People Bashing MFP, How do I react to them

lizalmp1234

What do you guys say to people who bash you for using myfitnesspal and counting calories. I’ve had people tell me “you cant count calories forever” you should do keto or do this or that ect ect. I’m upset and I know I shouldnt but I am because this site has helped me so much and those people have no idea how supportive we are here.

ACanadian22

I had a lady say stuff very similar to what you hear. She was on Keto and said there was no way she would write down everything because she knew what she was doing. I am still losing. She gained everything back plus more. I won without saying anything

jdubois5351

I tell them it's not for everyone, you have to be really determined, if you really want to keep it up. I am, others probably are not. usually shuts them right up.

TavistockToad

lizalmp1234 wrote: »

What do you guys say to people who bash you for using myfitnesspal and counting calories. I’ve had people tell me “you cant count calories forever” you should do keto or do this or that ect ect. I’m upset and I know I shouldnt but I am because this site has helped me so much and those people have no idea how supportive we are here.

person:"you cant count calories for ever"
me:"ok".... smile and walk away...

whats to get upset about?

pinuplove

My husband and one IRL friend know I'm using MFP. It's better this way In your case, I'd say just smile and nod, change the subject, and keep doing what works for you. Arguing with people who are already convinced they're right is thankless and bad for your friendship.

lizalmp1234

Thank you everyone & @ACanadian22 Amazing payback i love it!! @jdubois5351 @pinuplove thank you

88olds

My view, weight loss is a solitary pursuit.

Weight loss buddy? Never found one. Gym partner? I work alone. My wife has done a lot to help me as far as shopping and cooking are concerned. But message boards are about as personal as my WL support gets.

As you’re finding out, letting folks know your weight loss intentions can be a big mistake. They aren’t going to support you.
Likewise thinking you will create pressure on yourself by going public. A bad idea.

So initially I said nothing. When my weight loss became so apparent that folks started asking how I did it, I said “Old fashioned diet and exercise.” And walked away.

I lost my last 40lbs on Weight Watchers. WW was then just trademarked calorie counting. I made goal and kept tracking for 5 years before I could maintain without tracking. So a good long time is long enough, doesn’t need to be forever necessarily.

Maybe a snippy comeback like “Honey, nothing we do is going to be forever.”

countcurt

88olds wrote: »

My view, weight loss is a solitary pursuit.

Weight loss buddy? Never found one. Gym partner? I work alone. My wife has done a lot to help me as far as shopping and cooking are concerned. But message boards are about as personal as my WL support gets.

As you’re finding out, letting folks know your weight loss intentions can be a big mistake. They aren’t going to support you.
Likewise thinking you will create pressure on yourself by going public. A bad idea.

So initially I said nothing. When my weight loss became so apparent that folks started asking how I did it, I said “Old fashioned diet and exercise.” And walked away.

I lost my last 40lbs on Weight Watchers. WW was then just trademarked calorie counting. I made goal and kept tracking for 5 years before I could maintain without tracking. So a good long time is long enough, doesn’t need to be forever necessarily.

Maybe a snippy comeback like “Honey, nothing we do is going to be forever.”

What he said.


I thought one of the great 'pluses' of MFP was how stealth one could be using it. I, too, reached my weight loss goal using WW when it was still all pen and paper. I told nobody and nobody seemed to notice when I got up from a table that I stopped somewhere to jot down what I'd eaten. And, nobody seemed to care what I was eating if I didn't point anything out. At lunch in the break room, if asked about a stew, soup or what not, the answer was a glib (and honest) "oh, it's a recipe from some magazine we found and decided to try".

When the weight loss was noticed and I was asked how, my response: "I decided to eat only when I was hungry and not eat when I wasn't hungry. Turns out I wasn't nearly as hungry as I used to think. So, basically, I just ate less." Nobody questioned. One of my neighbors, though, was quite surprised a couple of years later when she ran in to me at a WW meeting. Funny because she, too, was a lifetimer at (or near) goal weight and I'd always assumed she was one of those naturally thin people.

Running2Fit

In general I avoid talking about my weight loss with anyone except my husband. I do not want or need everyone’s opinion on what I’m doing.

If someone does make a comment, I just shrug my shoulders and say it’s what works for me. Though if someone said something as dumb as “you can’t count calories forever” to me I’d be tempted to make a snarky comment like “Oh my god, why? Do you forget how to count when you’re skinny?!” Because that’s just so ridiculous.

cmriverside

I've been logging food, exercise and weight for eleven years on this site, with a few breaks.

If it ain't broke don't fix it, yeah?

I don't discuss weight loss with anyone anymore. I lost the weight so long ago that no one I have in my life now even knew me 75 pounds heavier.

If you don't bring it up and if you don't engage with the foolishness, it stops being an issue. Just ignore them, or use one of the brilliant lines above. You guys are great.

MikePTY

I've found that in general, there are just some people who are nosy nellies who want to comment on everyone else's life choices. Usually that's from unhappiness with their own.

This site has helped literally millions of people lose weight. I wouldn't even bother justifying them with a response. Just smirk and move on. You know that you are doing the right thing, and that's what is important.

cwolfman13

Why do people need to know? Why do you talk about it? Pretty much my wife and later my trainer and his wife were the only ones who knew I was counting calories at that time (I haven't in a long time)

hesn92

I guess I just don't see what's to get upset over. I've never had anyone say anything negative about me counting calories. I've had people say things like "I could never do that" or "that sounds like too much work" or things like that. However I don't really mention it to people, just every so often as it comes up in conversation. If someone said "You shouldn't count calories" I'd just say ok, and move on.

k8eekins

lizalmp1234 wrote: »

What do you guys say to people who bash you for using myfitnesspal and counting calories. I’ve had people tell me “you cant count calories forever” you should do keto or do this or that ect ect. I’m upset and I know I shouldnt but I am because this site has helped me so much and those people have no idea how supportive we are here.

Bashing myfitnesspal not so much. What I've discovered as a support system for a sister-friend's commitment to dropping weight before her wedding, is how difficult accountability truly is. Having to be conscious of her estimates, from the least to the most calories she is to allow herself on the daily to start, is torturesome. I can clearly see that she's been consuming close to 1.5K calories more than her drop weight allotment of calories on average daily, with the mass she's accumulated since she'd stopped watching her numbers, whilst eating more of her dietary preference.

I rarely talk to her about it for I have a low dial of tolerance when someone I know opts in to drop weight only to quit prematurely. When she'd last broached the subject with me (which is a rarity), I'd had to tell her, that to drop weight and to commit to what she clearly knows is necessary, if she presently lacks the motivation to stick to it with all the distractions (relationship/small business startup/custody issues@step-child), it's best she lays off of it, until she is fully determined to achieve her ideal weight, for herself, in her own time, at her own pace, under accommodating conditions.

Chelle8070

I ignore them! Who cares if I don't count calories for forever? Right now, that's what I'm doing and I'm going to keep doing it as long as I please... much like their keto or juice cleanse or gluten free or whatever else they may be doing.

I try not to listen to anyone who bashes me, period. (Easier said than done, but still)

RAinWA

Say "okay" and walk away every time they bring it up. Eventually they will stop.

And don't take it to heart or give them space in your head. You aren't doing this for them, you are doing it for you so their opinion doesn't count at all.

ESPRESSO_OR_ELSE

Chelle8070 wrote: »

I ignore them! Who cares if I don't count calories for forever? Right now, that's what I'm doing and I'm going to keep doing it as long as I please... much like their keto or juice cleanse or gluten free or whatever else they may be doing.

I try not to listen to anyone who bashes me, period. (Easier said than done, but still)

Completely support this. This is YOUR journey. This is YOUR life. Many people will have differing opinions. If it works for you, stick to it. Wish them luck with their journey.

earlnabby

My comeback is "I am on the ELMM diet". Some go oh, cool. Others want to know what it is but they immediately lose interest when I say it is eat less, move more. MFP doesn't even come into the conversation.

JeromeBarry1

If CICO were on the ballot, it would lose the election. People can't handle the truth.

Ralphone

It has worked for me .I have used mfp for about 6 years.So don't worry what other pepole say. If it works for you then do it . I started at 260 now 192 . I run and ride 5 days a week.This thing works .

SabAteNine

I don't discuss what I do for weight management in real life. If I am asked directly, I will talk about it (briefly and simply), but I think that method-wise, it's to each their own. If they want to do keto / juicing / magic pills / unicorns, it's up to them. Counting calories is not for everyone - some people still have to overcome the mental barrier that prohibits them to see weight management as a `for life` thing. And for us counters with terrible eyeballing skills, counting may very well be for life too. Nothing wrong with that.

And in answer to your question, you... don't. You take the high road and save yourself the frustration and time lost