Author | Message |
Father thinks I'm fat I am approximately 30 years old woman. I am small and my BMI suggests slight overweight even though I go hiking or dancing. I have had weight issues since my teenage years because I felt I was not slim enough. Whenever I lost weight, my relatives applauded me, but shamed me whenever I put on some. I started taking antidepressants three years ago. At first, I lost appetite and ate only once or twice a day. After a few years, I put on some weight. I finished school, started a job and was unhappy at it. I fell ill and had to stay at home for more than a month (psychiatric reasons). Then I found a new job, but was stressed at the beginning. I couldn't eat again, nor could I sleep properly. It's all good now.
But my father told me tonight I have put on some weight and went on explaining how I may be ill because of that (because I have a cold now). I wish he just let me be. He has a stressful job, which means he has panic attacks from time to time, but he is quick to criticise me. Luckily, I don't live with him, but I'm not sure if I want to cut him offf my life. Besides, I would have to cut off more relatives because of that and that would mean I would have almost no family.
What should I do? full lips, freckles, and upturned nose | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
Try asking nicely like: . Otherwise cut that umbilical and let them make someone else miserable. . Don't talk about yourself. Don't give them ammo. . I talk to my parents like a handful of times, each time divert from questions about me that may supply them with ammunition, instead its hey how ya doin, whos miserable, who works more than who, who wants money then. Always other folks. Never about me. Then: .
if it was just a dream, call me a dreamer 2 | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
why do people feel obligated to talk to people who make them feel like shit.... | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
Because they are your family. full lips, freckles, and upturned nose | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
my family became conspirators in the murde rof another family member...do u think i still talk to them? | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
Wow. Well, I don't know, but I wouldn't judge you either way. full lips, freckles, and upturned nose | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
I've never been overweight but I was slightly underweight at one point and didn't really reach a healthy weight until after my daughter was born. But during the 6 months or so that I was underweight I got a lot of colds and other ailments. My doctor told me it would have been better had I been slightly overweight than underweight. In other words, I doubt very much that your weight is contributing to your current illness. Your father probably means well but is just ill informed. I know it's easier to say than to put into practice but the only person who's opinion of you should matter is your own. Your family/friends/strangers on the street don't matter. You are the only one who matters. If you are happy as you are then that's what counts. Don't allow others to influence you in a negative way. You don't need to cut them off completely. All you need to do is realise that your opinion of yourself means more than theirs. | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
FullLipsDotNose said: I am approximately 30 years old woman. I am small and my BMI suggests slight overweight even though I go hiking or dancing. I have had weight issues since my teenage years because I felt I was not slim enough. Whenever I lost weight, my relatives applauded me, but shamed me whenever I put on some. I started taking antidepressants three years ago. At first, I lost appetite and ate only once or twice a day. After a few years, I put on some weight. I finished school, started a job and was unhappy at it. I fell ill and had to stay at home for more than a month (psychiatric reasons). Then I found a new job, but was stressed at the beginning. I couldn't eat again, nor could I sleep properly. It's all good now.
But my father told me tonight I have put on some weight and went on explaining how I may be ill because of that (because I have a cold now). I wish he just let me be. He has a stressful job, which means he has panic attacks from time to time, but he is quick to criticise me. Luckily, I don't live with him, but I'm not sure if I want to cut him offf my life. Besides, I would have to cut off more relatives because of that and that would mean I would have almost no family.
What should I do? Don't cut him off. I'm sure he means well, but reading all of this, it seems like he has issues of his own that may cloud his judgement. So try to not worry about what he says too much. Good to see that you're doing better now, keep it up! Keep enough distance from him and try to stay in touch with him at the same time. Easier said than done, I know! Both my parents are gone and I'm glad that there were no regrets, no "I wish I could have said/done this"... I hope this makes any sense... | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
To me that's good enough reason not to let what your fam say affect you. My family has been openly discussing women's weight and figure my whole life. It's just in their culture to do so and apparently it's not considered "rude" or "sexist" (they're not American). When I was a teenager their opinion mattered so much to me. I strived to be healthy and pretty, I mean who doesn't, even the boys do. And my standard used to be something that was mostly built based on my fam's opinions. Not anymore though, I know it's cliche thing to say but I gradually but surely come to realize it's all about being healthy, self-respect and confidence. Now that I know I'm healthy and happy with the way I look I couldn't care less of what my uncle says about how women should really put a lot of efforts into stay slim their whole life because they tend to gain fat more easily than men and all that yadiyada. I don't hate him or think less of him, I still love&care about him as my family, I just became indifferent to his views his comments. Wishing you'd find the way to do the same:) | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
. [Edited 7/3/18 13:18pm] | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
All you can do is ignore it. We don’t mourn artists because we knew them. We mourn them because they helped us know ourselves. | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
They say it as if you will go "really? I never noticed! Okay, let me control my portions! " as if it is that simple. | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
In addition to it being inappropriate to make weight comments to you in this way, his timing sucked given it sounds like you have started feeling better about yourself again. Perhaps if you don't know whether to cut him off or not means you are not ready to take such a drastic step. I know women who have set firm limits with their fathers about making comments about their weight, and still have a relationship with them. If you not ready to assert yourself in that way, focus your energy on the activities and people that help you feel good about yourself. That is something he can't control!!!! | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
What other people think of you is none of your business. Sorry, it's the Hodgkin's talking. | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
Maybe you should ask yourself the question why something your father says makes you so upset. Its not about your father but how you react to it. People can say what they want, its how you take it. "I wish he just let me be"....your father can do whatever he wants, but you have the power to just be and not be concerned about what people say but you ave to work for it. | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
My father said the same thing to me. Once I bought a shirt and the bottom of it was a solid color unlike the rest of the shirt and he said the shirt made me look fat or well I was getting fat. I think it was from a loving place that my father wants me to be healthy. So I just don't know if your father is coming from a loving place or being a jerk? Though sometimes the truth it hurts. I don't talk to anyone. Anymore that I don't have to. What are you outraged about today? CNN has not told you yet? | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
I write everything down. Cause and effect. What I feel and what my thoughts are to get me into that place. I would deal with someone putting me down business like. If it was coming from a bad place. What are you outraged about today? CNN has not told you yet? | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
I don't think there was anything I could do that my father wouldn't have something to say about it to point out what was wrong. How much can you push back? Cause he sure wasn't perfect and if I got fed up I'd let him know about it! But I don't have my father anymore - and you don't live with him so I would definitely say don't cut him off. Try and focus on building happy memories- next time he says something about your weight ask him to help you by going for a walk in the park or whatever - some kind of activity you can do together. Try and laugh together. If he consistently is saying things to try and make you feel bad - call him out on it. Say "Why are you trying to make me feel bad?" And you feeling bad is a choice. I would question what is really going on. | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
| |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
| |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
I don't like it. [Edited 7/27/18 22:51pm] Palpable on the earth. Flagrant dancer. Net idol (intranet) | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |