It's nothing special..just working out and eating healthy

LainMac

This is a really great thread. I am at a weight were the ten pounds lost doesn't show but I am determined for this to be a lifelong lifestyle change. I appreciate the heads up about the weird reactions folks are having to your sensible "boring" weight loss. The magic pills comments crack me up.

I hope sometime next spring (when the winter clothes are changed for lighter gear) that I will get these comments and smile knowingly and think "Ah yes, the magic pill syndrome!".

TruSunshine

Thanks so much for this thread! :flowerforyou: You are absolutely right! I know exactly what you mean. I have dealt with that a lot. All the time, people ask me how am I losing weight and I say counting calories and exercise, they look as if I’m lying or don’t want to give them my “diet” secret. It makes me want to scream: “Come people, it’s not that hard. Put the junk down, get your butt off the couch, and start moving! Do you need a mathematical equation?! Well here you go,” Less junk + More exercise = Weight Loss!! :huh:

jmathews

I tell everyone that I "OWN" my weight loss because I was NOT on any kind of program. I'm not knocking those who are on programs but it's like you said-people assume you did it with help or through starving. It's not rocket science....

janet67

Good for you. . .you sound like a strong and secure woman, and we need more people like you in the world. Congratulations on committing to eating healthy, working out and getting fit. Is that your son in the picture with you? He is adorable and you are setting such a good example for him. Tell the "nay sayers" to "stuff it" and do what your are doing!
I would love to have you as a friend on the site!!

tkphotogirl

You are so right!

Last week I went to an Italian restaurant for lunch with some colleagues, and since I already knew that I was having a big dinner, I just had parma ham and melon with salad instead of a whole 14 inch pizza. This must have got the work gossip machine started.

Today we had a lunch buffet and I picked out a pretty normal lunch of sandwiches and fruit (three hundred and something calories). Before I found out about the free food (hey, I'm NEVER going to turn down a free lunch ), I'd already eaten a small slice of cake I'd left in the fridge on Friday, but nobody saw me eat that because I was in my office. So basically between breakfast, cake and lunch I'd eaten a pretty decent amount and was around halfway though my calorie allowance for the day.

What I did NOT appreciate was the person who saw me with the fruit but not the cake or sandwiches commenting (loudly enough to draw people's attention) "You need to eat more than that, you'll waste away at the rate you're going!".

Oh, do I? Will I? Firstly, I barely know you; don't be so rude. Secondly, I haven't even seen you for six months so you're in no position to judge the rate I've lost weight at. Thirdly, you don't know what I've already eaten today, or what I'm planning to eat for dinner, so butt out!

I didn't say any of that of course (much as I would have loved to - I'm only ever confrontational in my head and after the fact!), just smiled sweetly and said 'actually I'm done with the sandwiches and cake already, the fruit is my third course'. Let 'em work that one out!

cakenedith2

people who makes those comments are the opposite of what we need on this site! what ever happened to being supportive? losing weight is hard and for me, it's an emotional process.

thank you for your post and just keep doing what your doing!

i would love to be your friend!!

rml_16

(I only read the first couple posts in here, so if I missed something, excuse me.)

Here's why people make those comments: Personal insecurity. Eating healthy, limiting calories and exercising are HARD WORK. Plain and simple, it's the best way to lose weight, but not the easiest. It's human nature to want a quick fix and not have to work for it, so when they see someone having success who's doing it "right," they want to hear that the person isn't really doing it "right." It makes them feel better.

I did WW before this, and it's basically the same thing -- just a different way of tracking. Do you know how many people told me WW "didn't work" for them?

Nope. WW works. Counting calories works. It's the person who doesn't. It's tough to accept weakness in onesself.

BrayyNicole

AGREEE! I get that all the time..

Esp from my friends I dont see too often.

"If you dont start eating, youre going to blow away." -- i hear it all too often.

Its like.. I AM eating.. just not 2 quarter pounders with cheese, a large fry, and a coke like I used to.

sally150

You preach it and I'll turn the pages! You're right.....keep it up!

LosingLbsAndGainingConfidence

Good for you. . .you sound like a strong and secure woman, and we need more people like you in the world. Congratulations on committing to eating healthy, working out and getting fit. Is that your son in the picture with you? He is adorable and you are setting such a good example for him. Tell the "nay sayers" to "stuff it" and do what your are doing!
I would love to have you as a friend on the site!!

Thanks! And yes that is my son he's my world..hes one of the things that keeps me going..I would never want him to be embaressed of his fat mom..or have to deal with seeing me sick or anything that was caused by being overweight..and I would never want him to go through the things I did while I was a child for being overweight.

xcbballuver

Yeah, I get this one all the time. One coworker who hadn't seen me for a while actually came up and told me how sorry he was that I was sick. He thought I had cancer! Um, no, but thanks. And when people ask me what "program" I'm doing and I tell them nothing - just good old healthy eating and exercise, they look disappointed and quickly lose interest. See, they want to lose weight, too, but don't want to hear that it takes hard work and discipline. It would be sooo much easier if I just told them what they wanted to hear - that I found a miracle pill on some obscure Chinese herbal web site, and I suppose I might be able to part with 30 of them for $100. I could easily fund my retirement selling bogus multi-vitamins this way! And believe me, I've been tempted.

Oh, and the comment that I'm too thin really chaps my *kitten* too. Um, I'm 5'4" and weigh 135 pounds - I AM NOT too thin. In fact, I'm on the high end of normal for my height, but since I do a lot of weight lifting, it doesn't look it. Several of my coworkers have jumped on the lifestyle bandwagon and are doing P90X, C25K, etc. Sometimes, I'll bring in healthy recipes I've gotten off this site for them to sample. Like the brownies from Jillian Michaels' show, for example. I explain how to make the meals better by using healthy substitutions since they're always complaining about having trouble finding stuff to eat that keeps them within their MFP goals. So now they call me the "Food Nazi" and laugh at my lunch. Whatever. You can't out-train a bad diet. Enjoy your meatloaf and potatoes with gravy, buddy.

You can only give people the information - you can't make them use it. Best of luck!

I'm in the same boat as you. I'm 5'4" and weigh 128 pounds... Ahaha except I dont have that much muscle so the fat does actually show. Whenevr we have family get togethers they usually tease me about my food choices. They go "Hey want some ice cream?" "no.." "oh yea you're on a diet hahaha!" >< thats why the people on MFP are like my support group

batty5

Jealousy, frustration or genuine concern can be the only reasons so just be happy with your success. I for one am thrilled for you & think you have done an amazing job, just wish mine could be so successful as my weight loss is so very slow despite doing everything right but I will not give in!!!!! I may have a stupid body but it will not win haha!!!!!
Often think people are jealous of the fact that an individual has the strength of character to take control so you be loud & proud .

jheller

Thank you for stating the obvious. I get frustrated with people who are doing crazy diets and such. Sure, its taken me 8 months to lose 35lbs and my co-worker who is doing slim-genics lost the same amount in 3 months but I KNOW that I'm going to keep it off - him? Not so sure. You learn as you go and that is the important thing that people don't realize when you do it the "natural" way. You learn to balance and that is so important.

To all us doing it the old fashion way: Keep it up and we'll keep it off!!

kelsully

Another problem with these people...and this one is really upsetting to me...is commenting on my weight and such in front of my kids as if I am unhealthy. I have suffered from an eating disorder in the past. When I was in high school I would have revelled in the days that I was 800 calories under my needs to maintain my weight. Now...I make sure I exercise before dinner so I know what kind of meal to prepare for myself to make sure that I eat enough to appropriately fuel my body in a healthy way. I am already a vegetarian and have been for 14 years so making a dinner that will consist of 700-1200 calories isn't always easy but I make sure that I am not more than 200 calories under on big exercise days etc. I work hard at this balance of being healthy, eating good nutritious food that oddly include lots of fruits and veggies...GASP.....and I exercise...yes I work out hard but I love it...I love running...I love to work my tail off...it feels awesome!
I saw a lady today at the store...she is married to the guy that yelled across a party at me that I had eaten 8 pretzels...mentioned him in another post in this thread. They have both called me at different times asking for MFP site info. They have both asked me what are my secrets etc..they have both come to me for advice...but when the woman saw me...with my four kids...she loudly proclaimed ..in Target no less...that I am too skinny and that I need to start eating or I will get sick and be nasty skinny. I now have to have a discussion with my kids about healthy eating and exercise. I now have to reassure my kids that mommy is doing a great job and people are sometimes jealous and say hurtful things because they feel bad that they aren't doing the healthy things for themselves etc etc. I now have to reassure them that if mommy ever was becoming unhealthy that mommy and daddy would be aware and on top of things and that I wouldn't need an acquantaince to tell me so in the Target. BTW...I am only 5 ft...I weigh 115-119 lbs. Yes I am pretty lean right now and it is tank top season. I should be allowed to wear a tank top and be proud that my arms are toned and not get harassed. I am well within the healthy range for my height. I am working hard and it is showing and instead of feeling proud I feel like I should hide it so others don't feel the need to comment on my healthy life style.
Whew...It almost made me cry today at the store ...thanks for the vent and this thread.

mish3131

Yeah, people act the same way with me. They have this surprised look on their face when I tell them I am just counting calories.