How to deal with outsiders comments on your food intake

fitplease

The first thought which came to mind were experiences I had with obese roommates. They both loved to cook. The fridge was always overflowing with their food. I had to cram mine in. I remember the one roommate, whose specialty was baked goods, would keep asking me to imbibe in her food. I would constantly turn her down, because I just didn't have the same sweet tooth. I remember at least one commenting on how little I ate, more than once.

I was down to 140 at the time, which is a healthy weight for me.

Aaron_K123

I actually got "concern" comments about 3 years ago when I had been on a fitness kick and had dropped down to 14% bodyfat and 155 pounds as a 6' tall man (see my profile pic, that's me at that time). Admittedly even I was shocked that I could be 155 pounds, seemed so light for a man my height, but fact of the matter is I am very small framed and as such when I get toned and fit without losing muscle I get down to about 155. I felt good, I looked good, I was in the best shape of my life both cardiovascular and with strength but got comments about how I was taking things too far and yadda yadda. I didn't just ignore the comments, I considered them, I remeasured myself...did a self-check, checked strength, checked running, checked body-fat content and decided that actually I was doing really well so I just ignored it after that.

At some level you have to trust yourself. If you are feeling better, looking better and are stronger and more fit than ever before then you are on the right track. If you look thin, feel weak and have lost strength then yeah there might be something to be concerned about.

KameHameHaaa

PEOPLE DON'T LIKE CHANGE! That is what I've come to realize during my own weightloss journey. The people closest to you, your best friends, family etc... they see something different happening to you and it either scares them or makes them jealous. That's just how people are and no matter what anyone says to you, ignore it (or think of some snarky comebacks) and continue on. This is YOUR journey and YOUR health, not theirs.

meganjcallaghan

My favorites are people who want to tell me how to lose weight. I was working the morning shift in a convenience store and would often eat my breakfast behind the counter. I can't count how many comments I received about how fattening my breakfast was. A pretty standard breakfast for me is 1 egg, 1 ounce chopped chicken breast, 1/4 avocado and 1/4 cup of homemade refried black beans and 1/2 ounce of cheese and some fresh salsa. ... I once had a woman buying a banana nut muffin... telling me how she could never handle "so much fat" for her breakfast. I had another customer tell me that it was great that I'd lost some weight but that I'd better start eating healthier and cutting out all the eggs and cheese before I die of heart disease. WTF?

haha, I would have quickly informed her of how much fat she was getting in her convenience store bought banana nut muffin. I'd also have the exact details and benefits of my own breakfast ready to divulge so she could see how crappy her choice was in comparison.

LiftAllThePizzas

People will make a lot of comments on it and when i say i'm just checking what I eat people start making comments about eating disorder or how i'm obsessed with what I eat.

As far as they are concerned, your explaining yourself to them justifies their commenting in the first place and invites future comments.

jrose1982

I just stopped telling people what I'm doing. If somebody comments on what I'm eating I say "It's good. You should try it." If they comment on how much, I say "that's all I want". Initially, I actually lied. I would say things like "I had a big lunch."
And then change the subject. That's the important part. Make it clear that your eating habits are not open for discussion.

And it's none of their business anyway. So the goal is not to give them a satisfactory answer, or even to get them to understand. The goal is to give them an answer that will inspire them to shut up.

Every now and then I do get lured into a discussion about how I'm losing weight. It starts off politely, somebody asks a simple question, I give them a simple answer. It grows to a full explanation, while they listen politely. And then the real comments start. That's when it's my turn to listen politely while they talk. And when they're done I say "don't worry, I know what I'm doing." And then change the subject.

Yanicka1

But for the record, my answer would be something along the lines of "If I wanted to look like you, I would eat like you."

Harsh......I love it lol

mariluny

Glad i'm not the only one then! Thanks everyone for your support

BigT555

get this all the time, strangley enough from the people who have commented on how good i look compared to previous months. i just tell them if i didnt look at the label then i wouldnt be where i am now, that usually shuts them up lol

havenoenvyonlylove

I am finally back to pre freshman 15 weight and had a couple people comment that I was anorexic for making smart choices like eating couscous and scrambled eggs. These same people made comments when I ate too much, there really is no way to please them. What keeps me going is that it's your body not theirs, your lifestyle choices that will have the positive impact not their words. They dont have to deal with the weight you put on when they hurt you like that . So stay strong and believe in the positive changes you're making in your life and celebrate your success!

abrockhausen

Ugghh. Someone brought donuts into work and I really wanted one so I looked up the calories/fat to make an informed choice about was it worth the calories...people at work flipped out. "Its just a donut, just eat it" said the skinny girl who eats whatever she wants. I said yes, but I have a goal and I want to work for it, support me or shut up.

pinkshiningstar

Start reacting to their food choices, they'll stop reacting to yours.

I'm kidding. Kind of.

But for how many times I've gone to a restaurant, ordered a salad and gotten hassled for it... I'd love to say something like, "You keep slathering that mayo on your burger bun. See where it gets you." Lol!

People always have an opinion, and that's fine. They're entitled. But you're also entitled to yours. You shouldn't have to defend YOUR eating habits. (One of those easier said than done moments, I know )

dopeysmelly

The only reason I don't get these comments is because my Mom and my sister live on the other side of the Atlantic. Seriously. If I saw them more frequently than every 1 or 2 years, they'd be at me all the time. First for being too heavy and not doing anything about it, and then for not going about it the right way.

I don't encourage discussion of my private life at work beyond kids, vacations and my yard, and with friends' comments I just say "yes, I've lost weight" and leave it at that. I have a tone and a look sometimes that I've been told is intimidating even though I'm a sweetie.

I feel for you, but 54 lbs!! Damn. That is a huge amount of weight, regardless of where you started, quite frankly. You should be incredibly proud of yourself.

willrun4bagels

I've had coworkers tell me in the past that I used to eat "like a little bird" at lunchtime. Now, they say things like "I don't understand how you can eat literally all day long and still lose weight". I've had family say "is that all you're eating?" ("Why YES, that's 'all' I'm eating, it's 900 calories worth of food. Get off my d*ck"). I've ordered burgers without the bun at restaurants and had servers look at me like I had 3 heads. I never bring up the fact that I weigh and log everything I eat to most people, and don't feel that I'm obligated to explain it to them.

monicapatituccijones

Silence is golden. it's hard not to respond, because silence is uncomfortable, but in this case, that's what you're trying to achieve: making people so uncomfortable that they shut up.

My mom used to make comments about my weight loss, along the lines of me being anorexic. I've never been anorexic, and I am a perfectly healthy weight now. But any calorie restriction was the road to an eating disorder in her eyes. I know the foundation was concern for me, so I tried not to be rude. But it was still hella annoying.

Tina1737

Oh yes, the workplace goodies. Usually what I do is first evaluate the situation. Is the treat "worth it"? If so, I'll take one and eat only part of it. (I've even taken something just for show and later disposed of it. Seriously.) For my recent birthday, my colleagues thought they were doing something nice for me by having an assortment of desserts (strawberry short cake, ice cream with chocolate sauce and nuts, cookies and candy). I cut myself a small slice of the cake (it looked really good and fresh) and enjoyed it. I passed on the other stuff because it looked like, quite frankly, junk. I know that might sound really ungrateful, but so be it. It's your life, not theirs. You are an adult capable of making your own choices. But, I get it that it can be tricky with the coworkers.

fredman2

Oh, I don't know if 'obsessive' is the one word, for example I am not 'obsessive' about losing weight but I am very 'obsessive' about reading labels and controlling what I eat.

And as far as people that make any kind of comments, you will learn there are two kinds of people in life:
1) those that have something to say, and
2) those that have to say something.

There is a big difference between the two.

Koldnomore

My favorites are people who want to tell me how to lose weight. I was working the morning shift in a convenience store and would often eat my breakfast behind the counter. I can't count how many comments I received about how fattening my breakfast was. A pretty standard breakfast for me is 1 egg, 1 ounce chopped chicken breast, 1/4 avocado and 1/4 cup of homemade refried black beans and 1/2 ounce of cheese and some fresh salsa. ... I once had a woman buying a banana nut muffin... telling me how she could never handle "so much fat" for her breakfast. I had another customer tell me that it was great that I'd lost some weight but that I'd better start eating healthier and cutting out all the eggs and cheese before I die of heart disease. WTF?

Congratulations on the amazing loss so far! It really just shows you that no one has any clue where anyone is on their journey..Considering how many calories and fat are in a banana nut muffin you would think that she would be the last to say anything.

People are jealous spiteful creatures. Thankfully no one makes any of those comments around me - probably because they know I'd throat punch them ;p My family has asked me when I'll stop losing, to which I normally answer "when I look the way I want to look" . They are used to you looking a certain way, it will take them a while to get used to the new you. Until then, learn to ignore them or just smile and nod and move on - or throat punch em!