I would give ANYTHING...well, except any effort whatsoever

HannahJDiaz25

Conversation with a friend today...

Friend: "Your sooo lucky to have an "athletic" body. I would give ANYTHING to have your body."
Me: "Really? Ok. You can have my body. Just give me 1 hour in the gym of your very best effort and follow a simple, healthy diet I'll help you develop and it's all yours."
Friend: "ummm...."
Me: "No seriously, One hour a day and eat right. You wont be hungry or anything. Diets don't have to equal suck and after a little while, working out becomes addictive. I promise. We will work out together...I'll start easy on you ."
Friend: "I'm thinking about starting weight watchers. And I heard about this Raspberry stuff that makes you lose fat..." * turns away ending the conversation.
Me: :ohwell: What about giving ANYTHING?!? One hour a day and proper eating is too much?? ( I didn't say this...I just shrugged and told her let me know if she changes her mind.)

Now, I am not the most dedicated person (working on that) but I do work hard(-ish) for my body and health. I love feeling energized and strong. I am learning new things about nutrition and health every day. I research. I read forums. I keep track of the effects of intake and output on my body. I try to eat healthy most of the time...

I am sick of people telling me that I'm lucky! I am blessed to have had a mom that taught me self discipline and nutrition and sparked a passion for it in me as a teen, but I work hard to be healthy and stay in shape. It is by no means "luck."

How about you all? Are you lucky? Or do you just work your butt off? Am I the only person this bothers? Maybe I'm just *****y today...:blushing:

eep223

Seriously! I feel like I'm alone in this sometimes, but I always feel super inspired when someone loses weight and when they are asked how say something like "oh, I just started eating better and and I run four times a week," or "I cut out alcohol and I lift at the gym" or whatever. Food and movement. If *YOU* can do that, *I* can do that too!

choface

Yeah, I've had friends in the past say "I wish I could just lose weight like you."

They haven't been there when I was hungry, or sweating, having crazy cravings, or choosing salad over fried chicken.

Or sat at Denny's watching my guy friends pig out while I was drinking water.

I have one friend that has actually joined me and now we have lost about the same amount of weight (almost 30 pounds)

jenifr818

I'd give anything but my daily Coke. I swear, sometimes that's the only thing keeping me sane.

I hear ya though. If only losing weight was so easy as popping a pill

karl39x

That's good that you take care of yourself and try to help others; I personally don't believe in luck, but I do know that people are lazy fat *kitten* that always look for excuses. That is why I work out 6 days a week and eat healthy.

helyg

Only yesterday one of my colleagues told me I was "so lucky" because the weight just "fell off" me. Yup, that's right, 65lbs just fell off with no effort at all <rolls eyes>.

She is apparently giving up Weight Watchers and trying Slimming World instead as she isn't losing. I'm not sure she understands that you have to do more than just pay the weekly subs to lose weight...

HappyElizabeth

So true!!! It seems that some people will do pretty much anything to lose weight, except of course, diet and exercise.

mandeenicoleb

LMAO you speak the truth! I actually don't ever want to be called "lucky" when I feel like I work hard for what I have, It kind of takes away from the work you put in. Everyone wants the magic solution.

howekaren

I hear you. During the course of a costume discussion for a play I was in, someone mentioned how "lucky" I was that I had lost weight and my black blazer no longer fit. I nicely told her it wasn't luck, but hard work. I was definitely irritated though. Most people's eyes glaze over when you respond to their "how did you do it?" question with "watched what I ate and exercised". If it isn't a pill you pop to wake up thinner, they don't want to hear about it.

pjp1125

So true. It's not rocket science. People are generally pretty damn lazy.

gr8xpectationz

I totally understand why people would say "I would give anything..." except an hour at the gym and healthy food choices. Some people can put in the effort to "eat right and exercise", but for others, this leaves out a HUGE part of the equation.

Being disciplined in eating and exercising are, of course, important. BUT, for some people, the emotional piece is much bigger. Some people use food to "self-medicate" or fill emotional voids or symbolically insulate themselves from other people. Some use food as their only coping mechanism to sooth internal shame or self-loathing or abandonment or whatever. I think the reason many diets fail is because "healthy diet" advice rarely addresses issues of emotional food issues. And for some people, until they find or develop better ways to address these kinds of deeper needs, sticking to diet and exercise is more than they can handle.

However, I agree that it's NOT okay for anybody to dismiss the all the lifestyle changes and all the hard work as merely "luck". You have every right to be proud of an accomplishment you've worked hard for, and if someone told me I was "lucky", I'd want to smack them. But instead I'd just say something like "It's not luck, I've been working very hard, every day, for a long time to reach these goals, and if you're interested I can help you, too."

funforsports

I love this story. You speak the truth 100%. I have been there and been told that a million times.

alisaprince1

I love that I am losing the RIGHT way. I hate the word lucky as well, hard work pays off that's all out boils down to. When I skip out on exercise and am loose with my diet there is a difference,I didn't start dropping weight by chance ,I made up my mind enough was enough and I did the only LASTING thing I could do, I changed my lifestyle, byte bye junk food and laziness hello healthier me:) I have a ways to go but I am determined and I WILL get there by the gave of God:)

GretchenReine

Conversation with a friend today...

Friend: "Your sooo lucky to have an "athletic" body. I would give ANYTHING to have your body."
Me: "Really? Ok. You can have my body. Just give me 1 hour in the gym of your very best effort and follow a simple, healthy diet I'll help you develop and it's all yours."
Friend: "ummm...."
Me: "No seriously, One hour a day and eat right. You wont be hungry or anything. Diets don't have to equal suck and after a little while, working out becomes addictive. I promise. We will work out together...I'll start easy on you ."
Friend: "I'm thinking about starting weight watchers. And I heard about this Raspberry stuff that makes you lose fat..." * turns away ending the conversation.
Me: :ohwell: What about giving ANYTHING?!? One hour a day and proper eating is too much?? ( I didn't say this...I just shrugged and told her let me know if she changes her mind.)

Now, I am not the most dedicated person (working on that) but I do work hard(-ish) for my body and health. I love feeling energized and strong. I am learning new things about nutrition and health every day. I research. I read forums. I keep track of the effects of intake and output on my body. I try to eat healthy most of the time...

I am sick of people telling me that I'm lucky! I am blessed to have had a mom that taught me self discipline and nutrition and sparked a passion for it in me as a teen, but I work hard to be healthy and stay in shape. It is by no means "luck."

How about you all? Are you lucky? Or do you just work your butt off? Am I the only person this bothers? Maybe I'm just *****y today...:blushing:

This is beautiful beautiful beautiful! I am not blessed. I don't have an athletic body. I have struggled with weight. I struggle with food. I would give ANYTHING though. I have people that ask my secret to my weight loss and they are only interested until I mention my training to run and my watching what I eat. It sucks when you don't mention a magic pill!

alisaprince1

Grace*

caterpillardreams

LOl
too funny but so true. You just keep doing you. Hopefully they will see and learn.
a long time ago a high school friend wanted to get fit over the summer, I said lets go running and walking through the week. Ill come over in the morning and we will have fun together. She said "ok sounds good."
The next three days I knocked on her door, she was asleep every time. She was not ready.
Now 15 years later she is working out and taking care of herself.
Be an example, and people will see. Can not force it on people, good on you for being patient with her.

jessilyn76

What she meant to say is that she would give "anything" if she didn't have to put any effort into it, could perhaps wrap herself up with saran wrap with herbs on it and lose the weight overnight, and still continue to eat the way she has been...........but mostly, anything......

irishscootz

This is awesome! I work so hard in the gym, and at the table, and reading your story, I have been that friend on the other end of the conversation. The one praying for some sort of instant magical transformation. Losing wight seemed so difficult and confusing, when in reality it couldn't be simpler! Just put in the work people!!

EmilyOfTheSun

Nailed it!
"Weight loss is just easier for some people!"
No....no it's really not.

LaSutopia

What she meant to say is that she would give "anything" if she didn't have to put any effort into it, could perhaps wrap herself up with saran wrap with herbs on it and lose the weight overnight, and still continue to eat the way she has been...........but mostly, anything......

yes...I JUST said something similar to this to someone else today. People want to just wake up tomorrow looking like models and not have to have done anything to get it or keep it....THAT is what they would give anything for.

mjoshua87

Good For you! I wish I was raised that way as well but im learning now so that i can be that for my daughter. Just the other day someone i haven't seen in a while said "wo you lost a bunch of weight .. how'd you do?" I said well i work out 5-7 days a week and track calories on MFP. shes like "Ugh I was afraid you'd say that" ... :S seriously if you want it your gonna have to work for it !

LiftAllThePizzas

How about you all? Are you lucky? Or do you just work your butt off? Am I the only person this bothers? Maybe I'm just *****y today...:blushing:

It doesn't bother me because that would be the last conversation I'd ever have with that person.

MyM0wM0w

I get the same look at work when someone asks me how I'm losing the weight. They are expecting some magic answer. Then when I say "Eat less, move more" or "Just diet and exercise" they get this glazed over look in their eye and wander off.

mcdebbie

I totally understand why people would say "I would give anything..." except an hour at the gym and healthy food choices. Some people can put in the effort to "eat right and exercise", but for others, this leaves out a HUGE part of the equation.

Being disciplined in eating and exercising are, of course, important. BUT, for some people, the emotional piece is much bigger. Some people use food to "self-medicate" or fill emotional voids or symbolically insulate themselves from other people. Some use food as their only coping mechanism to sooth internal shame or self-loathing or abandonment or whatever. I think the reason many diets fail is because "healthy diet" advice rarely addresses issues of emotional food issues. And for some people, until they find or develop better ways to address these kinds of deeper needs, sticking to diet and exercise is more than they can handle.

However, I agree that it's NOT okay for anybody to dismiss the all the lifestyle changes and all the hard work as merely "luck". You have every right to be proud of an accomplishment you've worked hard for, and if someone told me I was "lucky", I'd want to smack them. But instead I'd just say something like "It's not luck, I've been working very hard, every day, for a long time to reach these goals, and if you're interested I can help you, too."

Oh this is so true. And not only the coping mechanism or emotional eating but the way some people were brought up. I know a lady who's mother would go out looking for her tom-catting husband at night and put her daughter in the back seat of the car with a bag of candy to keep her quiet. And bribe her all the time with different treats. Now this lady knows every diet in the book forward and backward and understands completely what she must do but she will never be able to lose weight until she gets over the emotional issues relating to what she calls "her" food. Really sad.

Even still, it would be annoying if she said those of us who lost weight were "lucky"

elleloch

So much yes.

Just - omg. YES.

I was once trying on bridesmaids dresses with some girls for a friends wedding, and one of the girls who was heavier got snotty at me for trying on a dress that the bride liked, but she didn't. She said to me, "Not all of us have perfect bodies."

Um, I don't have a perfect body, but I eat well, exercise and work damn hard to be healthy, so you can fluck right off.

TeachTheGirl

I was told by a 'friend' that she wouldn't 'waste her life' working out or eating right because there are more important things. It just got my back up. If there are more important things to her, that's fine, but I didn't appreciate the insinuation that I'm wasting MY life.

I think it's a mental shift people have to make for themselves.

And there's just no explaining to some of them!

shortchange1

I've been a certified personal trainer since 2001 and when I start with a new client I ALWAYS tell them that I'll supply the tools and as much motivation as I can, but the real work will always have to come from them.

Over the years I've had many clients that just didn't want "it" as much as I wanted "it" for them, but when a client finally realizes that it's truly up to them to eat well, work out CONSISTENTLY, that's when I really feel like I've made the difference in their lives.

One of the things I say when a client "whines" during their session is that it's called a workout for a reason...otherwise it would just be a playdate.

Lysander666

Really? Ok. You can have my body. Just give me 1 hour in the gym of your very best effort

I wouldn't. I see this quite a lot in the gym. Thin keen girl teaching fatter friend how to lose weight. Only that the thin girl gets far too keen and serious and her friend always looks like she can't wait for the whole thing to end. I always end up feeling sorry for them.

Whether they succeed or fail is down to them. I'd just leave them to it. Being there with them is just more of a turn-off than a motivator.

atb0821

As someone who has lost weight, I'm *almost* tempted to tell people I took such-and-such pill, then have them pay me for details.
:drinker:

Note: I won't actually do it.

IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym

I usually get "I'd LOVE to look like you. I'm just not that dedicated..." Umm, I'm not sure what these people think I do all day - I work at a desk job. I don't spend endless hours in the gym. Also, I except for when I was training for a competition, I don't give up foods I love.

Babygirl928

A very AWESOME friend i have on here explained this VERY topic today and very quickly~ this people are called "ASKHOLES" they ask "wow how are you losing this weight and looking so good" and when you tell them, they blow it off...hence the new nick name ASKholes :happy: