With alarming frequency, people say to me, "You're always eating, but you're so skinny. How come you're not 10,000 pounds?"
First, I don't think it's possible to weigh 10,000 pounds.
Second, let's examine the statement "you're always eating."
My husband says that I eat less than anyone he knows. Which is interesting, considering everyone else seems to think I eat like a pig. My aunt actually made the above statement less than 48 hours after I gave birth while she was visiting me in the hospital and I finished the rather large meal they brought me (having just expended massive quantities of energy pushing out a freaking baby).
I could go through my caloric intake for them. I could mention the fact that I drink nothing but water. That I bring a healthy lunch rather than eating the fried cafeteria food. That when I go out to dinner, I usually put aside half the food for a later meal. That I snack a lot, because I usually become physically ill after eating a large meal.
But really, I just don't understand why everyone is watching what I eat so carefully or cares enough to make a rude comment.
It's probably because a high % of the population is overweight. People try to find fault with the normal weight or slightly smaller person.
ReplyDeleteI get the same thing. Not sure why it's socially acceptable for you to comment on my weight if I'm not allowed to comment on yours.
ReplyDelete"You're always eating, maybe that's why you're overweight!"
Actually, I've heard very overweight people say they constantly get comments on what they're eating as well. So maybe it's a matter of certain people feeling like it's their right to observe and comment on what everyone else is eating.
DeleteI get comments, or looks. My kids and I had a special movie night, a rare treat, so I was buying some candy and popcorn and even a box of ice cream treats. The glares I got at the cash register were vile. I'm fat. Not like morbidly obese, but undeniably fat, and people seem to feel the need to make it clear they disapprove of my food choices on the rare occasion we treat ourselves.
DeleteKay: I agree, I think that's really unacceptable. I feel like our food choices are our own business, no matter what we weigh.
DeleteBeing fat is unhealthy though.
Deleteam i the only one who thought that's not a rude comment? maybe they just wanted to know your "secret" of staying skinny?
ReplyDeleteDo they really though? I mean, what kind of answer are they expecting?
Delete"I run 20 miles every morning."
"I have incredibly fast metabolism, so that's why I can eat like a pig."
"I'm going to go vomit right after this."
I think it's just rude to point out to someone that they're eating a lot. What's the point?
I think they're hoping that it's #3 so that they can feel superior to you.
DeleteI don't think there's any reason to ask the question. It would be like asking an obese person, "How do you stay so, plump? What's your secret?" Contrary, to what people think; it's just as hard to gain weight and keep it on, than it is to lose weight and keep it off. While the health problems associated with being too skinny or too fat may be different, there are health problems with both and they can be VERY serious either way. So, truly I think people need to keep their mouths shut! JMHO!
DeleteIt's rude to comment on other peoples' weight or food choices (except, perhaps, as a compliment, or to inquire about where they got something that looks tasty, hah.) Doesn't matter what end of the spectrum they fall on. My sister is tiny, just naturally very small and has a lot of difficulty gaining weight. People are rude to her about that, as often as they are to me about being fat. It's not cool no matter what.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite comments are the ones that imply that anyone with a BMI of less than 24 is not a "real woman" or that if you're skinny then you look like a "prepubescent boy."
ReplyDeleteHah, I never heard that one. Maybe it's hard for people to say that to me when I'm walking around with my gigantic milk-filled boobs... I'm sure you know what I mean :P
DeleteI once knew someone who often said this to me. One day I was tired of shrugging and I replied back "Oh I get lipo every year." She quickly said "Really?? OMG."
ReplyDeleteI nodded grimly.
I guess she really wanted to believe something was wrong with me.
I should steal that.
DeleteDo it, Fizzy! And, then you'll have another entry we want to read! :D
DeleteHaha, go ahead.
DeleteBut I suspect I wouldn't have grown the balls to say that had I not known it would be my last week of dealing with her. Certainly don't want to be 'suction girl'.
Although, she did leave me to scarf down my food in peace afterward.. so there's that.
I would have to agree with you Fizzy. It's quite annoying, or when they ask me where is all that food going? I often times say feeding my cells and body, then to the toilet. They look disgusted, but I don't think none is more disgusted than me at being asked this question. I know some people think it is a compliment but to be watching me eat makes me very self conscious, so I don't eat too much in front of strangers. Which has given me the label of being anorexic or something. IDK, it's frustrating, and I think they should know I am a very active person and no matter if I am eating "nonstop" my metabolism is not going to let me gain more than 5lbs per year which is easily lost during the two days I decide to be a little bit more active than usual.
ReplyDeleteI get the reverse. "You eat so little, how can you weigh so much?"
ReplyDeleteWell, step one, nosey person, nutrition and food break down and storage is a very complicated thing. People who believe it's as simple as "calories go in, get burned" are missing about a hundred pieces in there.
Step two, nosey person, mind your own damned business! Geez, what is it with people who think they have the right to play food police? What is wrong people who think it's ok to comment on someone's looks in public?
(I blame, in part, reality tv and scandal rag sheets. "Oh my god, look how fat $superstar is in her bikini!" With an accompanying picture of a woman with normal curves.)
I blame the spoon you use to cram food into your mouth.
DeleteFoolish Troll! Clearly my spoon is used to sit on my nose!
Delete"Wow you eat a lot and stay skinny."
ReplyDeleteHow dare they?!
The reason it's insulting is eating constantly is not thought of as a desirable behavior. It's sort of like saying, "Wow, you're really ugly, yet you still manage to have more boyfriends than me!"
DeleteMy friend and her sister are both quite skinny (naturally), and once a man came up to them when they were at KFC and starting lecturing them about the dangers of anorexia and he told them that they should eat more ... All this while they were sitting there eating fried chicken lol. AND neither of them looks unhealthy at all, they are just both skinny.
ReplyDeleteI think as peoples BMIs are increasing, people are losing touch of what healthy looks like. I've had mom's concerned about their kids thinness be shocked when I tell them that their kid is perfectly ok. I've seen the same with women who have good body weights where people think that they are underweight. I think we're losing our barometer of health.
ReplyDelete