Do you tell others your success?

ItsCasey

I only tell people if they ask. And I am really uncomfortable when people make a big deal about it. I have lost a lot of weight, so people who haven't seen me in a while are definitely shocked when they do see me, and I just don't like being surrounded by people who are staring at me and commenting on my body. It would be nice if people could just say "You look great," or "Whatever you're doing, keep doing it," and then move on. But when they're all picking out certain parts of my body to comment on, I feel like I'm being scrutinized, and it creeps me out.

beccasaurus83

I go back and forth on this one. Part of me OF COURSE wants to jump and loudly holler for joy with every oz shed, but I find more and more everyday that this journey is for me, and about me, and if I really mean that and want to stick to it, I need to turn to select lucky few (hi MFPers!) to share my happiness and provide validation when I need it.

rskidmore

I won't be telling people until I'm really on track and have lost 30 or 40 pounds because I find that once I tell people they're asking all the time. My mom lives in another province and when she calls she will ask about every little detail and I'm sick and tired of that. Also, if I tell people too soon before seeing a difference myself I feel like people are judging every little thing I put in my mouth. Once I see a difference and people start seeing that what I'm doing is working, then I won't feel as self-conscious.

MamaGraves2

GREAT news, thank you for sharing your success with us!

I share the information I've been given or am using if people ask. Other wise I try not to "share my success" because it seems more people look at is I am trying to "brag or boast" about getting "skinny."
Don't get me wrong, my family & close friends are VERY supportive.
The truth is I am doing this for ME, my son and family. To get healthy the right way and make a lifestyle change. It takes a LOT of hard work to do what we are doing, so KUDOS to all of us. Keep up the AWESOME work and be proud of what you are doing!

phy40

When I have a weight loss success story, I will tell the world. I will be toooooooo happy to tell.

NovemberJune

congrats!!!! great job

i do not like to talk about my weight loss with anyone but my husband and my close family (mom, sister, grandma). it embarrasses me. others at work, who are relatively thin, will talk about their weight loss, and it just makes me extremely uncomfortable and embarrassed. i dread the day when someone comments on my weight loss. i know i need to get over that!

anyway that's why i come here for support and encouragement.

2girls4boys

My husband, kids, and mom are the only ones I talk to about it. I figure it doesn't affect my friends if I lose weight or not. Maybe when I lose a noticeable amount of weight and people comment, I will start talking about it.

Congrats on the loss!

TaneeisFitforLife

Congrats on 20 pounds lost!

My loss is pretty obvious so I've gotten to be very open with it. Now it's a part of who I am & word has gotten around enough where people that don't personally know me will find me to ask questions. My husband calls me a local celebrity? lol Anyway it's weird sometimes but if I am able to help one person change their life then it's worth it

WhyW8

I tell the people I am close with. Anyone that I am spending time with...basically anyone that is going to see me whip out my food weighing scale, measuring cup and measuring spoons at mealtime! I tell them in advance so I don't have to read the expression on their faces when I do that. I don't have that far to go - not to say it hasn't been a challenge, because it has, and it's taking my all to do this thing, but its finally working! But then people go "oh you dont' need to loose weight" and it pretty much is like "really?" don't discount the fact that I am watching what I eat and working my butt off to stay looking this way. So anyway, I feel like telling people may help them go "hmmm, maybe I could loose a few pounds too" Some people are going to be jealous, so be it! People at my office are horrible with eating - there's always a candy jar, someones birthday or some reason to get donuts for breakfast. If they know where my head is at, they are less likely to include me in the invitation for that stuff, which is good b/c I have willpower, but I'm only human!

shybelle

I have been open about losing weight from the beginning. I feel like the more people who know the more accountable i have to be. i have been posting on Facebook a whole lot and I feel that keeps me motivated because people are always commenting.

murelzgirl

I have a small group of friends that I talk to every week about my progress. But, I don't tell family.. other than my husband. They are very discouraging. Hopefully the next time family comes to visit, or we visit them, I'll have lost enough weight that they'll notice and ask about my journey.

Congrats on your loss.

SongbirdLandy

I talk about my weight loss with family members who are also choosing to live a healthy lifestyle and lose weight. Otherwise, I only speak of it if someone asks me about it.

snookemz

I told everyone - seeing as how my fitness pal is connected to my facebook but people who didn't just see the posts here or there didn't know.
When someone asks me how I've been, I tell them I've lost 53lbs so pretty darn good but I didn't tell them until I got over 30ish pounds because when you have 200lbs to lose you just don't want to tell the world every milestone lol

Tic_Tac_Toe

My husband and I have both made major improvements and we've lost a lot weight. We talk to each other about it often. Other than that, I keep it to myself. If someone says, I look good or what am I doing to lose the weight, then I will tell them.

Congrats!!

carpediem3

I love the fact that I finally can say no to junk, and if people know how dedicated I am they will no longer bring it around me. I love how I can get up and do a workout without huffin & puffin just to get off the couch. Not to mention it feels good to hear someone say TO ME vs me saying to them, "Wow I wish I had your willpower and determination!"

So, heck ya I do!

amo13

I had a small group of people who knew about my healthier efforts. Recently I publicized my blog. I've found that my story has inspired and motivated others, which is just one more push to keep me on track. I have about 37 pounds left to lose and now I have others who are willing to hold me accountable, encourage me and join me on this journey!

kryscas

I didn't say anything at first but after 20-30 lbs, people at work began noticing. "Have you lost weight?" "What are you doing?" "What plan are you following?" "Have you tried the soup diet.....??" lol

My responses are usually polite but short. "Why yes I have! Thank you.|", and my responses to "What are you doing?" "What plan are you following?" "...soup diet??" are "I'm living!'

I'm always conflicted about whether or not to feel happy about my weight loss or to feel like I'm doing what I should have been doing all along.

I mean...why should I be happy that I ever got to the point where needed to lose 100+ lbs to begin with? But other days I'm damn proud that I'm half way there (lost a total of 55 lbs since Jan 2!!!!).

Soo....as conflicting as the thoughts and feelings on any weight loss journey as is life... so, I'm living! Finally!

Mtsidad

Thanks for all your replies. The insight is helpful.

I find that just keeping on keeping on helps. I am not doing this to win the affection of others, and if people ask (so far no one has!) then I'd tell them I've gotten my elbow problem under control (my elbow brings food to my mouth, and it's not doing it as often, so...well, maybe that sounds funny only to me).

But geez, it's nice to fit into my jeans. And yeah, I have a long way to go, but I'm more than 10% of the way to my goal.

And I'm only 7 pounds away from my first "mini-goal" of 265.

Here's what I'm having today for breakfast/morning snack:
<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2050/5709909461_9584c9a86e_b.jpg"/&gt;

I have to tell you, two months ago it would not have been vegetables. It would have been bread or a pastry and coffee. (I'm off coffee because my weight has made my blood pressure sky high, so I have water now.) I don't feel deprived, because I'm not seeing the food as "punishment" for my sin of overeating or being fat. (Yes, fat. Not overweight. Not husky. Not height-weight disproportionate. Just fat.) I'm seeing it as wonderful things to eat that make me feel _good_.

Since I didn't want shame when I overate, I'm wondering if I should seek praise because I'm getting healthier. I'm torn on that one. I like the attention I get, of course, but really, it's weird to be praised for reversing stupid decisions. Maybe that is the right way to think about it - I'm not "better," but maybe just smarter and more aware of how I can control my life.

ghoztt

I would chime in and say definitely tell people, if not for yourself for others. It was by my friends blogging/facebooking their progress that motivated ME to get cracking. You never know who you will inspire to follow in your footsteps.

Tree72

When I first started making changes to be healthier I didn't tell anyone except my best friend. I was so afraid of failing that I didn't even want anyone to know I was trying. My first changes didn't focus on weight loss in particular anyway. I knew that I needed to get more active since I basically live in front of a computer. And I needed to eat healthier and get rid of the sugar roller coaster that was my daily lifestyle.

After I started making changes and having success, some people did notice. After about 30 pounds lost I started to get a few comments from co-workers. It's not something I felt necessary to keep secret, so I did talk with those that asked. Usually I kept it pretty basic "Oh, going to the gym 5 days a week and trying to eat healthier."

Now that I've lost over 65 pounds lots more people have noticed. That's more than 25% of my original weight, so it's pretty obvious. Now when people ask I try to gage what they really want to know. If they want some details I usually talk about working with my trainer because that's something most people understand and don't argue about. I still seldom talk about the food part. It's much harder for me and a much touchier subject with many people.

Also, many of my friends are still obese. There are a couple that are also making lifestyle changes and working to get healthier, but some are not. I don't want them to feel like I'm being judgmental or that I in some way feel superior. There were many years where I was that person who wasn't ready to make changes. And this is something you truly have to want for yourself. No amount of outside intervention if going to help if you aren't ready to mentally face up to your issues and make the changes needed.

cuppachoco

I tell my friends about it, and they support me fully
I'll tell mom if she asks me, because I don't want her to worry about what I eat. If she does, everybody will eat the way I eat :P

tannaleigh

I blog about it, so that I am not tooting my own horn all the time. The thing is I haven't really told people about that blog. There is a link to it in my profile and signature here, and one the blog about my son, but other than that the only person that knows about it is my sister, because she is the one factor that got me motivated to run a 5k, and thus a whole new healthier world has opened up to me. a coworker noticed when I was like 3 lbs down from the lowest weight when I took my son in to see her... and I have no problem talking about it with her all day. I told her I'd be a skinny b!tch when I came back to work....and I plan on holding myself to that goal

I have status updates about my c25k more than actual weight loss..... but I think my boyfriend brags about it all the time.

concordancia

Congrats!!

I have turned down colleague's invitations because I have a salad with me and the other day we had sandwiches in the office. But I am telling people that I am experimenting with some dietary changes to address health issues, not that I am trying to lose weight. Which is true, I just fully expect the weight to come off!!

The only person who has commented on my changing looks so far was also in charge of ordering my salad at a pizza place because I was arriving late.

LJSpady

I tell others for a few reasons:
1. Because "I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it" I seriously feel like calling my mother everytime I get on the scale to let her know hoe much I'm down.
2. I live in an apartment with 4 other overweight rommates, one of which is my girlfriend, who is truely the person who jump started my drive to begin this journey (she has a lot of weight related health problem) and I want to encourage them to eat better and work towards being healthier too.
3. I feel like it makes me more accountable, ya know? Like, if I say I've lost 20 lbs, a week from now I wanna be able to tell people a different number. I don't want them to hear the same number 3 or 4 weeks in a row, )or heaven forbid I stop telling them numbers cause that would probably mean I've gained.)

jessie580

only people on here lol

I don't care much what other people think regarding my weight/food habits

Mtsidad

only people on here lol

I don't care much what other people think regarding my weight/food habits

Nice. It's not that I don't "care" as much as it's more about my own choices.

dimoul

I tell everyone who will listen. I'm so happy about losing weight I can't hold it in!

MinnieInMaine

First, to the OP, congrats!

Re: your question - sort of. Just about everyone in my life knows I've been working on eating better and getting fit for the past year and a half but only a select few get updates when I'm proud enough not to be able to keep it to myself. Most of the time I just wait until someone asks me how much I've lost and how I'm doing it.

therealangd

I tell anyone who'll listen. I yell it on facebook every chance I get. I'm happy with what I'm doing and I'm motivating other people to get off their butts too, and that thrills me.

hellokatee

I tell my significant other everything, from how many calories I've eaten today, to how many I've burned today, how much weight I've lost so far, what kind of things we should by at the grocery store, what kind of meals we should plan, everything! Although I'm sure it drives him nuts sometimes, he likes seeing me happy and excited about something instead of moping about my weight. He has always told me he loves me the way I am, no matter how much I weigh, and that I should do whatever makes ME happy. And now I am. I have also disclosed the information to my co workers, who wonder why I am so picky when we order our team lunch or why I'm not eating the donuts they brought for breakfast. Really, I don't try to gloat about it to other people, but I do explain to them what I'm doing and why if they ask!