Expert Q&A

Does anyone else not like the comments they receive after losing some weight during the weight loss plateau phase

The Emotional Reality of Weight Loss Comments During Plateaus

After helping thousands navigate weight loss plateau phases, I've seen a common pattern: initial compliments about your progress suddenly feel intrusive or even discouraging when the scale stops moving. This isn't unusual, especially for adults aged 45-54 dealing with hormonal changes, joint pain, and the exhaustion of past failed diets. The comments, while well-meaning, can highlight the gap between what others see and the daily struggle you're facing with stalled results, blood sugar management, and energy levels.

In my book The Plateau-Proof Body, I explain how these external remarks tap into deep-seated emotions. Many feel pressure to maintain the "successful" image while internally battling insulin resistance or cortisol spikes that make further loss feel impossible. This mismatch creates embarrassment and isolation, particularly when insurance won't cover professional support and time for complex plans is nonexistent.

Why These Comments Trigger Discomfort

Compliments often focus on appearance rather than health, reinforcing the diet mentality you've tried and failed before. During a plateau—typically lasting 4-8 weeks after 5-15% body weight loss—your metabolism adapts, and fat adaptation slows. Comments like "You're looking great, keep going!" ignore this biology, making you feel like a failure despite consistent habits. For those managing diabetes or blood pressure alongside obesity, it adds emotional burden when progress isn't linear.

Hormonal shifts in perimenopause or andropause exacerbate this, as estrogen decline can increase belly fat storage by 20-30% even on calorie control. Joint pain further limits movement, turning exercise into a dreaded chore rather than a tool. These comments, though positive, can undermine your confidence and trigger old patterns of yo-yo dieting.

Practical Strategies to Handle Comments and Break Plateaus

Respond with prepared phrases that redirect to your sustainable approach: "Thanks, I'm focusing on feeling stronger now." This shifts focus from scale weight to non-scale victories like better blood pressure or reduced joint inflammation. Track metrics beyond the scale—waist measurements, energy, sleep quality—to stay motivated.

To break the plateau, implement my 3-phase method from The Plateau-Proof Body: recalibrate with a 10-14 day moderate calorie cycle (aim for 1,800-2,200 daily for most middle-income adults), incorporate low-impact strength training twice weekly to preserve muscle (each pound of muscle burns 6-10 extra calories daily), and optimize sleep to balance hormones. Avoid restrictive meal plans; instead, use simple swaps like adding 30g protein per meal to stabilize blood sugar without extra time.

Address emotional eating triggers by journaling comments' impact and reframing them as reminders of your resilience. If overwhelmed by conflicting advice, prioritize one change weekly: walking 20 minutes daily despite joint concerns, which can improve insulin sensitivity by 25% over time.

Building Long-Term Confidence Beyond the Scale

True success comes from internal validation. Celebrate consistency in habits that support lifelong health, not fleeting compliments. Many in your situation find that focusing on how their body functions—lower A1C numbers, easier blood pressure management—reduces embarrassment and builds self-trust. Remember, plateaus are biological pauses, not personal defeats. With patience and the right adjustments, most see renewed progress within 3-6 weeks while feeling empowered rather than overwhelmed.

💬 What the Community Says

The community shows mixed but strong reactions to weight loss comments during plateaus. Many in the 45-54 age group describe feeling annoyed or defensive when family notices initial 10-20 pound losses but then questions why progress stopped, especially with hormonal or joint issues at play. A common theme is the pressure these remarks create, leading some to hide their efforts or avoid social events. Most practitioners report that generic praise like "You look amazing!" feels hollow when dealing with diabetes management or failed past diets, often sparking self-doubt. However, a vocal minority appreciates supportive comments that focus on energy or clothing fit rather than scale numbers. Lived experiences highlight frustration with unsolicited advice on "just trying harder," while others note that redirecting conversations helps protect motivation. Overall sentiment reveals widespread emotional sensitivity around this phase, with calls for more understanding of non-linear progress.
Cite this answer
Clark, R. (2026). Does anyone else not like the comments they receive after losing some weight dur. *CFP Weight Loss*. https://ask.cfpweightloss.com/ask/does-anyone-else-not-like-the-comments-they-receive-after-losing-some-weight-during-the-weight-loss-plateau-phase
Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN, FNP-C, APRN
About the Author

Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN, is the founder of CFP Weight Loss in Nashville and CFP Fit Now telehealth. Over 35 years in healthcare — Army Nurse Reserves, Level 1 trauma ER, hospitalist — he developed a 30-week protocol integrating real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 30–90 pounds. He and his wife Anne-Marie lost a combined 275 pounds using the same protocol.

📖 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — Get the Book →
Get Personalized Guidance From the Author
Every weight loss journey is different. Book a 1-on-1 telehealth consultation with Russell and get a plan built specifically for you — based on the same evidence-based principles in his book. Available to patients in all 50 states.
Book Your Consultation →
Have a follow-up question?
More Questions 200 answered
▸ Is compounded semaglutide with B12 worth choosing over B6 or plain: best practices and common mistakes to avoid — what certified coaches recommend? ▸ Is it normal to lose weight then gain again when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? ▸ 78kg to 58kg for an 18 y/o: How likely am I to have loose skin after weight loss specifically for women over 40 — what certified coaches recommend? ▸ How I Lost 22lbs in 3 Months (155→133lbs at 5'8") after not being able to lose weight for a long time if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide during the weight loss plateau phase? 📖 Tirzepatide Micro-Dosing — The practice of using the lowest effective dose to achieve results, minimizing side effects while maximizing the longevi… ▸ Weight loss without GLP-1 — what does the research actually say while doing intermittent fasting? ▸ Crust check 🔥 ribeye done right — what the research actually says? ▸ Thyroid tests all in range— but high calcium — how a functional medicine approach differs during the weight loss plateau phase? ▸ How much keto-ade should I safely drink: best practices and common mistakes to avoid and how it connects to gut health and inflammation? 📖 Diabetes Reversal — The clinical goal of restoring normal blood sugar levels and insulin function, as seen in patients like John who no long… 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ I sometimes feel like people only talk about the obvious symptoms like irregular periods or weight gain, but the fatigue can be just as overwhelming. Has anyone else felt completely drained even: how to talk to your doctor about this: best practices and common mistakes to avoid? ▸ Who still goes to steeplechase — what do certified weight loss coaches recommend for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? ▸ What happens when Has anyone here experienced skin benefits from autophagy for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? ▸ When you want something sweet but still try to keep things somewhat low-carb and how it connects to gut health and inflammation on a low-carb or ketogenic diet? ▸ Do yall ever daydream of who you were before your diagnosis when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances? ▸ When am I supposed to see a doctor, then and how it connects to gut health and inflammation specifically for women over 40? 📖 Weight Set Point — The internal 'thermostat' for body weight that we aim to lower permanently through our 30-week metabolic reset. ▸ Intolerant to sugar - SIBO or something else if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide — what the research actually says? ▸ Those of you with Reta experience how does this protocol look for people with insulin resistance when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ Difference between a 3 day and 5 day water fast for autophagy and the role of cortisol and stress hormones for people with insulin resistance? ▸ Have you cut out snacking in between meals and what are the benefits and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels during the weight loss plateau phase? 📖 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — Our signature protocol using a single 60 mg box of medication cycled over 30 weeks to achieve lasting metabolic transfor… ▸ Have you seen this? Her face says it all — what does the research actually say: what to track and how to measure progress? ▸ Why aren’t obesity medical breakthroughs a bigger deal and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels while doing intermittent fasting? ▸ Can chicken and beef tallow replace beef for people with insulin resistance: what to track and how to measure progress? ▸ What is a super quick "Mix some of this in" to make coconut oil (purely in liquid form) taste ok to make it easy to consume: how to talk to your doctor about this during the weight loss plateau phase? ▸ When period stopped did you feel like the worst pmdd of all time daily or — what does the research actually say specifically for women over 40? ▸ Can you take vitamin D with a tbsp of oil on an extended water fast for people with insulin resistance during the weight loss plateau phase? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ Do you think they read the responses they receive: how to talk to your doctor about this while doing intermittent fasting? 📖 Autophagy — The body's natural 'housecleaning' process that occurs during fasting or low-insulin states, promoted during our mainten… ▸ What can I ask for if estrodiol cream remains in shortage? Newly prescribed-should I even start if I can't refill next month — how a functional medicine approach differs — what the research actually says? ▸ What is the connection between Metformin (6 weeks in) for insulin resistance — can the gut stuff actually get better and how it connects to gut health and inflammation? ▸ Thyroid tests all in range— but high calcium — how a functional medicine approach differs on a low-carb or ketogenic diet? 📖 The Clark Protocol — Our evidence-based framework that combines clinical nurse practitioner expertise with personal experience to solve the o… ▸ How to handle calories vs carbs/fat/sugar and how it connects to gut health and inflammation on a low-carb or ketogenic diet? ▸ Crust check 🔥 ribeye done right when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances? ▸ What are the wegovy doses in order on a low-carb or ketogenic diet if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide? ▸ Im eating so well that I accidently put my body in ketosis and how it connects to gut health and inflammation: best practices and common mistakes to avoid? ▸ Omnipod. Starting an insulin pump help while doing intermittent fasting for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? 📖 Visceral Fat — The dangerous 'hidden' fat stored around internal organs that drives chronic disease and is specifically targeted by our… 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ Omnipod. Starting an insulin pump help while doing intermittent fasting for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? ▸ How does chasing skinny ever get old for long-term results while doing intermittent fasting? ▸ Fitter or kidding myself: how to talk to your doctor about this if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide? ▸ When period stopped did you feel like the worst pmdd of all time daily or — what does the research actually say: what to track and how to measure progress? 📖 Hidden Hunger — A state where the body is overfed but undernourished, leading to constant cravings because the brain isn't receiving the… ▸ I am on my second week of mounjaro (2.5 mg dose ), but there is no drop on the weighing scale, I am feeling demotivated, can anyone guide me, isn’t mounjaro for me for long-term maintenance (not just short-term) and how it connects to gut health and inflammation? ▸ What’s your favorite toothpaste for people with insulin resistance — what the research actually says? ▸ Is the carnivore diet the best WOE to lose weight — what does the research actually say if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide? ▸ Does mental health predict diabetes as much as BMI? Interesting ML study results: how to talk to your doctor about this for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? ▸ Low TSH, Low T4, and Low T3 simultaneously on Levothyroxine — anyone experienced this and the role of cortisol and stress hormones — what certified coaches recommend? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ Beef/Beef organs protein powder: what to track and how to measure progress if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide? 📖 Hashimoto’s Success — Achieving weight loss and reduced inflammation in thyroid patients by removing dietary triggers like lectins and modern … ▸ Has anyone ever tried low-grain instead of grain free — evidence-based answer for CFP patients for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? ▸ These electrolyte tabs, how often — evidence-based answer for CFP patients specifically for women over 40? ▸ 42yom Im finding it much harder to lose weight, what are some things I can do now to start losing weight? 📖 High-Dose Dependency — The pharmaceutical trap of staying on maximum medication doses indefinitely, which we avoid through our smart cycling me… ▸ Why cant i lose weight and am gaining weight when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? ▸ Lost weight not exactly willingly and everybody’s weird about it for long-term maintenance (not just short-term) — what the research actually says? ▸ When do you know to go to the hospital specifically for women over 40? ▸ What actually helps with the dryness when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances while doing intermittent fasting?