"How are you doing it?" - What's your answer?

TammyLanham

When people see me & notice my weight loss (by the way, it took me losing 21 pounds before anyone ever said a word), they ask "So, what program are you using?" or "How are you doing it?" Then they look at me weird when I tell them I'm exercising, making better food choices and exercising. Is that so hard to believe? Just wondering what others tell folks when they ask...

And another question - do you get agitated when people you know are just not committed to doing it? A friend of mine quit MFP b/c people were questioning her eating out 8 times over a 4 day period & she couldn't understand why she gained 6 pounds. Another friend is using her neighbor's illegal weight loss pills... A 3rd friend said she can't drink as much water as MFP recommends b/c she doesn't want to have to pee so much through the day...... really,..... really???? REALLY???

Sorry, I guess it's a day for me to rant...

fteale

Just pick a quick and easy part to answer with. No one wants a seminar on weight loss when they ask that question. I just tell people I am training for a half marathon and so running 3 times a week.

Melis25Fit

I say it's not rocket science. Eat right and excercise. I get dumbfounded looks often. LOL. I'm like what? Magic Pills? No such thing.

BroDave

When people see me & notice my weight loss (by the way, it took me losing 21 pounds before anyone ever said a word),

That is what I found to be true 20lbs before anyone really noticed. It really makes me feel great to have people notice and say something.

Alway find people who don't think they can do it. I found it is more about a lack of commitment than anything, as the real reason they don't do anything.

pittielover23

When people see me & notice my weight loss (by the way, it took me losing 21 pounds before anyone ever said a word), they ask "So, what program are you using?" or "How are you doing it?" Then they look at me weird when I tell them I'm exercising, making better food choices and exercising. Is that so hard to believe? Just wondering what others tell folks when they ask...

And another question - do you get agitated when people you know are just not committed to doing it? A friend of mine quit MFP b/c people were questioning her eating out 8 times over a 4 day period & she couldn't understand why she gained 6 pounds. Another friend is using her neighbor's illegal weight loss pills... A 3rd friend said she can't drink as much water as MFP recommends b/c she doesn't want to have to pee so much through the day...... really,..... really???? REALLY???

Sorry, I guess it's a day for me to rant...

Eh, I do not get irritated with people that don't do it, because I have been that person. Many many times. Making excuses is a way to avoid doing something that is very very very hard.

sophjakesmom

I tell them I joined a gym and found a great app that lets me track what I eat and when I workout. The ones that want to know more will ask. I guess I can remember how many times I asked people that question before I was ready to make a change in my life. I know what you mean though, if they aren't interested in making a real change, I don't want to hear about how bad they feel or how unhealthy they are.

dfborders

I just tell people I am keeping track of my food and calorie intake. If they ask I tell them about MFP. As far as if people are committed - I don't get upset. I have tried 1,000s of diets - I have lost, I have gained, I have good experiences and bad experiences. I have been the one saying "I need to lose weight" but not committed so I just tell everyone if it doesn't work - try something else.

kbanzhaf

Hi,
It took 30 pounds before people really noticed with me (but then again, I refused to buy clothes that actually fit me until then too :laugh: )
Anyway, I tell them I watch my portion sizes, watch my carbs (keep it to 15 "carbs" or less a day, and 1 carb is 15 grams of carboyhdrates), and walked my butt off. A friend of mine, shortly before he died from Swine Flu, turned me around and whispered in my ear, "Literally." LOL One of my fondest memories of him.
Kaye

Juliebean_1027

When people see me & notice my weight loss (by the way, it took me losing 21 pounds before anyone ever said a word),

Umm, I lost 40 pounds before a single person said a word to me. And it was my best friend who said 'Hey your butt is looking smaller!' I think people are just uncomfortable mentioning weight (whether it's a loss or a gain) to people because they're not sure how other people will react.

FearAnLoathing

I tell people they have to dance outside naked under a full moon with a rubber chicken glued to their forehead screaming UNGA BUNGA

audjrey

Funny that you ask this question and I for one am curious to hear what others have to say too.

My ex-husband lost 50 pounds over six months (from 250 to 200 lbs).

NO ONE NOTICED!!

Then he came to me and our daughter. We put him on a healthy yet restricted eating plan. He lost 25 pounds in one month.

EVERYONE NOTICED!!

Their first reaction was to ask him if he was ill.

The funny thing is, he started losing weight because he was diagnosed with diabetes. As a result of diet & exercise, he's no longer diabetic and is in the best health & fitness of his life!

When he verified he didn't have cancer or aids (the two usual suspects), they then asked if he had surgery (you know the one where they bypass the stomach - I forget what it's called). When he said no, they were baffled. They then asked if he used diet pills. Again he told them no.

Ruling out these three very popular choices for losing weight (can you believe sickness is a popular way to lose weight {what the heck????}), they simply refused to believe there was any other way and suspected he was lying.

Can you believe that????

The following month my ex began working out on the stationary bike and treadmill. He lost another 15 pounds in one month. Now people are CONVINCED he's sick and dying lol!

What ever happened to good old fashioned hard work & clean eating as a means to lose weight?

SassyStef

lol yes that answer gets a lot of WHA faces lol I think plp dont wanna believe that it is that easy because there are so many, lose weight the quick way, the cookie diet, the drink chocolate all day or take a pill.
I also get agitated too but it passed fast because they are LAZY!! I have some friends and my hubby who starve themslves and dont provide the propper nutrition as they work out then wonder why they are gaining or not losing or whatever their thing is. I was even on a plateau for a month and didnt give up.
I try not to compare myself to others it is a waste of time but I totally get it
Great job on your weight loss and remember JUST DO YOU!!

MochaMixAZ

I tell people now, "Thank you. You know, I'm just so lucky - I can eat whatever I want, consume 5000 calories a day, eat out all the time, don't exercise, and the weight is just falling off. Amazing, huh?"

maysflower

When people say to me "Have you lost weight?" I say, "I just look smaller because you've gotten bigger!"

Just joking! That is what I wish I could say to some people. I just say I'm eating better, and exercising. Btw, no one ever commented on my weight loss until 50lbs down.

SassyStef

I tell people they have to dance outside naked under a full moon with a rubber chicken glued to their forehead screaming UNGA BUNGA

BAHAHHAH LOVE IT!! I am totally stealing that answer :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

roberbro

It took me losing 30 pounds before anyone notice my weight loss as well. And I get the same question of "What diet are you using?" all the time. When I reply that I'm simply eating healthier, maintaining a calorie deficit and exercising, they look at me like I just said I murdered three people on the way to work. The truth is, people only want to hear about unrealistic miracle products and exotic diet schemes.

cangel81603

I tell them I count calories by using MFP, drink lots of water and I exercise 6 days a week. They usually don't believe me or they look me up and down and say some smart *kitten* comment. A few girls from my work came over to workout with me. I do Insanity .. only one came back..lol. Now everyone at work knows I'm not telling any stories..lol

LovelySnugs

haven't gotten that question yet, but i imagine when i do, i'll prolly tell people that i contracted some kind of intestinal parasite on my trip to south Africa.

and then, of course, i'll have to explain how i've lived below the poverty line literally my whole life and still managed a trip to south Africa. but whatever BS i make up will probably be just as believable as the truth - hard work.

therealangd

I say "I eat right, exercise and drink lots of water"

swebb1103

I tell them the truth - I watch my portions/calorie intake and I exercise an hour per day, 4 - 5 days a week.

JulieF11

When people trick themselves into believing they are doing the "right" things, but won't fess up to what they are really doing. I just feel sorry for them. I've been there, done that. We are the lucky ones... the ones willing to do it the right way, count calories and exercise. Any other way is doomed to fail... even gastric bypass patients gain it back if they don't track what they are eating! Crazy, huh? We are blessed to have found MFP and have the opportunity to learn from one another.

anulle2009

When people see me & notice my weight loss (by the way, it took me losing 21 pounds before anyone ever said a word),

Umm, I lost 40 pounds before a single person said a word to me. And it was my best friend who said 'Hey your butt is looking smaller!' I think people are just uncomfortable mentioning weight (whether it's a loss or a gain) to people because they're not sure how other people will react.

I was super mad because no one said really anything to me but my husband. But i think you made a good valid point, people do feel odd mentioning weight

BobbyDaniel

It started really becoming noticeable for me after about 20-30 pounds. And I do get asked "How are you doing it?" followed by a lot of really bad assumptions...like only eating salads, not eating at all, etc. When I tell people it is a rounded diet, exercise and portion control they have a hard time believing it I suppose...but it is really that simple.

Mtsidad

I'm OK with people asking. Most of the time it's just conversation. And I just say, "I'm just not eating as much." And then the conversation changes. Which is how it should be.

Really, hearing someone talk about their diet is just below hearing someone talk about their vacation. You think they *REALLY* want to hear what you're putting in your mouth? They probably weren't interested in what you were doing to gain weight.

Plus, I ran into someone (a woman) at a party recently, and I thought she was pregnant. But then I thought, oh, what if she isn't? (The scenes from "Dave" the movie ran through my head pretty quickly.) So I just said, "You're looking great," and she smiled, and that was that, and then later she mentioned she was expecting in 4 months, and that was fine. She talked a bit more about the baby, which is great, because I love talking about kids and families, but I felt good that I hadn't asked The Awkward Question.

It's great to have people notice, but I'm pretty sure that most people don't stare at their friends too much to the point of recognizing subtle changes over time. Maybe if you meet someone you haven't seen in 4 months and you've lost 50 pounds they might notice.

GypsyWagon

I think many people feel like saying "You've lost weight!" is tantamount to saying "You were so BIG before." :laugh:

I just say, "You know...eat less...move more." I think most folks know deep down that that's what it takes. We just all hold out hope for an easy, quick fix. If they continue to want more info, then I go into MFP and the great deal I found at a local gym. But, most times the short answer suffices.

ItsCasey

I tell people that I lost weight (80 lbs so far) "the old fashioned way ... diet and exercise." Some of them will immediately roll their eyes and disappear, and I know those people will not be losing any weight any time soon. Some of them will ask more specific questions about what kind of exercises I do, what kind of food I eat, etc., and I know those people might actually be able to do this.

I don't get irritated when people don't commit. I understand that no one is successful at this until they get their wake-up call. All the good intentions and all the planning in the world won't help until you get that feeling in your gut that you are done being fat. I'm fortunate that I got that feeling at a pretty young age because I can already tell, in my late 20s, that it's a lot harder to do this as you get older. I can't imagine starting this process over at square one even right now, let alone 10 years from now when I'm knocking on 40.

What does irritate me is when people complain all the time about how they aren't losing any weight, followed immediately by a story about how they spent the whole weekend getting drunk or lounging around the house, eating crap and watching Tivo. I will commiserate all day with someone who is really busting his/her tail, but I don't have the time or the sympathy to deal with people who are failing because of their own lack of self-control.

MyNameIsNotBob

I usually say, "I actually have time to hit the gym these days," which is pretty much all it is for me. I haven't significantly changed my eating habits, and I've tracked calories before with other programs, without losing much weight, even while walking 5+ miles a day. Exercise is def. key for me, and so I let people know that. Then they usually say something like, "I was afraid that's what you were going to say." LOL.

I'm not annoyed at people who aren't committed. But I AM annoyed at people who whine about not being able to lose weight, but never try to do it the right way.

LuckyLeprechaun

I tell people they have to dance outside naked under a full moon with a rubber chicken glued to their forehead screaming UNGA BUNGA

I love you...................you crack me up daily!


I just always tell them the name of the site. MFP changed my life, and I'm always excited to tell anyone who wants to know

VictorinoDennis

I started this change when I was 323 and currently am 292. Some guys at work have noticed and asked. I said that I gained weight so I can become a worlds strongest man LOL They laugh but they know how it's done. There is a guy around the corner that saw and asked. He is big too and I gave him what you all gave me a supportive answer and some encouragement. He is doing good .

amberaz

The Every Damn Day Diet. You have to eat healthy food in reasonable amounts and move your *kitten*. Every Damn Day LOL! You are all right though, nobody wants to hear that and most are just hoping that you can give them the easy solution.

Iceskatefanrn

The Every Damn Day Diet. You have to eat healthy food in reasonable amounts and move your *kitten*. Every Damn Day LOL!

I'm totally going to steal this one! I must say, I kind of relate to those that don't really wanna hear this, because I've been there, done that! I just turned 51, and it is so totally true, this is much, MUCH harder in this decade than when I lost nearly all my excess weight in my late 20's, then again in my 30's, then did it again in my mid-40's.

Why did I have to do it again? Why am I here now? Because I failed to follow the Every Damn Day Diet! BUT I TELL YOU HERE AND NOW, NO MORE! I don't know why but this time around I am unbelievably determined, and I hope you all join in my success when I'm ready to post my BEFORE AND AFTER pics.

This September I will celebrate being married to the man of my dreams for 22 years - he's the hunka-hunka-burnin'-love in my profile pic. I wanna be fit and healthy for him, and for me... for us, so we can have the active lifestyle we want... and I AM GOING TO GET THERE!

Every Damn Day!!!

:drinker:

Ice