say anything.  The funny thing is that about 2 weeks ago I found some pre-op pictures and brought them into work one day.  The pictures blew me away, I can't believe how much I have change, I really looked awful and I never thought I looked all that bad.  The common comment I got was that no one remembered me being that large.

Hey, that's funny because I got the exact same comment on some of my "before" pics. They all said they never saw me like that. I guess that is nice, coming from people who I see as good friends.

C_Buck, I'm glad I'm not the only one. A lot of the people saying that to me are big themselves and probably need some surgical help, I guess that's why it bothers me more some time.


Blazade, you're probably right about the hormone imbalance. Can't wait till I just get to the point where I even out. I have probably about 10-15 more pounds of fat I can possibly eliminate so hopefully the hormones will start getting in check.

I do find myself being overly sensitive about a lot of things but I keep myself in check and don't get too reactive.

 I've posted before how the moniker"Slim", being used facetiously in reference to me in my younger days by our small town pharmacist, kinda makes me bristle still.      There is a stocker at my local WalMart who calls me that as a greeting in passing, and I can only think (and hope) he remembers me from my pre-op days and is calling me that as a compliment (he is rail thin himself, btw).   

   Odd coincidence ..   maybe it's part of a "trend"?   

I've been getting this at work as well.  I know i am being sensitive, but it kinda annoys me because, i am no where near skinny or slim with at least another 100 lbs to drop.  I temper it by realizing that they are really seeing a big difference in me, but when I look in the mirror, I say "Man, i still have some work to do".