People Treat You Differently

Hi All

Feel like this could be a super long read, be warned. I love reading people's success stories, they kept me keto-strong when I first started. A year ago I weighed 80 kg (176 llbs) and I'm only 5 ft 2 so it was not great . I was clinically obese, really depressed and desperate to lose weight (yet also super lazy and never put any effort into actually getting healthy, so it's a shocker that I remained obese ugh). You know the drill, I came across this sub/reddit thought it was too good to be true and then one day I just started keto (first day I made an avocado chocolate ice pudding/ smoothie thing that was delicious!). I kept it up, really strict keto for 7 months. I slipped up a little sometimes but honestly the weight flew off. I weighed 55 kg (121 llbs)by Christmas last year and it's a weight I've maintained for 3 months now. I am aiming to get fitter and more toned and incorporate more exercise and I am 5 kg away from the "dream weight" I had when I first started, but I feel so much better (anxiety reduced, migraines less frequent and less severe) and more in control of my life and my nutrition. I am working up to posting a before after photo post but I thought I would share some observations I've had during this process. I am not saying these are universal, just my experience

1) I found out who my true support system is (Answer: Myself!) . I actually didn't tell anybody about keto or that I was trying to lose weight, as I didn't want/need people's opinions. That being said, when it became obvious that I had gotten slimmer, I started telling people who asked that I went "sugarfree". I have a work colleague who I had considered my friend would badger me in front of everyone to "just take a nibble" of whatever doughnuts/cakes/pizza that would be brought in as office treats. My own brother would constantly try to tempt me with my favourite sweet treats until I asked him "Why are you trying to hurt me?"

2) People treat you differently, and are generally friendlier to me. Shop assistants in expensive shops don't treat me like a sub-human being anymore. Guys hit on me. When I go to Five Guys one dude behind the counter always gives me a free drink, which is nice. I feel like a large part of this is because my confidence has soared, so I am projecting a more open/friendly vibe. At work, I speak up more in meetings, I am not as self-conscious. As a female in a male-dominated industry, I don't get mistaken for the secretary who makes coffee in meetings anymore. I always used to get asked for directions by strangers (as in constantly, every few days I would get asked by a tourist directions to this place or that). I was told that it's because I am a small woman and don't look very threatening so strangers feel ok to ask me for help. Now, I never get asked, and I am still a small(er) woman. I think it's because now that I look different people think my time is worth more (that I am worth more).

To summarise, people treat you differently..which makes sense because you're treating yourself differently!