@IK - "Bless your heart" is great cover for almost everything.

I figure I will always be "too something" , so I am really working on trying not to let people's opinions affect me as much as they apparently do. As far as motivations, who knows? I must confess that the explanation that I never go into is the quissentenial jealousy speech. Ack, one cannot really assume that if someone makes a comment is because they are jealous. Believe it or not, there are women out there, who prefer to not be skinny. Most stupid comments are usually motivated by said stupidity. Sending a hug XO.

People seem to be more rude, insensitive and bold in today's society than ever before. They just don't know how to behave socially, and keep their trap shut.
Yes, sometimes I want to come back at them with sarcasm --since that's all they know-- but that's stooping to their standard.

How does this reply sound: "it's none of my business what you think of me..."
(Is it ugly?)

I have been using, "I'm truly sorry you feel that way." when I'm really angry. Because I am. I am sorry they are narrow minded freaks. I just don't say that part. It works really well on the phone with unreasonable colleagues.

People can be really stupid about weight and body shape. I'm not much
of a fan of the "real women have curves" thing either. Real women are
living human beings who identify themselves as female, IMHO.

I don't know if it is just a recent thing, but people certainly seem to feel entitled to comment on other peoples' bodies, no matter what aspect of it they don't like. I'm coming at it from a fat girl's perspective, granted, but I have heard many stories from large people who have been told they are too fat and should lose weight, usually couched in terms of "it's for your own good", and almost always accompanied by unsolicited diet advice. Ugh.

I never have the presence of mind to say it, but perhaps responding with something like "I'm not comfortable discussing my appearance with you" or "I don't want to talk about my body size with you" might help. You will probably have to say it over and over again before some people get it.

(((HUGS))). I'm sorry, Sharon. People can be most insensitive. Try not to think about it, and continue blessing the fact that your body is rid of cancer. Come here and we'll tell you, you look incredible. xo

People are stupid. Big hugs to you!!!

"These are acquaintances and work colleagues who I see on a semi-regular basis, so I have to keep things nice."

Yes, you do, and yet... this wasn't nice for you. In fact, reading your post made me boil, on your behalf. People can be so very rude sometimes.

I usually handle insensitive remarks with humor, with a bit of a sarcastic bite and just enough truth to chase them off and prevent further comments. But, like you, I also like to keep much of my private life, private.

I think that if I were in your shoes, I would smile pleasantly, look them in the eye, and say "How very rude of you." Then I would stare them down and let them stumble out excuses, and if they didn't slink away first, I would quietly walk away. And I would remain polite and smiling and very professional after that, but with a bit of chilly distance. Someone who is genuinely interested in you and your well-being, will find you later, and apologize, or find other things to converse about.

But I don't know how close you are to the commenters, or what your work climate is really like.

I really LOVE the "buy me lunch" suggestion, and the "Bless your heart" suggestion.

Oh! Another Miss Mannerism: "I don't discuss that." Repeat as often as needed.

As a woman on the other side of the weight bell-curve, I wanted to chime in and say that I've found your WIW posts inspiring and encouraging. How wonderful to see women with all types of bodies looking great, living strong and loving life.

So sorry for the insensitivity around you!

Oh hahaha! I'm a type 1 diabetic. You should hear what people say to me. Things like, *Oh, you shouldn't eat.* And they do stuff, like try to take away the table sugar. And they ask questions like how many shots I take a day, as if this will tell them how much in control I am. It would be offensive, except it's reached such a critical mass that it's hysterically hilarious.

People never realise that they don't know what they don't know. These people who commented know you, know something is different, and think they have enough of a view into things to determine what is what. Of course, the human condition is such that we have to make decisions with the information we have - so in a way it's a catch 22.

I would tell them straight up that you're the same weight and have had a mastectomy. For one, it would be hysterically funny. But two, you know, it's a good thing to help people out. Because they pull that stunt with the wrong person, and they'll get thrashed.

That's just rude. I agree that "bless your heart" covers just about everything, but in this case, I'd be tempted to say, "It's none of your business." To be mannerly and considerate, however, I think I'd just say something like, "Bodies come in all shapes and sizes, ya know."

I suffered for years with what appeared to be acne, and many women I knew would comment on what they thought I should do about it. It turned out to be rosacea, and none of the advice they gave me would have worked to treat that, so...

All I remember was how they made me feel... bad.

Keep your chin up and keep smiling! People who make comments like that are ignorant.