Having gone, ten years ago now, from being a smallfat (I think? 5'1, 145 lbs.) to a normal slim person (about 105, haven't weighed myself in some time but I'm still a size 2/4, depending), I can attest that right after losing the weight there's a period where the thought of eating any calories over the amount you were losing on, even one calorie over, is terrifying. You picture all your hard work being undone in an instant; you picture your stomach expanding again and you going back to constant snacking and bigger portions. It honestly took me about a year to accept that in order to gain it all back I'd need to start stuffing myself three times a day so it was okay to eat something small when/if I was really hungry. I don't worry so much now--I'm still careful, but I don't beat myself up over having dinner and a handful of chips in a day, and if my jeans start to feel a little tight I just cut back until they're loose again. But it was really hard at first, and coupled with whatever other stress she has going on she could probably use some encouragement and the reminder that she really is in control of her weight/her body, and it would take a ton of calories to get back where she was. (Once in a while I do get a little panicky, and it helps to remind myself that it takes 3500 calories to make a pound of fat, so I don't need to stay awake worrying about the second Tootsie Roll pop I had after dinner as long as I don't turn it into a dozen of them after dinner every night.) The thought of getting fat again really is scary enough to make us keep trying to lose/afraid to eat. I agree your friend could probably use some reassurance/encouragement. Especially since she has to work with those fat jealous bitches. My husband's female former boss was a whale; I still think part of the reason she waged a campaign against him for years and ultimately managed to get rid of him was because not only did I lose the weight, but I made the huge mistake of replying, when she asked me how I did it, that "I stopped eating so much." (I went on to explain how I counted calories, but the damage was done.) She did NOT like that, and from that moment on she made my husband's work life miserable. Bitches like that are vicious, and since they do nothing but eat and envy they  5ace   have plenty of time to focus on making others are miserable as they are. Your friend will need all the support she can get.