"I don't think so but if you want us to eat healthier and get more exercise I'm game"
He said in his post she has put on weight. Why lie when there are many other not lying answers that are much better?
She was underweight before because she hardly ate anything. She's way better now. But some people comment on her change of weight because they compare it to how she was before.
When she was under weight, just tell her she looks a lot healtier then she did and most importantly that you like her no matter what.
With humans it's just like with other animals, you shouldn't be able to see the ribs, you need to be able to feel them, just. (You can go hunt for them and tickle her to prove it ;) )
It´s a trap. She seems to suffer from an eating disorder, so if you directly respond to the statement, you can only lose. No matter what you say she will find a way to turn it around. Instead ignore the "I am fat" part and immediately steer away from the topic. Try something like:
I'm sorry, it looks like this is freaking you out. You know it's not useful to talk about it, right? So, let's do something to change the mood. Shall we (insert activity you both enjoy) instead?
I wish you both all the best!
‘Tell your gf to just ignore it and not talk about being upset to you’ is a great way to ruin a relationship. A woman being upset is not a trap, and viewing relationships as adversarial is setting yourself up for failure.
ETA: This guy can’t stop editing comments to try to make it look like he had less of a meltdown than he did.
You (and the others who downvoted my comment) are completely missing the main point here, which is that the gf is obviously showing behavioural patterns connected to a form of eating disorder, like Anorexia and/or Bulimia.
A woman being upset is not a trap
Of course not. However, a conversation about "being fat", with a person who suffers from an eating disorder is definitely a trap, as long as you are not a specialized therapist.
viewing relationships as adversarial is setting yourself up for failure
I view eating disorders as adversarial, not relationships. Please stop projecting your incorrect assumptions on me.
I am on blahaj, I literally can't downvote you.
'Just don't think about it' is a pretty terrible way to deal with eating disorders as well. Which this might not even be the case, as there are plenty of other things that manifest in a lack of appetite, not all of which are even mental illnesses.
Why are you ignoring the fact that OP said "She was underweight before because she hardly ate anything"? Seems like you are not arguing in good faith. I am done talking to you because you seem either naive, or even worse, pro-Anorexia/Bulimia.
You are inventing a reason for not eating anything when OP said nothing about that, and ignored me pointing out multiple things can cause people to lose appetite. Thanks for not subjecting me to any more of the same, at least!
By the way, people can tell you edited your comment to try to sneakily call me pro-anorexia after I made my comment.
I made up nothing. I simply quoted OP and everyone can see that. You on the other hand are clearly not arguing in good faith and I don´t have time for that. Blocked to prevent further animosities.
Thank Christ 😂
I don't think you have any experience with eating disorders or women in general. Someone who used to be skinny gaining a bit of weight and feeling fat is not "behavioral patterns connected to anorexia/ bulimia". And even if it was, how does "this is clearly freaking you out, let's ignore it and do this instead" supposed to help?
I'll assume you have the best of intentions in mind, if that's the case you really shouldn't be giving advice here because everything you've said so far is harmful.
I don’t think you have any experience with eating disorders or women in general.
That is nothing more than your assumption and you assume wrong. I will not tell you details about my private life, because it´s not your concern, just this much. I have several years of painful first hand experience of living with a women who suffers from severe eating disorders, so I intuitively recognize certain patters the moment I see them.
Someone who used to be skinny gaining a bit of weight and feeling fat is not “behavioural patterns connected to anorexia/ bulimia”.
That is not what OP described though. You are diminishing the facts. OP wrote:
She was underweight before because she hardly ate anything. She’s way better now.
So let´s believe OP and consider that she was not just skinny but in fact underweight, which is a very important and significant difference when talking about eating disorders. Furthermore, consider that the reason OP states for her being underweight before is that she used to "hardly eat anything" which clearly points to anorexia. Now combine being underweight and hardly eating anything earlier, with the fact that not being underweight anymore makes her feel "fat", which points to distorted self perception and misguided body awareness.
And even if it was, how does “this is clearly freaking you out, let’s ignore it and do this instead” supposed to help?
By avoiding a discussion that will only do harm to someone with an eating disorder, independently of what you say to her. Did you ever have a discussion like that with someone who suffers from an eating disorder? I had them hundreds of times. There where in fact phases when I had such discussions on a daily basis and trust me, you can only loose there. Btw, I did not come up with that sentence myself. It´s from a website that gives professional tips about how to deal with people who suffer from eating disorders. I wish I would have known about it back then, when I would have needed it. Instead I fell into the trap over and over again and I wanted to help OP to not make that mistake.
I’ll assume you have the best of intentions in mind
You assume correctly.
if that’s the case you really shouldn’t be giving advice here because everything you’ve said so far is harmful.
I honestly do not understand how, because my intention was the exact opposite of doing harm. Please elaborate.
It doesn't matter if your intention was the opposite of doing harm. Your advice was not good advice. Your experience with someone who had an eating disorder doesn't give you the ability to intuitively diagnose everyone that reminds you of their situation as having the same disorder.
You're making huge assumptions based on little information. Saying people are underweight or hardly eat anything doesn't even come close to automatically meaning "eating disorder". I'm underweight myself and eat very little, I'm not anorexic. If I feel chubby after a few days of binge eating, someone trying to make me stop thinking about it by distracting me like a dog isn't going to help.
Again, I'm assuming your goal is to help so I'm not trying to be rude, but your advice is both making the issue out to be much larger than it probably is (saying she is anorexic/ bulimic while OP never used these words) while simultaneously suggesting he ignore the problem by distracting her. Even if she does have an eating disorder, as others have pointed out, saying things are "a trap" is not a healthy way to look at it, as someone reaching out for help is not doing so to put you in a bad position.
I’m underweight myself and eat very little (...) I feel chubby after a few days of binge eating
I see, so you are probably affected by an eating disorder yourself and therefore biased. That explains your stance on the topic.
your advice is (...) making the issue out to be much larger than it probably is. (...) OP never used these words
OP sounds inexperienced and probably is confronted with this kind of disorder for the first time. So naturally OP describes it without using certain vocabulary and therefore wrote: "She gained some weight but she is not fat at all!" and "She was underweight before, because she hardly ate anything".
simultaneously suggesting he ignore the problem
So you agree there is a problem? I never suggested to ignore the problem. I only suggested to not join in on the topic of "I am fat", brought up by someone with a possible eating disorder. See next point for reason.
as someone reaching out for help is not doing so to put you in a bad position
Saying "I am fat" when being just above underweight, does not equal asking for help. It equals asking for confirmation of a distorted body awareness and self image.
Blocked to prevent further animosities.
Has gained weight is different than is fat.
She could have gone from 97lbs to 98lbs. Gained weight, but not fat.
Yup, I have to make this point to my wife every time she says it. BDD is a bitch.
Wow. Rhetoric is important. You have to convince people. Sometimes that’s doing it with them.
It's not lying. Fat and overweight mean different things in this context. Fat is a pejorative word, carrying a negative connotation. Overweight is a statement of fact
The gf isn't saying, "I'm fat," as an acknowledgement of her weight being over the recommended bmi, she's actually saying, "I've gained weight, and I feel ugly and I'm concerned you won't be attracted to me anymore."
Might as well ask Lemmy how to pass the Kobayashi Maru test, while you're at it.
Might be a tricky example. The answer to that according to a certain cadet is to cheat. Not sure gf would appreciate that.
I always liked Calhoun's solution. Obliterate the Maru. It's either a trap or it's not. If it is, you don't want to leave it there for someone else to fall for. If it's not, you don't want to leave it there to cause a diplomatic incident, and fiery plasma death is probably better than whatever the Klingons / Romulans would do to the crew.
Of course, I don't recommended launching a full spread of photon torpedoes at your gf.
The Calhoun solution? Throw a bald cancerous kid in the simulator?
If done successfully she'll never know
Understand the deeper meaning of the situation and what they are actually looking for?
You know what, other poster that recommendations cheating may be easier.
Edit: or is this a helplessness, try anyway deal??
Tell her the truth (as I understand it you don't think she's fat), but also ask why she's asking in the first place. Offer some support if she wants to lose some weight.
I think open and honest discussion is the best approach here because now you're jus guessing what the real issue is.
I think it's due to comments from people. She was underweight before because she hardly ate anything. She's now much better than before but people keep mentioning how she changed. It's really dumb when people keep commenting about your appearance, but I gets to her sometimes. The same people were telling her she needs to gain weight before. ( we are in a developing country where these comments are sadly so normalized)
It sounds like she is definitely not fat, so you can be truthful and you aren't looking for a way to tactfully say she is at an unhealthy weight. What it sounds like is happening instead is a bunch of busybodies are just stirring up trouble and trying to undermine her self confidence. If it wasn't her weight, it would be her clothes or some other body part they would criticize. (for instance they'd claim she had a weird nose or ears, I had a "friend" comment on my how my knees looked weird and knobby one time. They were and are normal knees. My grandma tried to make me feel like there was something wrong with me because my breasts hadn't come in yet. I was 12. Both of these were people "looking out for me and trying to help" - they were not. They were trying to make themselves feel better at my expense.
You need to make sure she realizes these comments other people are making are not motivated in kindness, even if they are claiming they are. Try to find ways to help her see her worth and to help her ignore the bullying comments by these people.
Because of mainly my grandma, I learned to recognize when these comments were meant to be mean and to not let let them affect my self-esteem. Instead I realized they just made the person saying them look worse.
Occasionally, when they would get a comment in about something, like a big pimple, I would gray rock it and respond with, "yeah, that happens, oh well" and move on. Learning to not give them a reaction also makes it not fun for them after a while and they find other targets or shut up.
Learning to gray rock and not internalize the crap other people are flinging will help a lot. Having someone like you that she can trust to be actually kind and honest will help her reinforce to herself that the other people are just being unkind.
I think make sure she knows you're on her side, and that you don't value the opinion of those people. "I just don't understand why they are so critical of your body and feel the need to comment on you all the time. You're a healthy weight, and you look incredible, its just bizarre that they behave that way. What is their problem? I wonder if it's jealousy, or maybe they've been brought up to be insecure about their bodies, such a shame to be like that, I'm glad we're not like that" etc. Keep trying to reinforce that this is their issue, not hers.
Oh man. That is really rough to deal with. I watched my wife going through what you are and it was really hard on her. I hope you’re taking care of yourself as well as your girlfriend.
I(male, 36) have an autoimmune disorder that really kicked in during my teen years. I hit 172lbs(78kg) at 12 years old and then again at 32. At one point I weighed less than 138lbs(62kg) and I’m 6’4”(192cm). Got some medicine figured out and now I’m 215lbs(97kg), which feels and looks(!!) much much better.
It’s all a bit personal but I know to some extent what she’s going through. It’s really really hard to watch your body change even in positive ways. Hell, I was so malnourished I couldn’t do math in my head for ten years, it’s fucking weird having parts of your brain turn back on and get smarter. She’s probably going through a lot.
I’m not sure I can DM with this lemmy app but feel free to try. At the least I can lend an ear for someone for you to shit on. Everyone needs that!
My best advice, as trite and cliche as it is, would be to meet her where she is at. Talk to her. Find out what’s bothering her. Don’t judge even the silly stuff but remind her to laugh. Remind her that love is about who she is not the skin or body she wears.
She might need to be reminded or shown that not all comments are criticisms. People saying stuff about how she’s changed may be intended to be a compliment rather than a put down but it can be very hard to hear the words the right way.
Also, if you’re in a developing country this has got to suck. One thing no one talks about is god damned expensive gaining or losing weight or just getting health can be. I’ve spent about 2% of my gross income on clothing this year because I put on 25lbs(11kg) and I make around the Canadian median wage. The conflict of guilt around being an expensive person or feeling like crap in your clothes is hard. It feels stupid and invalid but it’s this constant ache of budget vs feeling like you don’t want to be seen. Maybe take her shopping if you can?
"Even if you have gained weight you still look beautiful. If you feel you need to lose weight let me know if there is anything I can do to help."
Very thin ice
Even if you have gained weight
You already lost by the time you get to that part of the sentence.
After having some nice intimate time, during the quiet afterglow, ask her how her self esteem has been lately. Maybe she's feeling down and wants to talk about it.
Once her feelings are in the open it will be easier to feel out a solution.
“I want you to be happy with your body, if you need me to reassure you about how attractive you are I can, or if you want me to support you with changing your weight I can. I love you and your body”
At least that’s basically where I go as a woman with a healthy weight but body image issues for not being underweight and a wife who gained a lot of weight over the pandemic and a girlfriend who is in the “needs to lose weight for her health” range.
"I know a trap when I see one"
A strange game. The only winning move is not to play.
My partner flat asked if I still find her as attractive as I used to. After some thought I said the following, "I don't think that's fair. You're asking me to rate someone I care about so much. I don't want to do that. I love you and just want to be there for you, with you."
Tbh, I don't know what the right answer might be for others. I'm not that wise. All I know for certain is how I feel and hoped that was enough. It was, though I am sad that I can't take her self-esteem and tear away those damn chains that hold it back from growing.
That's what I say as well and not just to those sort of questions.
'I'm not gonna answer that since there's no upside to it regardless of what I say.'
It's my go to for unfair questions/questions my opinion doesn't matter in.
I am hung up about weight like this. Spent so long on the far side of skinny that smack in the middle of healthy makes me feel I look fat. I do say I am fat, I know objectively that is not true but I miss being too skinny. Just venting really.
I think just say that she is built great now, and you like it, but it's her body. She probably isn't worried that YOU think she's fat. She is bothered because SHE thinks she's fat.
Slam your fist on the counter and shout " I'm fatter, dammit!"
Tilt your head down to her stomach and coo "om nom nom" playfully
"Fuck I love your curves"
Or ask if they want a back rub. Gets you out of alot.
Start going on walks with her as a date. Cut down on the carbs with her during meals.
Nah, this is sleezy. She will catch on and it will only amplify her fears that she has to be thin to be attractive. Ask of tho so what she wants to do first?
First, try to understand what's actually being said here. Sometimes I call myself fat because I'm above my target weight. But in my case my self-esteem is just fine: I'm a former gym rat who knows where I am, what I need to do to get back in shape, and that I'm still okay if I don't get there. Saying "I'm fat" is a light jab at myself and a reminder to take steps toward my goals, nothing to worry about.
If your GF is calling herself fat more hurtfully (which is sadly common) the issue is not how fat she is or isn't. That's just a symptom. The issue is whatever negative feeling is prompting her to tear herself down. Arguing with her about whether she's actually fat won't help with that, and might even do more harm than good. Maybe ask her how she's doing, remind her that you love her just the way she is.
"I love all of you"
"No, you look fucking awesome."
IT'S A TRAP! I don't have an answer. I just want to wish you the best.
Whatever you do, don't reply "not that fat"
Sometimes people will say something negative about themselves because they're hoping you will say something positive, instead. I used to do the same thing. Whenever I was feeling insecure about my looks or weight, I would say something negative about myself, because my husband would tell me it wasn't true and would give me compliments that would boost my self-confidence. I don't do that anymore, because it's not a very healthy way to be confident in yourself, but it certainly was effective. Do you think maybe your girlfriend is just feeling insecure about herself? I would talk to her about that to see if maybe it's something she'd like to work on in herself. You can also try to give her honest compliments on a regular basis. It's hard for a girl (or guy!) to feel unattractive if her loved one is telling her twice a day that her shirt looks good on her, or he loves her laugh, or he thinks she's pretty.
I think it's because if dumb people commenting about every little change of appearance. Sadly we live in one of those places where people comment on these things all the time. They told her she is to thin before now they tell her she gained weight. There's no way to win with them, and sadly usually they are close family members that you can't just avoid.
"More cushion for the pushin'"
and
"I like 'em real thick and juicy"
have worked well for me.
"That just means you're plushy like a big ol' stuffed animal!"
Then lift her shirt up and raspberry her stomach.
"okay"
"You are not fat, you are delicious"
Then give her some love bites!
Other than saying things like, you dont look fat to me, i would love you even if you were the size of a whale, etc.
One thing that i find is pretty useful for all people to remember:
When you see other people who are overweight or a but chunky, etc. Do you judge them for it? Do you focus on it and think "whoah look at fatty over there!"?
I don't. Sure, i notice when someone is fat, but only as much asbi notice someone whonis really thin or just a normal weight. It doesn't change how i interact with them or if i would be their friend, etc.
Other people aren't judging you if you are fat. (Im sure there are some, but they are terrible people, and their opinions dont matter)
Most people are too concerned with how they look to notice/care about how you look. So dont worry about it. Just aim to be healthy. Dont stress over weight for looks.
i would love you even if you were the size of a whale
Please for the love of god do not say this lmao
I was being a little silly with that, i was just trying to brush the obvious out of the way to focus on the main point. Although when she asks you would you still love her if she was a worm, the correct answer is yes. So if she said would you still love me if i was the size of a whale, the correct answer would also be yes.
So saying it without her asking is surely ok.
Nah, you've fallen in to a classic trap for men. Even though the answer could be correct under different framing, it's not always okay. The framing matters.
So if she said would you still love me if i was the size of a whale
In this example, the underlying insecurity is about you. She's worried you'll leave her if she's not always at her best. Thus just saying yes provides helps solve the core issue. To be honest it's not a perfect answer, but it's fine.
gf saying "I'm fat"
In this one, the insecurity is not (just) about you. Most likely she's worried about how other people perceive her, or how she perceives herself. Men often assume any concern someone puts into their appearance is for their partner or for finding one, but it's not. Saying you'll love her even if she is fat does not address the underlying insecurity. In fact, it implies she is fat and heightens what she is worried about.
I would advise a hug or something for immediate reassurance and then asking her some gentle questions to gauge what she's really worried about if you're not sure. Literally, "hey what brought this on?". Maybe with a "you look great" leading into it first.
Although when she asks you would you still love her if she was a worm, the correct answer is yes.
Better to put it back reframed in more direct terms, showing you understand the underlying insecurity, but dodging having to be dishonest about the fact her being a worm obviously would change things. Then lighten the mood with a joke.
You are forgetting one key fact. She doesn't want help or a solution. She just wants you to acknowledge and agree with her.
When my wife comes to me with something thats bothering her i always fall into the trap of trying to fix it. But all she wants is for me to say that sucks and agree with her that the subject/object of the issue is shit and maybe give her a hug. Or simply to just listen.
The truth of it is that theres no manual or one size fits all solution to being in a relationship. Men and women can be just as complex as each other and everyone is different.
"You sure are, P H A T! Pretty Hot and Tempting! "
Oh me too
Here in the US there is always going to be messaging telling women they need to be underweight. Having had a friend who died while anoexic and underweight (I can't be sure of the causal relationship but I'm sure malnutrition was a factor) the danger of body dysmorphia is, to me, very real.
I'd say someone's negotiation with their own body is up to themselves and their doctor, but even primary care providers in the US are freaky about weight. Are you a fat lycanthrope with cancer? Statistically your doctor is most likely to fixate on your extra girth.
As someone's girlfriend myself, I'd say acknowledge both her weight gain and the fact that she's not technically overweight (I'm assuming this based on you saying she is "not fat at all", but you can look up some local statistics in your country to see for sure). To me, it would completely mess up my ability to gauge my own size if I were lied to about having gained weight. (This has happened to me and it makes it confusing to buy clothes because I have absolutely no idea what size to try on. Pants look like they'll fit fine and then they're completely wrong in the fitting room.) So tell her that yes, she has gained weight (and that's okay).
One approach to weight gain, if she really has gotten significantly bigger, is that people can be simultaneously fat and beautiful. I won't go into detail, but you can look things up. There's a world of beautiful fat ladies out there.
Another approach is to recognize that society often tells women they have to be beautiful --- but that's not true! Your girlfriend isn't here to look pretty; she's here, like everyone else on this planet, to have some fun in life. So my perspective on it is that I'm not beautiful, and that's fine because I'm not here to be easy on the eyes, I'm here to play video games and go swing dancing and learn new recipes. Similarly, my body's purpose is not to appear beautiful; my body's purpose is to carry me through day-to-day things, like dancing and eating good food and moving into a new apartment. To that end, I go to the gym just to be strong enough to do what I want to do (like lift boxes into my new apartment), not so I can look good for some other person's opinion.
It might not go over well if you were to tell her this right now when she's sensitive to it ("Hey babe, yeah, you're fat and ugly, but hey, you're ugly despite being fat, not because of it! They're two separate things! And also, it's okay you're ugly! You're clearly not here to be pretty!"). But this is a mindset that has very much helped me personally over many years, and maybe you can introduce it slowly to her and explain it in a way she will understand. You know her better than any internet stranger.
Phat like 1994!
That depends heavily on who she is, and what your relationship looks like; a lighthearted response might work best for one person, while launching into a serious discussion about body image might be best for another.
My go-to response when my wife says something bad about her body is to just respond with "You're beautiful." and leave it at that. Sometimes I throw in a "Hey, don't talk about my wife like that!" for good measure.
"No you aren't"
well, just get fatter yourself
Ah, marriage.
It's a trap. There is no good answer. You need to turn around and walk until you pass out. It's over.
I'd say nothing, it's a statement. Doesn't require any response from me.
Whatever you say you'll be wrong.
If your answer is "You are not!" then she will blame you "You are not looking at me at all. Am i not pretty for you?"
If your answer is "Yes you are!" then you are screwed.
If your answer will be silence then she will do the same as the answer would be "Yes you are!" but she will add... you are a coward.
Just tell her it's going to the right places. My wife gained weight during pregnancy but she's hot as hell still, that's what I tell her.
Remind her of how big her hugs are now.
Are you solutions-oriented about it or in the feelings stage?
"no, you're thicc"... then explain to her it's the most popular body type by today's beauty standards... which fluctuates and health and happiness are all that matters... and youd love her if she was a brain in a jar, but she happens to be really hot... something like that
also, get an Australian Cattle Dog... that'll force ya'll to be more active...
Dude if your GF is looking for validation and she’s not fat, your job is easy as fuck here
Making beeping noises when she backs up
Start singing and dancing to “Fat” by Weird Al. Bonus points if you have a few friends with you to recreate the moves in the music video.
"It's been a weird few months. I'm going to work on eating better if you want to join me."
"I don't think so but if you want us to eat healthier and get more exercise I'm game"
He said in his post she has put on weight. Why lie when there are many other not lying answers that are much better?
She was underweight before because she hardly ate anything. She's way better now. But some people comment on her change of weight because they compare it to how she was before.
When she was under weight, just tell her she looks a lot healtier then she did and most importantly that you like her no matter what.
With humans it's just like with other animals, you shouldn't be able to see the ribs, you need to be able to feel them, just. (You can go hunt for them and tickle her to prove it ;) )
It´s a trap. She seems to suffer from an eating disorder, so if you directly respond to the statement, you can only lose. No matter what you say she will find a way to turn it around. Instead ignore the "I am fat" part and immediately steer away from the topic. Try something like:
I wish you both all the best!
‘Tell your gf to just ignore it and not talk about being upset to you’ is a great way to ruin a relationship. A woman being upset is not a trap, and viewing relationships as adversarial is setting yourself up for failure.
ETA: This guy can’t stop editing comments to try to make it look like he had less of a meltdown than he did.
You (and the others who downvoted my comment) are completely missing the main point here, which is that the gf is obviously showing behavioural patterns connected to a form of eating disorder, like Anorexia and/or Bulimia.
Of course not. However, a conversation about "being fat", with a person who suffers from an eating disorder is definitely a trap, as long as you are not a specialized therapist.
I view eating disorders as adversarial, not relationships. Please stop projecting your incorrect assumptions on me.
I am on blahaj, I literally can't downvote you.
'Just don't think about it' is a pretty terrible way to deal with eating disorders as well. Which this might not even be the case, as there are plenty of other things that manifest in a lack of appetite, not all of which are even mental illnesses.
Why are you ignoring the fact that OP said "She was underweight before because she hardly ate anything"? Seems like you are not arguing in good faith. I am done talking to you because you seem either naive, or even worse, pro-Anorexia/Bulimia.
You are inventing a reason for not eating anything when OP said nothing about that, and ignored me pointing out multiple things can cause people to lose appetite. Thanks for not subjecting me to any more of the same, at least!
By the way, people can tell you edited your comment to try to sneakily call me pro-anorexia after I made my comment.
I made up nothing. I simply quoted OP and everyone can see that. You on the other hand are clearly not arguing in good faith and I don´t have time for that. Blocked to prevent further animosities.
Thank Christ 😂
I don't think you have any experience with eating disorders or women in general. Someone who used to be skinny gaining a bit of weight and feeling fat is not "behavioral patterns connected to anorexia/ bulimia". And even if it was, how does "this is clearly freaking you out, let's ignore it and do this instead" supposed to help?
I'll assume you have the best of intentions in mind, if that's the case you really shouldn't be giving advice here because everything you've said so far is harmful.
That is nothing more than your assumption and you assume wrong. I will not tell you details about my private life, because it´s not your concern, just this much. I have several years of painful first hand experience of living with a women who suffers from severe eating disorders, so I intuitively recognize certain patters the moment I see them.
That is not what OP described though. You are diminishing the facts. OP wrote:
So let´s believe OP and consider that she was not just skinny but in fact underweight, which is a very important and significant difference when talking about eating disorders. Furthermore, consider that the reason OP states for her being underweight before is that she used to "hardly eat anything" which clearly points to anorexia. Now combine being underweight and hardly eating anything earlier, with the fact that not being underweight anymore makes her feel "fat", which points to distorted self perception and misguided body awareness.
By avoiding a discussion that will only do harm to someone with an eating disorder, independently of what you say to her. Did you ever have a discussion like that with someone who suffers from an eating disorder? I had them hundreds of times. There where in fact phases when I had such discussions on a daily basis and trust me, you can only loose there. Btw, I did not come up with that sentence myself. It´s from a website that gives professional tips about how to deal with people who suffer from eating disorders. I wish I would have known about it back then, when I would have needed it. Instead I fell into the trap over and over again and I wanted to help OP to not make that mistake.
You assume correctly.
I honestly do not understand how, because my intention was the exact opposite of doing harm. Please elaborate.
It doesn't matter if your intention was the opposite of doing harm. Your advice was not good advice. Your experience with someone who had an eating disorder doesn't give you the ability to intuitively diagnose everyone that reminds you of their situation as having the same disorder.
You're making huge assumptions based on little information. Saying people are underweight or hardly eat anything doesn't even come close to automatically meaning "eating disorder". I'm underweight myself and eat very little, I'm not anorexic. If I feel chubby after a few days of binge eating, someone trying to make me stop thinking about it by distracting me like a dog isn't going to help.
Again, I'm assuming your goal is to help so I'm not trying to be rude, but your advice is both making the issue out to be much larger than it probably is (saying she is anorexic/ bulimic while OP never used these words) while simultaneously suggesting he ignore the problem by distracting her. Even if she does have an eating disorder, as others have pointed out, saying things are "a trap" is not a healthy way to look at it, as someone reaching out for help is not doing so to put you in a bad position.
I see, so you are probably affected by an eating disorder yourself and therefore biased. That explains your stance on the topic.
OP sounds inexperienced and probably is confronted with this kind of disorder for the first time. So naturally OP describes it without using certain vocabulary and therefore wrote: "She gained some weight but she is not fat at all!" and "She was underweight before, because she hardly ate anything".
So you agree there is a problem? I never suggested to ignore the problem. I only suggested to not join in on the topic of "I am fat", brought up by someone with a possible eating disorder. See next point for reason.
Saying "I am fat" when being just above underweight, does not equal asking for help. It equals asking for confirmation of a distorted body awareness and self image.
Blocked to prevent further animosities.
Has gained weight is different than is fat.
She could have gone from 97lbs to 98lbs. Gained weight, but not fat.
Yup, I have to make this point to my wife every time she says it. BDD is a bitch.
Wow. Rhetoric is important. You have to convince people. Sometimes that’s doing it with them.
It's not lying. Fat and overweight mean different things in this context. Fat is a pejorative word, carrying a negative connotation. Overweight is a statement of fact
The gf isn't saying, "I'm fat," as an acknowledgement of her weight being over the recommended bmi, she's actually saying, "I've gained weight, and I feel ugly and I'm concerned you won't be attracted to me anymore."
Might as well ask Lemmy how to pass the Kobayashi Maru test, while you're at it.
Might be a tricky example. The answer to that according to a certain cadet is to cheat. Not sure gf would appreciate that.
I always liked Calhoun's solution. Obliterate the Maru. It's either a trap or it's not. If it is, you don't want to leave it there for someone else to fall for. If it's not, you don't want to leave it there to cause a diplomatic incident, and fiery plasma death is probably better than whatever the Klingons / Romulans would do to the crew.
Of course, I don't recommended launching a full spread of photon torpedoes at your gf.
The Calhoun solution? Throw a bald cancerous kid in the simulator?
If done successfully she'll never know
Understand the deeper meaning of the situation and what they are actually looking for?
You know what, other poster that recommendations cheating may be easier.
Edit: or is this a helplessness, try anyway deal??
Tell her the truth (as I understand it you don't think she's fat), but also ask why she's asking in the first place. Offer some support if she wants to lose some weight.
I think open and honest discussion is the best approach here because now you're jus guessing what the real issue is.
I think it's due to comments from people. She was underweight before because she hardly ate anything. She's now much better than before but people keep mentioning how she changed. It's really dumb when people keep commenting about your appearance, but I gets to her sometimes. The same people were telling her she needs to gain weight before. ( we are in a developing country where these comments are sadly so normalized)
It sounds like she is definitely not fat, so you can be truthful and you aren't looking for a way to tactfully say she is at an unhealthy weight. What it sounds like is happening instead is a bunch of busybodies are just stirring up trouble and trying to undermine her self confidence. If it wasn't her weight, it would be her clothes or some other body part they would criticize. (for instance they'd claim she had a weird nose or ears, I had a "friend" comment on my how my knees looked weird and knobby one time. They were and are normal knees. My grandma tried to make me feel like there was something wrong with me because my breasts hadn't come in yet. I was 12. Both of these were people "looking out for me and trying to help" - they were not. They were trying to make themselves feel better at my expense.
You need to make sure she realizes these comments other people are making are not motivated in kindness, even if they are claiming they are. Try to find ways to help her see her worth and to help her ignore the bullying comments by these people.
Because of mainly my grandma, I learned to recognize when these comments were meant to be mean and to not let let them affect my self-esteem. Instead I realized they just made the person saying them look worse.
Occasionally, when they would get a comment in about something, like a big pimple, I would gray rock it and respond with, "yeah, that happens, oh well" and move on. Learning to not give them a reaction also makes it not fun for them after a while and they find other targets or shut up.
Learning to gray rock and not internalize the crap other people are flinging will help a lot. Having someone like you that she can trust to be actually kind and honest will help her reinforce to herself that the other people are just being unkind.
I think make sure she knows you're on her side, and that you don't value the opinion of those people. "I just don't understand why they are so critical of your body and feel the need to comment on you all the time. You're a healthy weight, and you look incredible, its just bizarre that they behave that way. What is their problem? I wonder if it's jealousy, or maybe they've been brought up to be insecure about their bodies, such a shame to be like that, I'm glad we're not like that" etc. Keep trying to reinforce that this is their issue, not hers.
Oh man. That is really rough to deal with. I watched my wife going through what you are and it was really hard on her. I hope you’re taking care of yourself as well as your girlfriend.
I(male, 36) have an autoimmune disorder that really kicked in during my teen years. I hit 172lbs(78kg) at 12 years old and then again at 32. At one point I weighed less than 138lbs(62kg) and I’m 6’4”(192cm). Got some medicine figured out and now I’m 215lbs(97kg), which feels and looks(!!) much much better.
It’s all a bit personal but I know to some extent what she’s going through. It’s really really hard to watch your body change even in positive ways. Hell, I was so malnourished I couldn’t do math in my head for ten years, it’s fucking weird having parts of your brain turn back on and get smarter. She’s probably going through a lot.
I’m not sure I can DM with this lemmy app but feel free to try. At the least I can lend an ear for someone for you to shit on. Everyone needs that!
My best advice, as trite and cliche as it is, would be to meet her where she is at. Talk to her. Find out what’s bothering her. Don’t judge even the silly stuff but remind her to laugh. Remind her that love is about who she is not the skin or body she wears.
She might need to be reminded or shown that not all comments are criticisms. People saying stuff about how she’s changed may be intended to be a compliment rather than a put down but it can be very hard to hear the words the right way.
Also, if you’re in a developing country this has got to suck. One thing no one talks about is god damned expensive gaining or losing weight or just getting health can be. I’ve spent about 2% of my gross income on clothing this year because I put on 25lbs(11kg) and I make around the Canadian median wage. The conflict of guilt around being an expensive person or feeling like crap in your clothes is hard. It feels stupid and invalid but it’s this constant ache of budget vs feeling like you don’t want to be seen. Maybe take her shopping if you can?
What do you expect? Your mom was fat and as you grow older you're becoming her.
This kills the man
If you're still alive at that point, and want that to change, start talking about her younger sister.
#nailedit
nail edit
na i led it
How to get a divorce with one easy step!
"You callin my girl fat you piece of shit?!"
i love this comment. it is extremely funny. /gen
"Is that what we're gonna do today, we gonna fight?"
"Have you tried eating less than a metric fuckton of junk at every meal, ya goddamn ham planet?!"
That'll work.
You have to rebuke her. For real. Go like this:
" Don't you dare! I love this lovely girl here. Don't you dare badmouth her or you'll have to deal with me! "
(and not a word about fat or weight or width or any outside descriptions, because this is only about self deprecation)
You can't win this one.
It’s over OP, she has the high ground.
Yup, whatever you say is going to backfire, make sure you got an exit plan :)
“Phew! I thought you were pregnant.”
“It’s all in your ass tho and I’m an ass man.”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=x7m_QaXkryY
Lmao, damn I’m right there with em.
"Even if you have gained weight you still look beautiful. If you feel you need to lose weight let me know if there is anything I can do to help."
Very thin ice
You already lost by the time you get to that part of the sentence.
After having some nice intimate time, during the quiet afterglow, ask her how her self esteem has been lately. Maybe she's feeling down and wants to talk about it.
Once her feelings are in the open it will be easier to feel out a solution.
“I want you to be happy with your body, if you need me to reassure you about how attractive you are I can, or if you want me to support you with changing your weight I can. I love you and your body”
At least that’s basically where I go as a woman with a healthy weight but body image issues for not being underweight and a wife who gained a lot of weight over the pandemic and a girlfriend who is in the “needs to lose weight for her health” range.
"I know a trap when I see one"
A strange game. The only winning move is not to play.
My partner flat asked if I still find her as attractive as I used to. After some thought I said the following, "I don't think that's fair. You're asking me to rate someone I care about so much. I don't want to do that. I love you and just want to be there for you, with you."
Tbh, I don't know what the right answer might be for others. I'm not that wise. All I know for certain is how I feel and hoped that was enough. It was, though I am sad that I can't take her self-esteem and tear away those damn chains that hold it back from growing.
That's what I say as well and not just to those sort of questions.
'I'm not gonna answer that since there's no upside to it regardless of what I say.'
It's my go to for unfair questions/questions my opinion doesn't matter in.
I am hung up about weight like this. Spent so long on the far side of skinny that smack in the middle of healthy makes me feel I look fat. I do say I am fat, I know objectively that is not true but I miss being too skinny. Just venting really.
I think just say that she is built great now, and you like it, but it's her body. She probably isn't worried that YOU think she's fat. She is bothered because SHE thinks she's fat.
Slam your fist on the counter and shout " I'm fatter, dammit!"
Tilt your head down to her stomach and coo "om nom nom" playfully
"Fuck I love your curves"
Or ask if they want a back rub. Gets you out of alot.
https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/the-alot
can confirm, this is a legit emergency evasive maneuver of successful relationships.
"Hi Fat, I'm nobloat!"
Bring that fat ass to daddy's face then!
Start going on walks with her as a date. Cut down on the carbs with her during meals.
Nah, this is sleezy. She will catch on and it will only amplify her fears that she has to be thin to be attractive. Ask of tho so what she wants to do first?
First, try to understand what's actually being said here. Sometimes I call myself fat because I'm above my target weight. But in my case my self-esteem is just fine: I'm a former gym rat who knows where I am, what I need to do to get back in shape, and that I'm still okay if I don't get there. Saying "I'm fat" is a light jab at myself and a reminder to take steps toward my goals, nothing to worry about.
If your GF is calling herself fat more hurtfully (which is sadly common) the issue is not how fat she is or isn't. That's just a symptom. The issue is whatever negative feeling is prompting her to tear herself down. Arguing with her about whether she's actually fat won't help with that, and might even do more harm than good. Maybe ask her how she's doing, remind her that you love her just the way she is.
"I love all of you"
"No, you look fucking awesome."
IT'S A TRAP! I don't have an answer. I just want to wish you the best.
Whatever you do, don't reply "not that fat"
Sometimes people will say something negative about themselves because they're hoping you will say something positive, instead. I used to do the same thing. Whenever I was feeling insecure about my looks or weight, I would say something negative about myself, because my husband would tell me it wasn't true and would give me compliments that would boost my self-confidence. I don't do that anymore, because it's not a very healthy way to be confident in yourself, but it certainly was effective. Do you think maybe your girlfriend is just feeling insecure about herself? I would talk to her about that to see if maybe it's something she'd like to work on in herself. You can also try to give her honest compliments on a regular basis. It's hard for a girl (or guy!) to feel unattractive if her loved one is telling her twice a day that her shirt looks good on her, or he loves her laugh, or he thinks she's pretty.
I think it's because if dumb people commenting about every little change of appearance. Sadly we live in one of those places where people comment on these things all the time. They told her she is to thin before now they tell her she gained weight. There's no way to win with them, and sadly usually they are close family members that you can't just avoid.
"More cushion for the pushin'"
and
"I like 'em real thick and juicy"
have worked well for me.
"That just means you're plushy like a big ol' stuffed animal!"
Then lift her shirt up and raspberry her stomach.
"okay"
"You are not fat, you are delicious"
Then give her some love bites!
Other than saying things like, you dont look fat to me, i would love you even if you were the size of a whale, etc.
One thing that i find is pretty useful for all people to remember:
When you see other people who are overweight or a but chunky, etc. Do you judge them for it? Do you focus on it and think "whoah look at fatty over there!"?
I don't. Sure, i notice when someone is fat, but only as much asbi notice someone whonis really thin or just a normal weight. It doesn't change how i interact with them or if i would be their friend, etc.
Other people aren't judging you if you are fat. (Im sure there are some, but they are terrible people, and their opinions dont matter)
Most people are too concerned with how they look to notice/care about how you look. So dont worry about it. Just aim to be healthy. Dont stress over weight for looks.
Please for the love of god do not say this lmao
I was being a little silly with that, i was just trying to brush the obvious out of the way to focus on the main point. Although when she asks you would you still love her if she was a worm, the correct answer is yes. So if she said would you still love me if i was the size of a whale, the correct answer would also be yes.
So saying it without her asking is surely ok.
Nah, you've fallen in to a classic trap for men. Even though the answer could be correct under different framing, it's not always okay. The framing matters.
In this example, the underlying insecurity is about you. She's worried you'll leave her if she's not always at her best. Thus just saying yes provides helps solve the core issue. To be honest it's not a perfect answer, but it's fine.
In this one, the insecurity is not (just) about you. Most likely she's worried about how other people perceive her, or how she perceives herself. Men often assume any concern someone puts into their appearance is for their partner or for finding one, but it's not. Saying you'll love her even if she is fat does not address the underlying insecurity. In fact, it implies she is fat and heightens what she is worried about.
I would advise a hug or something for immediate reassurance and then asking her some gentle questions to gauge what she's really worried about if you're not sure. Literally, "hey what brought this on?". Maybe with a "you look great" leading into it first.
Better to put it back reframed in more direct terms, showing you understand the underlying insecurity, but dodging having to be dishonest about the fact her being a worm obviously would change things. Then lighten the mood with a joke.
You are forgetting one key fact. She doesn't want help or a solution. She just wants you to acknowledge and agree with her.
When my wife comes to me with something thats bothering her i always fall into the trap of trying to fix it. But all she wants is for me to say that sucks and agree with her that the subject/object of the issue is shit and maybe give her a hug. Or simply to just listen.
The truth of it is that theres no manual or one size fits all solution to being in a relationship. Men and women can be just as complex as each other and everyone is different.
"You sure are, P H A T! Pretty Hot and Tempting! "
Oh me too
Here in the US there is always going to be messaging telling women they need to be underweight. Having had a friend who died while anoexic and underweight (I can't be sure of the causal relationship but I'm sure malnutrition was a factor) the danger of body dysmorphia is, to me, very real.
I'd say someone's negotiation with their own body is up to themselves and their doctor, but even primary care providers in the US are freaky about weight. Are you a fat lycanthrope with cancer? Statistically your doctor is most likely to fixate on your extra girth.
As someone's girlfriend myself, I'd say acknowledge both her weight gain and the fact that she's not technically overweight (I'm assuming this based on you saying she is "not fat at all", but you can look up some local statistics in your country to see for sure). To me, it would completely mess up my ability to gauge my own size if I were lied to about having gained weight. (This has happened to me and it makes it confusing to buy clothes because I have absolutely no idea what size to try on. Pants look like they'll fit fine and then they're completely wrong in the fitting room.) So tell her that yes, she has gained weight (and that's okay).
One approach to weight gain, if she really has gotten significantly bigger, is that people can be simultaneously fat and beautiful. I won't go into detail, but you can look things up. There's a world of beautiful fat ladies out there.
Another approach is to recognize that society often tells women they have to be beautiful --- but that's not true! Your girlfriend isn't here to look pretty; she's here, like everyone else on this planet, to have some fun in life. So my perspective on it is that I'm not beautiful, and that's fine because I'm not here to be easy on the eyes, I'm here to play video games and go swing dancing and learn new recipes. Similarly, my body's purpose is not to appear beautiful; my body's purpose is to carry me through day-to-day things, like dancing and eating good food and moving into a new apartment. To that end, I go to the gym just to be strong enough to do what I want to do (like lift boxes into my new apartment), not so I can look good for some other person's opinion.
It might not go over well if you were to tell her this right now when she's sensitive to it ("Hey babe, yeah, you're fat and ugly, but hey, you're ugly despite being fat, not because of it! They're two separate things! And also, it's okay you're ugly! You're clearly not here to be pretty!"). But this is a mindset that has very much helped me personally over many years, and maybe you can introduce it slowly to her and explain it in a way she will understand. You know her better than any internet stranger.
Phat like 1994!
That depends heavily on who she is, and what your relationship looks like; a lighthearted response might work best for one person, while launching into a serious discussion about body image might be best for another.
My go-to response when my wife says something bad about her body is to just respond with "You're beautiful." and leave it at that. Sometimes I throw in a "Hey, don't talk about my wife like that!" for good measure.
"No you aren't"
well, just get fatter yourself
Ah, marriage.
It's a trap. There is no good answer. You need to turn around and walk until you pass out. It's over.
I'd say nothing, it's a statement. Doesn't require any response from me.
Whatever you say you'll be wrong. If your answer is "You are not!" then she will blame you "You are not looking at me at all. Am i not pretty for you?" If your answer is "Yes you are!" then you are screwed. If your answer will be silence then she will do the same as the answer would be "Yes you are!" but she will add... you are a coward.
Just tell her it's going to the right places. My wife gained weight during pregnancy but she's hot as hell still, that's what I tell her.
Remind her of how big her hugs are now.
Are you solutions-oriented about it or in the feelings stage?
"no, you're thicc"... then explain to her it's the most popular body type by today's beauty standards... which fluctuates and health and happiness are all that matters... and youd love her if she was a brain in a jar, but she happens to be really hot... something like that
also, get an Australian Cattle Dog... that'll force ya'll to be more active...
Dude if your GF is looking for validation and she’s not fat, your job is easy as fuck here
Making beeping noises when she backs up
Start singing and dancing to “Fat” by Weird Al. Bonus points if you have a few friends with you to recreate the moves in the music video.
"It's been a weird few months. I'm going to work on eating better if you want to join me."
You ain't, but join the gym to keep it like that.