How to handle uninvited diet advice?

Kiwi94544

Agree with what everyone else says. There are always those people who want to give input, even if it's unsolicited. I genuinely think most of the time, they are trying to be helpful... but there are always those few who tend to come off as know-it-all people who seem to get off a bit on feeling like they have endless knowledge to share & feel like it's their mission to educate the ignorants.... lol. It can get a little tiresome having to act interested in their input, especially when you're not looking not asking for their insight...

But like everyone else said, you just have to shrug it off. The road to weight loss can be a funny path sometimes....
You have those who are very supportive about it...
You have others who are competitive ("How much weight did you lose? 3 lbs - oh, I lost 4!" - "How many calories did YOU eat yesterday? 1,500? Oh wow - I NEVER go over 1300!" etc.... you know what I'm talking about. The ones who are always asking you about what you're doing, then trying to "one-up" you regardless of what you say, lol)
You have the know-it-alls
And then you have the haters, lol

I think in general, most people who see you making positive changes are supportive. The few that aren't are just misguided or perhaps a little envious that you have the willpower to do what they cannot - or will not.

In any event, it all boils down to you - and how you take things.
Do what you need to do for you, and heed the advice you seek out from people you trust.
To everyone else - and the comments they make - just smile, nod, and then carry on with your day & do what you know is best for YOU.

rduhlir

My reply is usually, "Thanks, but I found what works for me." At first.

Then if they keep pushing I say something like: "Well, I lost 25 lbs doing what I am doing so I don't need or want your help." I get kind of pissy if people don't get the clue the first time lol.

Capt_Apollo

sometimes when people give me advice like that, i put it in the back of my mind to revisit later. i'll say "thanks, i'll look into it."

something like this, might bear looking at. what exactly is B12? what benefits does it have? i don't know enough about it to immediately dismiss it, so why should i assume it's all broscience and mumbo jumbo?

B12 supplementation is extremely useful FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE B12 DEFICIENT.

Everyone else just pees it out. I supplement it because 20 years of being a vegetarian has made me deficient.

yup, i'm reading about it now.

most people are able to get enough B12 from their food, like fish, meat, poultry, and some breakfast cereals that are fortified with the vitamin.

about 1.5% to 15% of people are B12 deficient.

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB12-QuickFacts/

tedrickp

I usually give them the ol...

selfepidemic1

Ignore it. I wouldn't stress, seriously. I've had my Mum tell me I'm going to die of cancer. Okay Mum! Thanks! C:

randomtai

I would not even dignify them with a response. I would laugh and walk away. :ohwell:

It's impossible to walk away when you're on a treadmill

OP wasn't on a treadmill, OP was using the treadmills during lunch. I am assuming the interaction happened afterwards.
Otherwise it would look like this

Lleldiranne

Just say "thank you for your concern" and move on.

Alternatively, based on the advice, you can say "thank your for your advice" and "thank you for your opinion"

NikiChicken

I smile and nod and move along.

gurlygirlrcr80

Id ask if that's what their nutritionist told them to do? Or did they have to have blood work done to find out if they needed it or how did they come that conclusion. And when they say they read it...id say...hmm interesting.

dym123

Like others have said, just smile and nod and then completely ignore what they said. I got this alot during my weight loss process, funny thing was all the so-called advice I got was from people that obviously needed to lose weight and yet I've lost weight (not following their asinine advice) and they're still overweight. What's up with that?

alt1268

Sometimes, I am guilty of doing this and recieving this myself. Let me explain. 1- doing this- I really am thinking that the person who is logging in their diary that they are eating lots of sweets but complaining about not being able to loose weight, I will say things like you may want to increase your fruits and vegatables and increase water intake. I don't bring up the sweets and throw it in their face.

2- yes, I hate it when people give tell to start taking pills. I don't want pills and to be honest I can only take in certain foods anymore. (stomach issues)

So I am guilty of both. So I guess I could punch myself. (lol)

jess135177

I usually don't tell people I'm trying to lose weight unless they ask. I hear all types of things, I just say thanks for the info and move on. I also make sure not to give out uninvited advice myself, even when someone is eating 700 calories a day and taking "green tea ketone junk".

lyzmorrison

Smile and nod b/c you never know...one day you may hear something that interests you. I have a coworker who gives me alot of advice. I ignore a lot of it, but yesterday he was telling me about a specific juicer...and we got in this long conversation where he educated me on all things juicer. I got on-line, checked it out and ordered a nice one. I'm so excited! If I had shut him down before, I would have missed out on something interesting!

Booksandbeaches

I just say "hmmm...interesting"...and walk away.

ShortStrut

I know everyone just wants to kinda jump out and say, ignore them! But I dunno, I guess I'm the opposite, I want to hear what EVERYONE has to say.

I'll store it all in my brain, maybe research it later, see if there's sound advice in it. Keep the parts that appeal to me, store away the ones that I'm not quite ready for, and trash the ones that go against some sort of personal stance, like taking pills or something, that I know I will never do or need.

stumblinthrulife

How to handle bad unsolicited advice - say 'thanks', then ignore it entirely.

How to handle good unsolicited advice - say 'thanks', then learn from it.

Davina_JH

What's that you say?! B12??!!!

GBrady43068

Smile and nod, boys...smile and nod.

GBrady43068

Smile and nod b/c you never know...one day you may hear something that interests you. I have a coworker who gives me alot of advice. I ignore a lot of it, but yesterday he was telling me about a specific juicer...and we got in this long conversation where he educated me on all things juicer. I got on-line, checked it out and ordered a nice one. I'm so excited! If I had shut him down before, I would have missed out on something interesting!

This also.

You attract more flies with honey and they might know SOMEthing that could prove useful. Even if it becomes nothing more than the fact that they know you are working out and might help kick your butt to do your workout here and there on a day you might otherwise have skipped it.

mteague277

For some reason this annoys me more than anything. Stay out of my diet and I will stay out of yours! Even so, I usually just say "oh that is interesting, thanks for sharing what works for you" and move on.

nedtoloseme

Most people really are trying to be helpful, so just take it for what it's worth and keep on doing your thing. Don't stress. :flowerforyou:

I've had family members, whom I really adore, tell me that I need to stop losing weight as it will cause my face to sink in and I will look unhealthy. I just tell them not to worry and that I'm feeling great. I don't really discuss my goals anymore as it seems to make the issue worse. For the record, I'm over 5'6" and currently weigh 155.4 lbs. It has taken me about 16 months to lose nearly 58 lbs (so it's not a quick-fix loss). My goal is 148, which is still at the higher end of the healthy range.

THIS. I have family and friends say the same to me. I've learned that people are used to seeing you in a certain way, so to see you look or do something different (like being on the treadmill) they feel they need to offer advice. Like others have said, just say "thank you" and move on. They really do have your best interest at heart (even though they have no nutritionist license).

At least you have some place you can come and vent.

ianthamfyolek

Smile and nod... smile and nod...

That.


Or fart in their general direction.

Their mother must have been a hamster.

_Pseudonymous_

Smile and nod... smile and nod...

That.


Or fart in their general direction.

Their mother must have been a hamster.

and their father ate elderberries

jackpotclown

Smile and nod... smile and nod...

That.


Or fart in their general direction.

Their mother must have been a hamster.

and their father ate elderberries

and doesn't like a dose english types \m/

__Di__

I just had someone at work tell me that they've noticed I've been using the treadmill during my lunches and that I really need to make sure I'm taking B12 supplements otherwise I won't have the metabolism I need to lose weight. While I'm aware that she thinks she's coming from a good place I'm still annoyed. This wasn't the first time someone has given me unsolicited advice about my workouts or eating habits and I know it won't be the last. This is my journey and I'll share it with who I want. Even if that's thousands of strangers on MFP. Maybe I just needed to vent more than anything but I was wondernig how others handle those types of situations. Do you laugh it off? Do you say thank you? Do you politely nod while daydreaming of punching the other person in the face?

Just say something like "yep, no probs all in hand" and thumbs up.

At least they aren't being spiteful or malicious, they mean well, just be gracious and continue what you are doing.

Escape_Artist

I get stuff like that all the time, from ''you shouldn't eat that bread, it will make you fat'' to '' you don't need to be a vegetarian to lose weight (IMO totally uncalled for... I being vegetarian has nothing to do with my weight loss...)''


I decided at one point to just say ''I'll keep that in mind...'', brush it off and move on.

Jkn921

Hear this constantly, I'd personally ignore it I understand it gets frustrating. I don't see why other people make everything about them or get involved in everything.

phrendlynut

I was nice, nodded, and replied with "Oh, okay."

Normally, I would have just let it go but for some reason today it just really bugged me. I needed to vent and I needed to vent to people who would really understand.

Thanks everyone! I appreciate all of the input and the laughs. :happy:

RoseGoldDinosaur

If I don't know the person at all or if I know them really well (family, boyfriend, etc) they get a "piss off!"

At work I usually enjoy chatting about health but when I get unsolicited crap they usually just get a "hey- what I'm doing seems to be working!"

emjaycazz

I just say something like "Cool! I didn't know that--I'll keep that in mind." I DO think that most people are just wanting to be helpful and for the most part it is coming from a good place. Heck, I'm tempted many times to preach on and on about the stuff that I like.

If they continue to talk, I try and change the subject to something else.:blushing: