Am I wrong?

crimsonlady2014
crimsonlady2014 Posts: 6 Member
edited November 24 in Health and Weight Loss
So I've lost about 15 pounds over the last couple of months. This is about the point where people at work start to notice and ask me what I am doing to lose weight. My standard answer is, "It's not rocket science. Eat less; move more." And that's what I do. However, yesterday I was at lunch with colleagues and I didn't eat any bread, ordered a salad with shrimp on it and refused french fries when offered. One co-worker - said, "Oh you're not eating carbs! That's how you're losing weight!" A classic "Ah ha I knew you had a secret!" moment. So I felt obligated to explain. I am actually eating a lot of carbs - all the veggies in my salad are in fact carbohydrates. Which makes most people's head explode. I do avoid refined carbs and white food as I like to call it - bread, pasta, rice, potatoes. Not because I am on Atkins or doing a low carb diet - just because I have a hard time controlling my intake of those foods. I want 3 pieces of bread not one. I want a pound of pasta not a reasonable serving size. I know it's not that food that's evil - it's my self control that's lacking. I have a much easier time controlling my intake when I eat fruits, veggies, chicken, fish etc. And I love all those things - I eat just about anything and can always find something I like - so I don't feel like I am depriving myself when I have spaghetti squash instead of raviolis - I'm really just after the taste of my mother's tomato sauce anyway. But I felt like I was on trial at lunch while trying to enjoy my salad. This woman kept insisting I was "on Atkins" - when I am just "on my own damn way of eating". I have cookies, cake, popcorn - the occasional granola bar - all refined carbs as well - but it's easier for me to have one cookie - than one rigatoni. I'm thinking of just telling people I've got a tapeworm...
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Replies

  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    You're not wrong.
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    Tapeworm is good :D or eat that granola bar in front of them. Congrats on the awesome weight loss!!
  • ShellyBell999
    ShellyBell999 Posts: 1,482 Member
    Hahaha,
    People are going to believe what they want to, even when it's pointed out to them. Just smile and keep eating!
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    People don't like that there's no magic way to lose weight. CICO is so boring and not at all flashy and exciting - so clearly you MUST be doing something else. Taking a pill or being on a fad diet is the only way don't you know?! Don't make me actually do anything to lose weight - I want some magic potion with instant results or nothing at all!! :p
  • kk_inprogress
    kk_inprogress Posts: 3,077 Member
    You're not wrong at all. I might borrow that tapeworm thing.
  • sherbear702
    sherbear702 Posts: 650 Member
    Tapeworms *snort*. That'd be fun to tell people just to see their reaction. I can picture it now "Oh, yeah. Haven't you heard about it?" "It's all the rage" "you can by the larvae in capsule form" "I eat whatever I want and the weight falls right off" "Oh, except now I have tape worms falling out of my butt. Gross, but totally worth it"

    Hahahahaha
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    You are not wrong.

    I had a really similar experience -- people got the idea that I was doing low carb or paleo since I will (subtlely -- I dread having it be noticed) remove bread from sandwiches at work lunches sometimes. I don't do this because I'm anti bread (and you'd think they'd notice I still eat pizza when we have that!), but I usually don't like wasting calories on a huge amount of white bread that I don't even like that much and would much rather have more salad and fruit and the meat from a second sandwich.
  • dubird
    dubird Posts: 1,849 Member
    You're not wrong at all. Trying to explain that you're not avoiding carbs and that what you're actually eating contains carbs will probably just confuse her. If you can fit it into your calories, go by the grocery store and see if you can get a single cookie, then eat it in front of her. That'll confuse her even more. XD
  • yusaku02
    yusaku02 Posts: 3,472 Member
    sherbear702 wrote: »
    Tapeworms *snort*. That'd be fun to tell people just to see their reaction. I can picture it now "Oh, yeah. Haven't you heard about it?" "It's all the rage" "you can by the larvae in capsule form" "I eat whatever I want and the weight falls right off" "Oh, except now I have tape worms falling out of my butt. Gross, but totally worth it"

    Hahahahaha
    Do it!!!
  • LadyMcClure
    LadyMcClure Posts: 42 Member
    You're not wrong. You're definitely not on Atkins. People are just dumb. I love that people don't know that fruits and veggies are carbs. So cute.
  • kk_inprogress
    kk_inprogress Posts: 3,077 Member
    It scares me how many people we could easily convince to acquire tapeworms on the black market.
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    My wife -- after a year of my doing this -- thought I was cutting carbs. Hell, I ate 450 grams of carbs that day alone. "You see me eating ice cream every night, right?"
  • VykkDraygoVPR
    VykkDraygoVPR Posts: 465 Member
    kkenseth wrote: »
    It scares me how many people we could easily convince to acquire tapeworms on the black market.
    I see the potential for massive profit.
  • dubird
    dubird Posts: 1,849 Member
    VykkDraygoVPR wrote: »
    kkenseth wrote: »
    It scares me how many people we could easily convince to acquire tapeworms on the black market.
    I see the potential for massive profit.


    Already been done.
    tumblr_mb6q0g6hFW1rnseozo1_400.jpg
  • VykkDraygoVPR
    VykkDraygoVPR Posts: 465 Member
    dubird wrote: »
    VykkDraygoVPR wrote: »
    kkenseth wrote: »
    It scares me how many people we could easily convince to acquire tapeworms on the black market.
    I see the potential for massive profit.


    Already been done.
    tumblr_mb6q0g6hFW1rnseozo1_400.jpg
    I know that. I merely wish to capitalize on those who don't. I'm sure it's ethical, don't worry.

  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    If someone wants to believe you are doing something other than eating less, they will. You can't change people.

    I would simply have said "I am eating carbs now, so obviously I eat carbs. If you mean grains, I also eat them but this is what I choose to eat now." And I'd have left it at that.
  • Sarah4fitness
    Sarah4fitness Posts: 437 Member
    "Whatever. Thanks, what I'm doing is working for me, how's your lunch?" ;)
  • crimsonlady2014
    crimsonlady2014 Posts: 6 Member
    You guys are awesome. Thank you. I'm printing out the tapeworm thing and putting it on my wall.
  • bwogilvie
    bwogilvie Posts: 2,130 Member
    You're not wrong. In my case, most people assume that I lost weight (65 lb. total) from cycling and running. I have to tell them that's wrong; in 2013 I cycled 2000 miles and gained 10 lb; it came off in 2014 and 2015 because I counted calories and ensured that I burned more than I ate.
  • MoiAussi93
    MoiAussi93 Posts: 1,948 Member
    You're not wrong, but they aren't (completely) wrong either.

    First, there is not necessarily one definition that is considered low carb. Some people eat under 20 grams a day, some 50, some 100, some 150... However, MOST people who would say they eat low carb do eat veggies (as in your salad) because non-starchy veggies actually have very few carbs. When low carb eaters say they "avoid carbs" this is generally understood to mean some combination of starchy/refined/highly processed/high glycemic index carbs...not ALL carbs and not things like lettuce. But they might say they don't eat carbs because everybody knows what is meant, and it is incredibly wordy to constantly give a long detailed explanation when a shortcut will do.

    Most low carbers DO avoid refined carbs.

    You yourself wrote:
    I do avoid refined carbs and white food as I like to call it - bread, pasta, rice, potatoes
    THAT is something the vast majority of low carb eaters do.

    But what is the problem? People are always curious about other people, and getting questions from people you know relatively well is to be expected.
  • acheben
    acheben Posts: 476 Member
    I know the feeling. Once people started noticing my weight loss, I was constantly asked by co-workers, friends, and family what I was doing to lose weight. No one likes the real answer of "eat less, move more."
  • dubird
    dubird Posts: 1,849 Member
    Maybe tell them you're on a doctor's diet and this is what they told you that you can eat. Then eat the cookie.

    Seriously, most people won't argue if you say this is something you and your doctor have worked out, even if it's not true. They'll assume there's medical stuff involved, and who knows, they might actually take the advice of 'eat less, move more' a bit more seriously.
  • corinne1977
    corinne1977 Posts: 142 Member
    A few years ago I was maintaining my weight but eating like crazy. They were always amazed at how much food I could put away. My coworkers would ask me what I was doing to be able to eat that much. I would tell them that I had a tapeworm. They thought it was funny and would pick on me about it. So I once I started gaining weight, I just told them that my tapeworm died. I overfed it. It just became the office joke.
  • momoharuno
    momoharuno Posts: 141 Member
    Just going to leave this video here lol your friend made me think of this actor for some reason, probably the "there has to be a gimmick" thing lol it just cracks me up :) I was actually talking to my new gynecologist the other day and she mentioned I looked good, I said yeah I'm down 30+ pounds so far and she asked how, calories in versus calories out I told her and she nodded seriously and said "It's the best equation, Good job keep it up" I'm definitely keeping her lol
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VKs0oEIVOck
  • PinkPixiexox
    PinkPixiexox Posts: 4,142 Member
    It's always people who are on a healthy eating plan that come under attack for their food choices! If you were to say to a friend with a plate full of donuts "Oh I see your approach, ALL carbs, right?" - it would be considered rude!

    You're fine OP. Ignore them and enjoy :D
  • lindsey1979
    lindsey1979 Posts: 2,395 Member
    edited September 2015
    Yeah. Sometimes it can be this way. I probably would have replied something more along the lines of saying, "well, yes, I am watching some of my carbs (like the pasta and bread examples) because I have a hard time limiting portions of certain carbs. But other carbs, especially certain vegetables, I eat a lot of. So, it really depends on the type of carb. We can discuss this more if you want to, but I'm really not doing anything as extreme as Atkins or keto. That just doesn't work for me."

    Then, you'll see if they really care to have a more nuanced discussion or not and will just leave you alone.

    I've found some people are just nosy, some are just making conversation and some are genuinely interested. I've also found some people are VERY threatened by those that make different choices -- whether it's in food or other things (clothes, money, religion) -- and so they'll always look to put those that think/feel differently down or be dismissive. We have plenty of those types here on MFP too. It comes from a deep insecurity, either about themselves generally or their own choices. Can't do much about these people. I just smile and nod. Then ignore.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    crimsonlady2014 wrote: »
    So I've lost about 15 pounds over the last couple of months. This is about the point where people at work start to notice and ask me what I am doing to lose weight. My standard answer is, "It's not rocket science. Eat less; move more." And that's what I do. However, yesterday I was at lunch with colleagues and I didn't eat any bread, ordered a salad with shrimp on it and refused french fries when offered. One co-worker - said, "Oh you're not eating carbs! That's how you're losing weight!" A classic "Ah ha I knew you had a secret!" moment. So I felt obligated to explain. I am actually eating a lot of carbs - all the veggies in my salad are in fact carbohydrates. Which makes most people's head explode. I do avoid refined carbs and white food as I like to call it - bread, pasta, rice, potatoes. Not because I am on Atkins or doing a low carb diet - just because I have a hard time controlling my intake of those foods. I want 3 pieces of bread not one. I want a pound of pasta not a reasonable serving size. I know it's not that food that's evil - it's my self control that's lacking. I have a much easier time controlling my intake when I eat fruits, veggies, chicken, fish etc. And I love all those things - I eat just about anything and can always find something I like - so I don't feel like I am depriving myself when I have spaghetti squash instead of raviolis - I'm really just after the taste of my mother's tomato sauce anyway. But I felt like I was on trial at lunch while trying to enjoy my salad. This woman kept insisting I was "on Atkins" - when I am just "on my own damn way of eating". I have cookies, cake, popcorn - the occasional granola bar - all refined carbs as well - but it's easier for me to have one cookie - than one rigatoni. I'm thinking of just telling people I've got a tapeworm...

    You are spot on.
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    i just tell people i eat less and move more.

    which, is totally true. LOL
  • Pandapotato
    Pandapotato Posts: 68 Member
    *shrug* I actually WOULD consider avoiding breads, potatoes, pasta, rice, etc as a low carb diet. Or low (er) carb diet at least.

    That doesn't mean it's your magic trick, but people will treat it like it is one.
  • NikiChicken
    NikiChicken Posts: 576 Member
    DeguelloTex wrote: »
    You're not wrong.

    Nope - not you! I eat the same way you eat. I restrict some foods only because they are triggers for ME, not because they are inherently bad. However, I eat everything *I* want. In fact, I just polished off a Payday candy bar because I wanted it and it fit into my calories for the day. However, I might turn around and skip half the bun on a sandwich at lunch tomorrow because the bread isn't that great and I don't want to spend the calories on it. Skipping bread at a particular meal is not indicative of any special diet - it just means you are paying attention to what you like and enjoy and what is worth the calories.

    Long story short - your co-worker was wrong!
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