As I mentioned in my first post, I have lost 45 to 50 pounds in the past year and half. It's been hard work, and I consider it a big accomplishment.  Yet while I don't mind writing about it, I cringe when people start asking questions, because the discussions almost always take an uncomfortable turn. Between the deer-in-the-headlights stares, the gasps of disbelief, the "are you sick?" questions, and the backhanded compliments, I just want to tell people to shove a cheeseburger in it.  (My favorite un-compliment so far has been "Well, my my Chris, aren't you just a shadow of your former self." Umm, okay, yeah, thanks.)