To my brethren and sistren* converted from deep and woo

prettysoul1908

I'm curious to know how you react when you're around friends or families or coworkers who are spreading woo.

Do you:

A. Smile and nod (thanks rabbitjb)
B. Call them out
C. Leave the convo

If you call people out, how do they handle it?

I'm finding people are really resistant to letting go of their woo beliefs. Personally I was RELIEVED to find out that crap was fake. Lol.

What's your experience?

janjunie

Lol this reminds me. One time this woman who I barely know told me that the master cleanse has all the nutrients your body needs. For anyone not familiar that's cayenne pepper, maple syrup and lemon juice. My response was "oh yea really, are you on it?" She quit it because of some reason I don't remember. This woman is at least 2 times the size of me. I'll stick to my exercise and delicious food.

prettysoul1908

janjunie wrote: »

Lol this reminds me. One time this woman who I barely know told me that the master cleanse has all the nutrients your body needs. For anyone not familiar that's cayenne pepper, maple syrup and lemon juice. My response was "oh yea really, are you on it?" She quit it because of some reason I don't remember. This woman is at least 2 times the size of me. I'll stick to my exercise and delicious food.

That is quite hilarious. She didn't REALLY believe that did she?

determined24girl

I get ignored. I told a friend of mine about MFP and how I was having great results, she said she would get the app. and start using it, never did. I asked her why she hadn't once and she just said that counting calories wasn't her thing. She then went on to say that she didn't think she ate that much anyway. I nearly died when she said she was going to try that diet where you only eat like an egg, some crackers, and drink only green tea for 3 to 5 days...

janjunie

prettysoul1908 wrote: »

janjunie wrote: »

Lol this reminds me. One time this woman who I barely know told me that the master cleanse has all the nutrients your body needs. For anyone not familiar that's cayenne pepper, maple syrup and lemon juice. My response was "oh yea really, are you on it?" She quit it because of some reason I don't remember. This woman is at least 2 times the size of me. I'll stick to my exercise and delicious food.

That is quite hilarious. She didn't REALLY believe that did she?

She looked pretty serious. Nothing surprises me about what people think causes weight loss anymore....or basic nutrition.

bendyourkneekatie

I try to politely counter woo, but back off if they aren't receptive. I don't really see the point arguing, people rarely use their brains when it comes to woo (or anything, really), and won't listen to facts or evidence of their minds are made up

prettysoul1908

determined24girl wrote: »

I nearly died when she said she was going to try that diet where you only eat like an egg, some crackers, and drink only green tea for 3 to 5 days...

Egg and crackers diet? That's a new one. I wonder what were the promised results of that one. Lol

prettysoul1908

katem999 wrote: »

I try to politely counter woo, but back off if they aren't receptive. I don't really see the point arguing, people rarely use their brains when it comes to woo (or anything, really), and won't listen to facts or evidence of their minds are made up

My approach is similar. Especially when they argue it's working for them. I give more pushback when I hear them spreading falsehoods and giving woo as advice to someone else looking to lose weight.

AmyRhubarb

prettysoul1908 wrote: »

determined24girl wrote: »

I nearly died when she said she was going to try that diet where you only eat like an egg, some crackers, and drink only green tea for 3 to 5 days...

Egg and crackers diet? That's a new one. I wonder what were the promised results of that one. Lol

"Crackers" being the key word on that one!

Nobody wants to believe it's as simple as eating right and getting off the couch. They want to believe all the magic pills, potions, eat-this-not-thats, while mastering the latest fad workout/class/machine/DVD or whatever.

Lifestyle change with sustainable results? Ha! What nonsense! [end sarcasm]

determined24girl

prettysoul1908 wrote: »

determined24girl wrote: »

I nearly died when she said she was going to try that diet where you only eat like an egg, some crackers, and drink only green tea for 3 to 5 days...

Egg and crackers diet? That's a new one. I wonder what were the promised results of that one. Lol

I can't remember what she said it was supposed to do. Probably something ridiculous like LOSE 20 LBS IN 5 DAYS!!!!!!!

tracie_minus100

I don't say anything unless I'm directly asked for my opinion. I've been asked how I lost the weight a lot, and people either seem disappointed when I tell them portion control and regular exercise, or they don't quite believe that that's "all" I've done. But if someone mentions a cleanse, or detox, or wraps, or something of that nature, people are all over that. So many people really want there to be some magic product that will take the weight off them with little or no effort.

scolaris

I try to just bite my tongue. And smile. Can't forget the smile. Two of the most memorable... A teacher I worked with who weighs at least 300 lbs telling me her metabolism 'just doesn't work' because she's sure she's been eating 1200 calories a day since school started (in August!) and that's got to be a sign that gastric bypass is the only thing that will work for for someone with a metabolism like hers. And another classroom assistant who had gastric bypass & said to me 'You don't understand. I was huge. I weighed 200 lbs and I was NEVER going to be able to lose that kind of weight.' Which is exactly what I weighed when I started. To each his or her own, I know, but it seems to me the people pushing the surgeries really don't work very hard to educate their prospective patients in advance.

lulalacroix

My husband kept telling me that I wouldn't lose weight because I eat at night. Eventually I told him that he was wrong and that meal timing doesn't matter. He continued to argue even though he hasn't read an article about weight loss or probably even health for 10 years. I've lost 17 pounds in the last 55 days and he doesn't tell me how to eat anymore.

AnnPT77

I'm not an unassertive person. I give my perspective, strive to be polite, use "I" statements ("I have not found that to be helpful/effective/etc. and here's how/why), give objective/scientific information ("I read a study that found . . . ."), I ask quasi-Socratic "interested" questions ("Has that worked for someone you know? What were their results? How long have they kept the weight off?"), and offer my personal experience as a non-woo case study. Sometimes works, sometimes doesn't. If there are attentive but quiet listeners, I'm more persistent. One on one, I don't bother trying to convert people in the midst of their religious fervor about their new woo, if initial efforts at dialog fail.

vivmom2014

Some extended family members are fond of doing black/white diets like no sugar, no carbs, no grains, etc. I don't say anything because I'm not asked for my opinion.

disneygirl626

Sorry, but what is woo? I'm getting the general idea it is unwanted weight loss advice?

RedBeardBruce

In skeptic circles, "woo" is superstitious nonsense. Anything from ghosts, alien/bigfoot sightings, to homeopathic remedies.

bendyourkneekatie

http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Woo

CoffeeNCardio

uggghhh. My sister in law is an ultra-militant vegan. Like, convinced all the problems of the world would suddenly be erased if everyone were forced to be vegan tomorrow. I cannot even with the woo that comes out of her mouth. She's a Freelee disciple and is convinced beyond all reason that eating meat causes cancer. I used to fight, but it turns out just like with anti-vaccine advocates, the best way to win the argument is to ignore them entirely. I just change the subject as quickly as possible. Sometimes when she's being ultra absurd (she's convinced right now that in spite of her vegangelism, she's not losing weight because she "damaged her metabolism" with her juice fast....40 day juice fast....LAST March) I just toss in there a few nods and uh-huhs and then reiterate that it's all cico.


ETA: Nothing against regular vegans. She's the exception, not the rule I'm well aware, and I love you all that much more for it.

ElizabethOakes2

"Great, if that's what works for you. What I'm doing seems to be working fine for me."

I lived in Mount Shasta for a long time. I believe lots of woo stuff, but I've also learned a lot about how to let others keep their woo beliefs without losing sight of my personal truths.

Coley88

I now just smile and nod. I have coworkers who ask me how much I've lost(which is only 23lbs)/how, and when I tell them they always say "I wish I could do that!" They refuse to believe that they can because another coworker (who is a good 50lbs over weight and constantly on a "diet" without ever losing) tells them the only way to lose weight is to eliminate carbs, not eat after 6, and avoid "bad" food.

QueenofHearts023

I get told EVERY DAY that I'm wrong. "You can't eat like that! You'll get fat! You shouldn't snack. You shouldn't eat carbs. Carbs are evil! Eating pizza and bread will make you lose" Really conflicting I know.

What really angers me, is when I go to town looking for lactose and gluten free things. And everyone comments on Banting and gf in that crappy diet type of way. "Oh my friend lost so much weight on banting/by going gluten free!"




Yeah, I can't tolerate gluten or lactose because of IBS, it's not some stupid diet. That just really pisses me off. It's like an insult to me. Lol

Sued0nim

prettysoul1908 wrote: »

I'm curious to know how you react when you're around friends or families or coworkers who are spreading woo.

Do you:

A. Smile and nod (thanks rabbitjb)
B. Call them out
C. Leave the convo

If you call people out, how do they handle it?

I'm finding people are really resistant to letting go of their woo beliefs. Personally I was RELIEVED to find out that crap was fake. Lol.

What's your experience?

:bigsmile:

The more you do B and C the more you will realise how useful A is

Also good practice for having children and loving parents / parents in law / older siblings

ninerbuff

It's actually easy for me because I'm a professional in the industry with actual degrees of study. But even then, some will still believe in BS because it's a more "unique" way to lose weight.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

oh_happy_day

I do a combination of all options depending on who the person is, what they're saying and how ornery I'm feeling. I'll occasionally ask questions like "so how does that work exactly?" and listen to them stumble over a ridiculous explanation while I try not to roll my eyes. I'm more likely to say something if the person is suggesting something dangerous/unhealthy to others.

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld

I work with a lot of contractors and the majority of them come to work with a tub of chicken breast and broccoli. The fact I'll eat fried chicken now and again horrifies them

I just allow them there woo.

EvgeniZyntx

I'm a healthcare professional, when people ask me about stuff - I try to explain it. When it spontaneously comes up in conversation, or around me, I tend to ignore it. Every once in a while I can't ignore a convo, so I usually end up asking a side-related question and working from there.

But I try to not have a dog in the fight. Nothing to sell, nothing to convince about. People tend to listen a little more and if not? Not my business.

My brother did a very low cal diet and his exercise and eating habits are way subpar, it would certainly not be the way I'd work. But despite the poor body composition results he has, he also lost a lot of weight. It worked for him. Had he stuck to "my science" he'd probably would have failed, certainly didn't have the patience for it. I learned something about the importance of helping to succeed versus being right.

A lot of woo works. One might think they can only lose weight by restricting x (white bread, pasta, sugar, ice cream, meat, whatever), it might not be true but it still is likely to result in a successful calorie restriction. What then matters is learning good maintenance habits. You don't need to attack a belief to aid on those.

Oh, and eye-rolling counts for exercise!

stevencloser

Depends how well I know them.

BodyByBex

EvgeniZyntx wrote: »

I'm a healthcare professional, when people ask me about stuff - I try to explain it. When it spontaneously comes up in conversation, or around me, I tend to ignore it. Every once in a while I can't ignore a convo, so I usually end up asking a side-related question and working from there.

But I try to not have a dog in the fight. Nothing to sell, nothing to convince about. People tend to listen a little more and if not? Not my business.

My brother did a very low cal diet and his exercise and eating habits are way subpar, it would certainly not be the way I'd work. But despite the poor body composition results he has, he also lost a lot of weight. It worked for him. Had he stuck to "my science" he'd probably would have failed, certainly didn't have the patience for it. I learned something about the importance of helping to succeed versus being right.

A lot of woo works. One might think they can only lose weight by restricting x (white bread, pasta, sugar, ice cream, meat, whatever), it might not be true but it still is likely to result in a successful calorie restriction. What then matters is learning good maintenance habits. You don't need to attack a belief to aid on those.

Oh, and eye-rolling counts for exercise!

YES! I am burning SO many cals at work this week!

JackieMarie1989jgw

I call it out usually. I'm a nurse in the ER and have seen lots of cleanse-induced diarrhea and electrolyte imbalances so I have plenty of opportunity to educate people on the ridiculousness. Outside.of work I will call it out if I know the person. My cousin posted on facebook asking for good cleanses for weight loss. I told her please dont do a cleanse, try mfp! Ha

ETA- I typically just call it out if I think it could pose a health hazard

amusedmonkey

I leave people to their latest "discoveries" unless specifically asked. Not my monkeys.