Weight loss sabotage- do you hide your eating?

durpnurp

It sucks that some people do that, but they do. I lost a lot of weight the first time I was in college and my roommate was terrible. First class saboteur. Knowing I was losing weight and eating better, she'd go pick up fried potato wedges or fried chicken strips and bring back "extra" for me. She hadn't done that at all the entire semester until I started losing. I moved out after a while, realizing my health was way more important than what she thought of me. She was the worst-case though.

I think most people might not even necessarily realize they are doing it or making you feel bad. You have to have some great dedication and will-power to lose weight the right way. It's like subconsciously, they wish they had the same. Be ready for it. Stay strong and after a week or so, it will become normal, no one will even notice anymore.

zaithyr

My husband teases me for my eating sometimes because he's a big eater. He made fun of me the other day for drinking skim milk. I admit- I don't like skim milk nearly as much as whole milk but I switched because it's less fat and calories. I bought him 2% even just so he wouldn't complain about drinking it and he still had something to say *eyeroll*. I buy the food and cook the meals though so he's gonna eat healthy at home or he can run away to mcdonalds lol

nightsrainfall

I agree with all the other comments. But if it really does bother you, you could try to switch what you are eating. I eat a large volume of food at work and only have it come out to be 450 calories. Spinach/lettuce, etc have a very low amount of calories, good nutrition, but 1 cup is only 10 calories. Now people make comments to salads & losing weight, or fruits & veggies to losing weight - but all you have to say is I'm trying to get my servings in and they will pip down, cause most people don't get their fruit & veggies.

Anyway hope things get better for you. Also maybe say you are trying to eat healthier - get in calcium, iron, vitamins, and who knows? Maybe they will try to start eating healthier too. Some of my friends & coworkers did. :-)

xarla16

I agree with all the other comments. But if it really does bother you, you could try to switch what you are eating. I eat a large volume of food at work and only have it come out to be 450 calories. Spinach/lettuce, etc have a very low amount of calories, good nutrition, but 1 cup is only 10 calories. Now people make comments to salads & losing weight, or fruits & veggies to losing weight - but all you have to say is I'm trying to get my servings in and they will pip down, cause most people don't get their fruit & veggies.

Anyway hope things get better for you. Also maybe say you are trying to eat healthier - get in calcium, iron, vitamins, and who knows? Maybe they will try to start eating healthier too. Some of my friends & coworkers did. :-)

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I know this whole thing shouldn't be bothering me, because I'm doing it for myself but I can't help it I do care because I know that it will cause me stress when I'm actually in the situation. I wish it was as simple as avoiding someone, because I would do that, but the program that I am doing has a cohort and because it is a fast track program and very intensive we basically live, eat and breathe together.

I think maybe I'll start eating a little differently though. I have been eating a bowl of cereal for lunch most days, and it is a lot more noticeable to eat one serving of cereal than a nice big salad. I won't hide my healthy eating, but I realize now there are a lot of ways I can probably deflect their comments ie I'm trying to eat healthier, build muscle, etc.

In the end I guess it doesn't really matter what they say, as long as I don't let it affect my progress.

mogletdeluxe

Everyone's already said what I think! Isn't it sad, though, that you improving your health could be perceived in a negative way? It's when you dig deeper and realise why people (and, in my experience, it's women 99% of the time) are doing it that it becomes really sad.

I've said it in a post before, but if anyone gets rude I answer with a curt "I'm extending my life expectancy". That usually works.

Siannah

No one bar my husband knew that I was logging calories. I would do it either beforehand or afterwards, but I wouldn't have a meal with other people, and then pull out my phone to log it all. It's only drawing attention to it then and quite frankly, it's boring to other people.

I would just continu what you're doing now and if you get any comments, answer very briefly and then swiftly move on to another subject.

Maggie821

I encounter "negative" people on a daily basis...and even the people that love you will try and throw you off track. I don't know if it's intentional, but it is so frustrating that you have to battle them on top of everything else! I mentioned added more "vegan" into my diet last week, and the man I live with immediately went out and loaded the house with meat and even worse, bags and bags of of tortilla chips and jars of salsa! WTH???? It has been a struggle this week, and I haven't won all the battles. And this is the week before my HM...which makes it even more frustrating.

But, I can't let it get me down....so I am getting back on track today!!!! Just logged my breakfast and workout and have a full day planned of healthy meals! You can do it....you are on the right track....and just remember, if you do get off track occasionally, you can get right back to it!!!

snookumss

I get picked on for measuring my food all the time. It doesn't matter! Who cares what they think?! If your worried, prepack your foods so you don't have to deal with them about that part... and tell people your diet requires smaller more frequent meals.

It doesn't matter what they say... if they are rude, I'd not talk to them!

kototo

They always tease me because right after eating I immediately come and long my calories. They now have attempted to lock me out of my office or computer to make me stop. I don't understand their actions because I am doing this to make me healthy.

Wow. If my co-workers did something like that, I would ask them how old they are! That's just stupid, disrespectful and down-right childish!

Time for some supportive friends.. you will go further and faster in life with people around you who love you and support you than you ever will with just one toxic person hanging around your neck.....
you know whats right.. do it.

childofbodom123

If I was you, I would not worry about what those people think but I would feel sorry for them instead. How boring and uninspiring must they be if they only take pleasure in pointing out moments in other people's lives.

You just focus on yourself and getting yourself healthy, if they want to pass comment or judgement on you then let them, how perfect they must be that the only thing they see as worth doing in a day is to comment and judge other people! You will always have the last laugh and last word

tropaze

It's mind over matter. I don't mind because they don't matter, at least not where my food/diet is concerned. They never commented when I was stuffing my face with all kinds of crap, now that I'm eating food and practicing portion control they don't need to comment on it either. When they do I simply tell them, "Yes, yes I am measuring my food." If I feel particularly snarky, I ask them if they want to measure theirs as well and offer to look up calorie content (mostly reserved for the truly obnoxious).

Xiaolongbao

If your personality is the right type you could just get into it by asking them lots of questions in return "yes, I'm eating salad, what are you eating? Why is it that weird colour? Do those foods really go together?" I have no problem at all with people commenting on what I eat but then I feel perfectly free to comment on everyone else's meals too.

My one piece of advice would be to answer questions if asked (honestly and not defensively) but don't let it become a major topic of conversation. If someone keeps referring to what you're eating point out it gets pretty boring having the same conversation about salad every day.

madamepsychosis

If it were me, I wouldn't say anything unless they say something first. For example, if they DO make a comment about you eating smaller portion sizes, just say 'Oh I'm just trying to eat a bit more healthily' and leave it at that. If you say something like 'I'm trying to lose weight', it could open up a lecture from them about how you don't need to, if they are that way inclined, whereas making a general comment about overall health gives them less to go with. They may well not say anything though, so I wouldn't say anything unless they do first.

Swissmiss

Quite frankly, it's NONE of their business. You do what makes you feel good about yourself. If you need to weigh or measure out your food, then do it. If they are your friends, they'll support you.

This!!!

Agree!!! Plus, most people eat portions that are way to large !!!!! You are doing what is right, not them.

ash190489

I don't know what is worse, the people/your friends commenting on your weight loss or when your friends don't comment at all, even after having lost 24 lbs. But even so, occasionally the comments would come up with my friends & when we'd go out I'm the kind of person who would never leave anything on my plate (to get my money's worth haha) and I would just a burger & fries without thinking twice.... So when I started ordering different things, leaving things on my plate, generally just eating healthier they'd ask and make a joke out of it "Are you on a diet or something?" and laugh... and then they'd get serious and ask "what diet are you doing" --- I kept everything very personal & just said "I am just trying to make better / healthier choices where I can and eating slightly smaller portion sizes". I figure they don't REALLY care about me & my weight loss etc. so I don't have to tell them everything I am doing! I didn't tell them about MFP and I never had a scale out for weighing my food etc. in front of them --- they key is for me, not to make it obvious, it's none of their business what I do with my body & put in my mouth.

Just ignore them and keep going, the only person you've got to worry about is yourself! Oh && try and surround yourself with positive people! I had a group of great friends from university also doing MFP and it's been very successful! xx

Dauntlessness

If someone is not supportive or judges you it means this to me:

They are jealous of you
They want to be you
They are intimidated by you.

I mean why else would they do that? They are suppose to have your back, not talk behind it. You are the one who is going to reap the reward for your efforts. Don't let them take that away from you.

Sorry for editing. I needed to fix grammar

MzVonda

My family (not my immediate) but my family always makes fun of me, at any gathering, that is the first thing they do is make fun of my size....not caring how that makes me feel on the inside, hurting and crying while grinning and bearing it....but as you get older it gets eaiser to ignore the idoits that have no heart....keep pressing thru rather you eat good some days and have set backs on other days, just take one day at a time, and you will see in no time at all the weight is gone because you decided to make healthier choices and then you will see WHO LAUGH LAST!!! Keep doing your thing baby doll, we here on MFP.com GOT YOUR BACK!!!!!! ~~smilez~~~

kimmianne89

I have always kept it secret, until this time. It is so easy to fail when no one knows you are even trying, It also made it difficult and I wwould be embarrassed if I exercised when anyone was home, and if anyone commented on me being careful what I was eating i'd make a point of eating something bad to prove it.... stupid I know lol. So this time everyone knows and I do my exercise when people are home and I will keep going because I will NOT let myself fail ... Alot of my family are even asking for my help for them to lose weight and get healthy

rosalang

i have a number of so called friends that in the past, when i have said i was trying to loose weight would offer me a biscuit or bring round a cake which of course you cant refuse. i am quite shy and dont like to offend!!! now at the age of 62 i still have the same problem and i have like you decided not to tell those friends that sabatage my good work. when they tell me i am looking ill and not to loose any more weight i just agree and wonder if they really are friends at all. i am really enjoying my dieting and looking after myself and excercising a bit more. i am really happy with how i have done even though i have about 20lbs more to loose.
keep it to yourself it will be our little secret. what fun!!!!

jenniferg83

Sometimes i get a hard time for eating healthy. People like to pick fun. Especially those who aren't eating healthy. You know what i've learned? "who cares" This is your life you are making healthier, this is your body that will keep changing for the better, this is your journey. I've done this since August 2010 and people now just know i eat healthy. It's been hard but worth it. Put your head up girl and no need to hide what you are eating! Be proud that you are strong and willing to change your life Who knows, maybe you will inspire others to do the same

MY husband thinks it's funny when i measure stuff like my wine lol I laugh and keep doing it.

edited to add the husband part

samf36

Quite frankly, it's NONE of their business. You do what makes you feel good about yourself. If you need to weigh or measure out your food, then do it. If they are your friends, they'll support you.

I agree. If they ask why just " why do you need to know?" or " Why are you eating what you are eating" or " my that is a personal question". Just play it back on them.

debzeeU2

I would never hide what I eat because I am sabotaging myself two times- once by eating the food and secondly by acknowledging it. I try to allow myself at least one cheat snack or meal per week. Allowing myself to see the extra calories I consumed helps me to decide whether if it really is worth repeating in the future. So that way if I endulge in pizza or whatever I consider bad one day, it will be a long time if I ever do that again.

debzeeU2

Oh, I misread this topic. I just saw the subject line so replied. I am at work so unable to spend time reading everything on here at times.
Well due to the topic, I agree that people should not judge others by what you eat. I like to view food diary on this site but it's only because I like to get new ideas for meals or snacks.
Unless you ask for opinions, I don't think anyone should offer unless they really have good intentions. Nutrition, Dieting, Healthy lifetstyle, whatever you want to call it, will always be a touchy subject. People will always judge whether you are trying to eat the right way or if you're not.

Mission2Me

I understand how that can be. I think you should just do what you have been doing. jump right in. if they have something to say, address it right then and move on. but If you want to ease into it bring your own meals for a bit. already portioned out so you dont have to do it in front of them. they can see what you are eating without knowing you have to do certain portions, measuring and things like that. then eat with them some. I think in the end they wont make a big deal about it if you stick to your guns and dont waiver from your usual path. If they offer something you dont eat. do not eat it. once they see you are strong enough that they can not break you I dont think it will be that big of a deal. GOOD LUCK!! dont worry about a thing.

gertudejekyl

I understand completely. Sometimes you just need to protect your privacy. You can make up some story about intestinal problems or thinking you might have an allergy so you are cutting out certain foods. It is your business, but it is easier to avoid comments if you make up a brief, uninteresting story (lie).