Dealing with Others’ Opinions of Your Weight Loss Journey
Losing weight and making lifestyle changes in alignment of a healthier lifestyle is a deeply personal journey. Throughout one’s journey, it often draws opinions, advice, and comments from others. Whether it’s unsolicited advice from a well-meaning relative or a backhanded compliment from an acquaintance, navigating the sea of opinions can be as challenging as living a life as a bariatric surgery patient is itself. In this blog post, we’re going to understand the different opinions you may encounter along your weight loss journey, how to navigate them, seek support, and continue to focus on your own personal growth.
Understanding Different Opinions
Throughout your journey, you’ll likely encounter a range of opinions on your weight loss. Some people may offer genuine encouragement and constructive advice, while others might project their insecurities through criticism or negative comments. Opinions, whether they’re positive or negative, can significantly impact your motivation and self-esteem. It’s crucial to learn how to sift through these opinions so you can stay positive and on track with your progress.
Positive And Negative Opinions
Positive feedback can serve as a powerful motivator of support and encouragement. It’s important to acknowledge and appreciate the support from those who genuinely wish to see you succeed. Allow these positive comments to boost your mood and morale and to remind you of your capabilities and how far you’ve come.
Negative opinions can come in the form of unwelcome advice or outright criticism. It’s essential to develop a thick skin and learn not to take these comments to heart, which- we know can be very challenging to do in reality! To cope with unwanted comments, re-focus on your achievements, go to those who love and support you, and remind yourself of the reason why you had surgery in the first place. While it’s okay to consider others’ opinions, balance them against your own values and beliefs. Stay true to yourself and your journey.
Communicate your needs and boundaries clearly to those around you. Let them know how their opinions affect you and how they can support you in a way that’s beneficial. Setting boundaries is crucial for mental health and personal growth. Politely but firmly, let others know when their opinions or comments are not welcome, and focus on maintaining a positive environment around you.
Set Boundaries on Social Media
Social media can amplify the opinions you’re exposed to. It’s a double-edged sword that can offer support but also expose you to negativity. Be selective about what you share and whom you engage with. Surround yourself with positive communities that uplift and support your goals. If you need to leave toxic and negative Facebook groups or unfollow certain influencers that don’t inspire and encourage you on your bariatric journey, be sure to do so! We encourage you to join our positive, uplifting, and encouraging bariatric family inside Banana Bariatrics.
In Conclusion
Your bariatric weight loss journey is a personal path that you navigate, but it’s one that will inevitably attract opinions from those around you. Remember, the most important voice is your own. Stay focused on your goals, seek out positive influences, and use the feedback you receive constructively to fuel your journey. Above all, believe in yourself and your ability to achieve what you set out to do. Keep pushing forward, and let your success be your response to the world.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- How do I deal with negative comments from close family members? Start by expressing how their comments make you feel and ask for their support in a positive manner. If necessary, limit the amount of information you share about your journey to avoid unsolicited advice.
- Can positive opinions also have a negative impact? Yes, overly positive feedback can sometimes set unrealistic expectations or pressure. It’s important to stay grounded and focused on your personal goals and pace.
- How do I stay motivated when I feel overwhelmed by others’ opinions? Focus on your achievements and remind yourself of why you started. Seek support from like-minded individuals or communities that uplift you.
- What should I do if social media comments are affecting my self-esteem? Consider taking a break from social media or curating your feed to include only positive and supportive content. Remember, your value is not determined by online comments.
- How can I find a supportive community related to bariatric surgery? Banana Bariatrics is an online bariatric support community focused on helping weight loss surgery patients navigate struggles before, during, and after surgery. Banana offer weekly support groups, educational courses, and family-style friendships with others on a similar bariatric health journey in a positive, uplifting, and encouraging community.
As a first time responder on this platform, let me first thank you, Kate, for the topic. My starting weight was 358 and following a traditional (2 anastomosis) duodenal switch in July of 2022, I am now at 147, a 211 pound loss. Starting BMI of 58, current BMI 23. The first surprising feedback I had was the utter lack of it. I lost 70 pounds before a single person (outside of my immediate household) asked if I was losing weight. Most neighbors and such are very polite and will simply say, “You’re looking great,” without commenting specifically on my weight. Oddly, my sister, who sees me nearly every week, has not made a single comment about my weight loss or appearance. I have felt hurt by the lack of her feedback, but understand that with my changing body and health comes changing dynamics in the relationship as I was always the “fat sister.” Just as surprisingly, some friends and relatives have now repeatedly expressed concern that I am losing too much weight. It is good to be able to respond to their worries by saying that my bariatric team and other doctors are aware of where I’m at and they are not yet concerned. I am so much healthier than I was, having lost many serious medical issues along with the weight, that I couldn’t be happier. Others’ opinions are truly irrelevant in comparison.
Thank you for sharing this information as it is a very good reminder to us on our journey, that other people’s opinions are theirs, I have learnt to listen to my own thoughts and body and realise that it’s my body and I have to do what’s best for me. It’s no one else’s journey and their opinion is exactly that. Great content as always..thanks team..
Thank you for your responses @april and @melissabeew2aol-com! It sounds like you have good heads on your shoulders when it comes to navigating comments from others. As always, as long as you’re following the guidelines and are doing this in a healthy balanced way, there’s nothing wrong with weight loss as a side effect!
Thanks, April. A helpful phrase I heard once which has stuck with me is, “Other people’s opinions of me are none of my business.” What a novel, and liberating, sentiment!
I love that!!