What do you reply...

bloody88

..to people that ask you how you lost weight?
When I tell them by calorie counting/logging, they roll their eyes and say that it's insane and that it's not normal to weight every single ingredient.
Then they continue to discredit the proccess with everyone around supporting them(9 out of 10times)..
It's frustrating to say the least!

RodaRose

Do not answer those kinds of people. It is none of their freaking business, esp if they are going to be non- supportive.

ozgurvh

Yes, if people really need help , they must show some respect

Orphia

I say I've got an app that makes it easy to count calories.

The "worst" reply I've had is that someone said they didn't have the patience to do that.

They really hadn't thought it through.

DemoraFairy

Ask them how their weight loss efforts are going, then tell them you're looking forward to your chocolate cake that night.

BackupFridge

If I got the reply you did -> The same thing I ask anyone who rolls their eyes at science: Where am I/what part of the approach is inaccurate?

If they ask and sincerely want to know, I tell them to pick out an hour or two of their choice and I'd go over it with them. Just about no one follows up.

Don't really get asked a lot, though, since I wasn't ever visibly overweight. Just those I see regularly enough to notice the minute changes.

xX_PhoenixRising_Xx

I tell them diet and exercise. It's kind of hard to argue with me when I've lost 156 lbs. Although I think there are a few out there that don't believe I did it without surgery.

For the eye-rollers (there are still some, and the ones who "can't be bothered") I tell them they're right, it was actually magical pixie dust. The one harvested from the first morning dew drops of a 4-leaf clover found in only a far-flung corner of Ireland on the morning after a blue moon, mixed with the shavings of the horn of the rare purple unicorn, at the precise moment that a thousand babies laugh for the first time (in harmony). I have a secret stash of it. If the government ever finds out about my secret weight loss miracle dust I'm done for...

Machka9

bloody88 wrote: »

..to people that ask you how you lost weight?

I say, "I eat fewer calories than I burn".

That's usually not satisfactory. There's usually a follow-up question like ...

"Does that mean you eat low carb?"
"Do you eat low fat?"
"Have you quit eating sugar?"
"What foods have you cut out of your diet?"
"Do you exercise a lot?"
"What specifically do you eat? Could you write down a list of good foods for me?"
"Could you tell me specifically what you eat for dinner?"

And while I'm making lunch ... "What have you got there? What's that? What's that? So you lost weight eating those things? Where did you get them? How much are they? Don't you find that eating healthy is so expensive?"

sakurablush

I never really know how to respond to people like that .

Usually I never get past "oh, I could never do that!" as I just smile brightly like "oh, that's nice!" and it seems to throw people off lol.

Clarewho

I just say - by eating less and moving more. But yes usually more questions follow. I'm as vague as possible with general acquaintances as I have learned that most people don't like to hear its down to CICO. They want me to tell them the magical secret... With real friends, they know I'm on MFP and admire my commitment and what I've achieved. With others - I don't really care

superhockeymom

I simple tell them I don't eat! Half truth but they just give me a blank look. Others that are closer have then been like no really? And then I tell them about MFP. None have tried it One still writes in her notebook everyday.

Might I add I was feeling much better about this yesterday.

DeguelloTex

"Eat less, move more."

For the most part, that's the end of it. People seem to lose interest when I didn't lose weight because of a magical, effortless pill, shake, juice, or way of eating.

LivingtheLeanDream

I used to go into details about counting calories and being active but they glaze over when they realise its not some miracle pil!

earlnabby

My standard answer is to tell them I am on the "ELMM" diet. Most will ask "what is that" and I reply "Eat Less, Move More". Most will laugh and change the subject. Some will ask for further details so I do go on to tell them I count calories, make sure I get enough protein and fat (and let the carbs fall where they may), and deny myself nothing except the huge portions I used to eat.

There have been a couple of people in my water aerobics class who wanted even more info so I have suggested MFP as a tracking tool and gone into more detail about my meals, but that is when they ask and are actually interested in the answer.

pondee629

Depending on my mood my answer is:

Yes, I eat less, exercise more, or;
Yes, and I have no idea why, do you think I should see a doctor?

MarcyKirkton

I like the ELMM diet answer. Will steal!

jaqcan

When I tell my mom I've lost weight by counting calories, she immediately wants to know what I eat for every meal. I say, I dunno......Food? No magical food, just eating less.

Amberonamission

This has only happened to me once so far. The man who lives in the condo below mine has been taken by ambulance a few times for out of control blood pressure. He caught me and my dog running around the trees downstairs 2 weeks ago and said I looked really healthy (I was over the moon that he called me healthy). He then asked if I had lost weight. When I said yes, almost 40 lbs, he asked how. I sighed and tried to give a bland answer, something about following serving sizes on food lables. He asks more questions about my workout and I correct him by saying that the gym just keeps my temper in check from being hungry. All of my loss has been from paying close attention to calories. He groaned like a wounded animal. I didn't even get to the MFP part. He wanted me to say it was Magic.

TheopolisAmbroiseIII

goji berry enemas.

Machka9

HappyCampr1 wrote: »

Machka9 wrote: »

bloody88 wrote: »

..to people that ask you how you lost weight?

I say, "I eat fewer calories than I burn".

That's usually not satisfactory. There's usually a follow-up question like ...

"Does that mean you eat low carb?"
"Do you eat low fat?"
"Have you quit eating sugar?"
"What foods have you cut out of your diet?"
"Do you exercise a lot?"
"What specifically do you eat? Could you write down a list of good foods for me?"
"Could you tell me specifically what you eat for dinner?"

And while I'm making lunch ... "What have you got there? What's that? What's that? So you lost weight eating those things? Where did you get them? How much are they? Don't you find that eating healthy is so expensive?"

Gotta love the follow-up questions. I work in a grocery store, so I buy my lunch there every day. When I was losing, anytime I bought something other people thought I shouldn't be eating, the cashier would say " you can eat that?" I'm like, "I can eat anything I want, so long as it fits in my calories". They always look dubious. I just smile and walk away with my food. I figure that maybe after they've heard that about 20 times, it will either sink in or they'll quit asking.

I've had coworkers note down what I'm eating ... and then go get it like whatever it is might be the magic way to lose weight.

For example, I might have one of these once a week for lunch:
http://symingtons.com/products/pasta-mug-shots/

This is my favourite one:


I mix it with chicken and veggies and it comes to about 400 cal for lunch, which works for me.

One of my coworkers went out and bought a whole bunch of them because she saw me eating one.

earlnabby

MarcyKirkton wrote: »

I like the ELMM diet answer. Will steal!

Feel free. I stole it from someone else. For some reason, people respond better if your "diet" has a name (even if it is a sort of joke name)

AspenDan

I tell them I watch what I eat...that's pretty much it

cdcllcga01

DeguelloTex wrote: »

"Eat less, move more."

For the most part, that's the end of it. People seem to lose interest when I didn't lose weight because of a magical, effortless pill, shake, juice, or way of eating.

^^This. My experience exactly.

KayTeeOne

I was just asked yesterday how do you remain so slim after eating all that pizza , while I just had 2 slices in my plate .

nordlead2005

Everyone who's asked me has always been nice about it. I've had two people double check that the weight loss was intentional (basically checking that I wasn't sick/dying ). I tell people I'm counting calories or eating less (sometimes mention MFP) and they tell me I'm looking good. One guy said "yeah that whole eating less thing, its amazing how it works", as in he was doing it too, but really wished there was an easier way or an extra secret (hey, I wish there was too).

Kalikel

Usually I say that "I cleaned up my diet, stopped eating as much," and if they keep going, I'll get into it.

Weighing every little bit of food you eat is a little more obsessive than most people want to be. And most people, obviously,do not do that, so the ranges of reactions to that tidbit of info will, of course, include surprise and a general "Wouldn't want to do that!" attitude. "I know. It's a pain. But it's working for me!" is my general response to that.

Usually, people who eat healthy ask about what I ate, what I eat now. People who struggle will ask about eating healthy. It's a lot of fun for me to hear other people's ideas and struggles. Most people I talk to were not raised on healthy food, so I identify with that and enjoy talking to them the most. I always hear about their diets and then they always mention one or two junk foods that they love, lol. Every single time, it's like, "So, blah, blah, blah...but, OMG, potato chips! I LOVE POTATO CHIPS!" I always hear about the thing they'll never give up.

Most people tell me they've tried one of the calorie-counting sites, but couldn't stuck with it. I get that.

beemerphile1

bloody88 wrote: »

..to people that ask you how you lost weight?
When I tell them by calorie counting/logging, they roll their eyes and say that it's insane and that it's not normal to weight every single ingredient.
Then they continue to discredit the proccess with everyone around supporting them(9 out of 10times)..
It's frustrating to say the least!

I answer the question stating that I keep a diary of everything I eat and have reduced calories.

I then move on, I don't need their approval or endorsement. My 60 pound loss is proof enough.

beachhouse758

bloody88 wrote: »

..to people that ask you how you lost weight?
When I tell them by calorie counting/logging, they roll their eyes and say that it's insane and that it's not normal to weight every single ingredient.
Then they continue to discredit the proccess with everyone around supporting them(9 out of 10times)..
It's frustrating to say the least!

I am not weighing/logging my food right now, so it doesn't quite apply.
But even when I did, I usually tell people something vague like "Oh, I watch what I eat and started running"
If I sense that the person is fishing to instigate negativity or debate, I will either be more vague or change the topic/leave the conversation (I don't have time for negativity in my life or to engage in debates trying to validate my life choices to others)
If I sense that the person would genuinely wants to learn more because they are on the same path or whatever, then I am more willing to be specific.

As far as friends go, I only have a few. And I make sure that they are positive people that encourage my growth.
But there are always those in life that you are obligated to deal with (be it family or acquaintances) and are less than a shinning ray of light....I try to keep those at bay. Vague answers, and move on.

P.S: I log exercise and weight on MFP and I love the support I get from my friends list. I am just not logging and weighing food with the app ATM.

sunandmoons

Kalikel wrote: »

Usually I say that "I cleaned up my diet, stopped eating as much," and if they keep going, I'll get into it.

Weighing every little bit of food you eat is a little more obsessive than most people want to be. And most people, obviously,do not do that, so the ranges of reactions to that tidbit of info will, of course, include surprise and a general "Wouldn't want to do that!" attitude. "I know. It's a pain. But it's working for me!" is my general response to that.

Usually, people who eat healthy ask about what I ate, what I eat now. People who struggle will ask about eating healthy. It's a lot of fun for me to hear other people's ideas and struggles. Most people I talk to were not raised on healthy food, so I identify with that and enjoy talking to them the most. I always hear about their diets and then they always mention one or two junk foods that they love, lol. Every single time, it's like, "So, blah, blah, blah...but, OMG, potato chips! I LOVE POTATO CHIPS!" I always hear about the thing they'll never give up.

Most people tell me they've tried one of the calorie-counting sites, but couldn't stuck with it. I get that.

Right.. I joined mfp four years ago.

I had no idea about TDEE. Set my goal at 1200 calories and found I couldn't do it and gave up.
At that time I should of been eating 1700 calories.

A friend who kept saying are you going to do this your whole life?? Your not in your 20s anymore. Noone cares what you look like. Eat what you want, life is too short. You look good!! Went on about her mom and calorie counting at 70. She still worrys about her weight and how her life is not gonna be that way. I was derailed. Now I tell her nothing. Shes in another state and im meeting up with her at Christmas. Cant wait to see the look on her face when she asks what I did to lose weight. C:

kr1stadee

"eat less, move more"

Francl27

Eat less and exercise. I don't even get in the calorie counting thing as people think I'm crazy.