How do I make my family understand?

MissGeorgiaPeachy

I'm so sorry I got a little long-winded!

Ok, so here is the problem I am having. I started back on MFP a few weeks ago and each week I've learned something new and made adjustments, albeit small ones for now, but I'm working on it. When I started, I was going to a "diet doctor" and taking phentermine and getting weekly shots and weigh-ins. At the time, the diet pill was making me not want to eat at all and I was only taking in about 600-900 calories. Despite this, I dropped 9 lbs the first week due to water weight and the sudden change in diet.

Week two, I started weaning myself off the phentermine and tried to eat a little more and dropped 1.8 lbs and this week has been about the same and I've lost 1.4 lbs. Anyway...

After reading a lot of threads here and talking back and forth with my MFP friends and getting advice in the forums, I knew that I had to up my caloric intake. Everyone here is telling me the same things and I trust people who have had successful weight loss.

Well, the problem is that I can't talk to my family about it. I get support when I say I've lost X amount of pounds, but they are watching everything I eat and saying I'm eating too much. I told my mother that I should be eating around 1800 calories a day and she argued with me that 1800 sounds like way too much and I tried explaining to her that it would be 1800 calories of good, nutritious food and not me sitting down to devour an entire pizza by myself and she STILL argued with me.

She believes that eating 600-900 calories is a GOOD thing even though I've tried explaining that on days when I eat so little, I see black and get dizzy to the point of almost fainting, but she just doesn't "get it"... She had gastric bypass surgery and couldn't eat much for months and dropped a ton of weight and seems to think that because not eating worked for her, it's going to work for me, but it won't. I need to eat enough to fuel my body and not get hungry and go on a binging spree.

So how do I explain to her in a way that will make her understand that 1800 calories is NOT too much and 900 calories is WAY too little? I really need the encouragement of my family because I love them and want their support. It's so frustrating having to argue with her over something she clearly doesn't understand. Help?

jerbear1962

ok she had gastric bypass and with that they cut her stomach down to a size that doesn't allow many calories in. Show her this site let her read our stories and show her the successes here. Tell her to give you a chance to see how things go with the added calories. I know it sounds weird but your body will respond because it won't feel starved. I don't know if you know Dr Oz but on his website there is good information that you could show her as well. I don't take in enough calories either and have been trying to increase them to see if that will quicken my weight loss. Good luck with your family and if you want I will gladly talk with your mom. Have a great day

angelicasmommy

You're probably not going to convince her, sadly. You'll just have to eat how much your eating, get results and PROVE to her that it works. Good luck, I know you can do it!

MissGeorgiaPeachy

ok she had gastric bypass and with that they cut her stomach down to a size that doesn't allow many calories in. Show her this site let her read our stories and show her the successes here. Tell her to give you a chance to see how things go with the added calories. I know it sounds weird but your body will respond because it won't feel starved. I don't know if you know Dr Oz but on his website there is good information that you could show her as well. I don't take in enough calories either and have been trying to increase them to see if that will quicken my weight loss. Good luck with your family and if you want I will gladly talk with your mom. Have a great day

Exactly! Also, I remember how grumpy she was after her surgery for not being able to eat so she should understand a little bit. She wants to start going to the doctor I went to, so I suggested today that she start a MFP account to read forums and help her with calories. She's still in the mindset that if it says "low fat" or if it "seems" low fat, it's good for you when clearly that never worked for her in the past or she wouldn't have had to have the surgery.

Thanks for your help, Jerry. I really appreciate it.

mamasmaltz3

The proof is in the pudding. Keep working hard and eating healthy and she will see for herself that you are right. Did she or does she exercise after her surgery? I would be really surprised if she even had the energy to exercise. I don't know a lot about gastric bypass but aren't patients who have had it done supposed to be able to gradually increase their calorie intake? Or, are they supposed to eat 600 to 800 calories forever?