Do the people you live with support your healthy eating?

ajhugz

Yeah, I have absolutely no support either. That's why I like this website. Unlike the "hardcore" people out there, I am not at that point yet where I can simply just say no and not give it another thought. I need some form of support and encouragement from somewhere. And I am not ashamed of it either.

I'm not "hardcore" as you put it, but I can just say no (kind of). I'm sorry you haven't gotten to that point but although I can say no, I still need support and encouragement. Its not fair for you to insinuate that because i can say no, I don't need support. We are all here for help and encouragement.

What has helped me is not telling myself I can't have something, instead I say I don't want it. I haven't given up my favorite foods, I have them in moderation and smaller portions. Some things I have found healthier versions of but I still have the real thing sometimes. Its just easier for me mentally. I didn't get support until I figured out how to manage on my own and then people started to care. Its happens to a lot of people.

i wasn't quoting you at all actually. sorry you felt that way!

It doesn't matter if you quoted me or not. I was just saying how your statement made me feel. No big deal. :-)

Iamworthinvestingin

I had to make the first steps in my household, I am the mom and maybe that is why... I had to own it for myself and when my daughters saw what I was doing, they joined in... This was actually very encouraging, we could count on each other to get started on our exercise and it was easier to take little pokes about not eating the right foods, because we were all on the same page - It really does make a difference - but I realized taht I had to do it for myself...

CharityGC

My husband is very supportive and is enjoying the healthier meals I've been making. But I also let him pick a meal for us to splurge on every other week or so. Tomorrow he wants pizza so that's what we'll be having. I figure it doesn't seem as much like me forcing my new eating plan on him as much if I don't cut out things I know he loves (and I do, too!).

Yeller_Sensation

One family member is. He's also my training buddy. I am the primary 'chef' at home, and each day's menu + macros are e-mailed to him the night before.

The other two are not into it as much but menus are not forced upon one another. The only principle we practice: If you do not like what is served at mealtimes, you may fix what you want to eat. No one's feelings get hurt, and no one is allowed to judge.

I'm just wondering what your support system is like? Does your husband/wife/friends/family members (who you are living with) support and encourage you in eating healthy? And by support I mean like try to join you in eating healthy, encourage you not to have those chips (in a positive way), and do they try to avoid eating those junk foods you ABSOLUTELY love right in front of your face?

bongobongobongo

On the one hand, my boyfriend doesn't actively help... But he doesn't sabotage me either, because although he'll make too much dinner, buy me treats and stuff from the shop etc, I can just give them back to him, and he'll eat any temptation away...

My mum would be supportive, but she doesn't know about this yet... I haven't seen her for nearly 2 months, so I'm hoping she notices a change in me when I see her next week!

tleeiiiii

My boyfriend is soo supportive. Im really gratefull. He likes the veggies and actually started working out too. He likes to eat junk though but always makes sure i don't like what he is getting (chocolat, cake.. beef jerky.. caramel popcorn(ew) lol! He will always buy my least favourite and usually eats them when i'm not around. He hides the scale when i ask him and ecourage me to focus on working out and not the number. He gives me pep talks all the time! Love him.

grrrlface

No but they don't have to eat what I want to eat. It used to be a problem because I never had the same meals etc. but they've got used to it now and actually try and encourage me to eat better when I'm having bad days.

nokanjaijo

My husband is too supportive. He is very slender but is completely on board with my eating plan. I try to convince him that he can eat what he wants. He can get himself treats. It won't hurt my efforts.

No deal, though.

Makes me feel like an a-hole.

We do a cheat day once a week where we eat fast food and this is entirely for his benefit. I don't particularly want to do it. It's just the only way I can get him to eat the stuff he really enjoys.

PandaBandit19

My husband is pretty supportive. He doesn't necessarily cheer me on, but he is willing to eat healthy meals that I cook. At least he will try them once and if he doesn't like it I won't cook it for him. I also don't mind if he buys junk food should he not enjoy what I cook. I don't mind him buying me treats, but I would prefer to have him ask me if I want it first.. just as a preemptive measure. As well, I don't limit in the least bit how much he eats. He has a very physically demanding job, he knows how much he needs.

Nidda_C

I live with my parents and 3 younger siblings. My dad loves sweet Pakistani food......and my siblings love junk food. I don't expect them to change.......because I am the only one who has weight issues in my family. So I have to check this website and count calories before I start a meal. BUT, my mom will add anything healthy I want onto the shopping list and get it. Also, I don't restrict myself from sugary foods....instead I make sure to see how many calories they are worth and do portion control. For example, my family went grocery shopping yesterday and bought Jumbo Carrot Muffins (each worth 770 calories) so I only ate 1/4 of it today. I have 2 muffins in my share lol so i plan on finishing them in the next eight days.

missbrie11

Not really. When I'm home, my family is great about it, but living with three roommates is tough. They're always baking, or snacking, or wanting to go out to eat, and if I try to get out of it or don't eat, that "peer pressure" starts. It makes things really difficult sometimes.

southern_star

My kids are always asking me if I know how to log something or if i'm sure that I have enough calories left lol. My family is very supportive as are my co-workers. I am blessed!

Phaedra2014

I'm just wondering what your support system is like? Does your husband/wife/friends/family members (who you are living with) support and encourage you in eating healthy? And by support I mean like try to join you in eating healthy, encourage you not to have those chips (in a positive way), and do they try to avoid eating those junk foods you ABSOLUTELY love right in front of your face?

Fortunately, yes. We all eat the same "clean" food so I don't have to go nuts making different things for different members of my family.

MaintainCats

Yes. I buy a king size kit kat bar, eat 2 sticks...and then my husband eats the other 6. *sigh*

In reality I am completely in charge of all the food that comes into the house and everything that is cooked.

trudijoy

Yes. My flatmate is very overweight, and eats a lot of crap. So he's my visual reminder that eating that food is terrible for you!

watchmeshrink16

I live with my parents, so no not really. But it's not because they don't want to, they just like different things; however, my dad supports me 110% when it comes to exercising.

tifferz_91

I live alone. So i pretty much support myself & make majority of my own food.

You will RARELY find any unorganic processed artificial food in my kitchen.

It keeps me in control. But i'm not complaining :laugh:

Ely82010

I do the healthy cooking so my husband is stack with it, but he does like it and appreciate what I make. He goes food shopping sometimes but he doesn't buy junk or unhealthy food.

JL2513

Yes. I live at home with my parents and my mom is pretty much a health nut, so meals at home have always been clean and healthy. My family is supportive of my efforts to lose weight and become healthier, which has certainly made this journey easier.

snazzyjazzy21

The only thing that bugs my Mum is when I leave the scales out after weighing :blushing:

kawasakininja13

Hey just wanted to say well done for starting this thread. It was a pleasure to read everyone's experiences and situations!

I personally have received absolutely no motivation or support from my family. If its encouragement it's sarcastically. I won't brag but progress speaks louder than criticism ladies and gentlemen! I wish you all the very best!

Feel free to add me - I'm a regular on MFP and am always looking to help encourage and motivate others when I can!

lessismoreohio

Yes and no. It's all over the map.

NMTSPARKS

Lol... NO.... I make really good tasting healthy dinners... they get mad its not deep fried and then go to store and buy 24 ct frozen boxes of corn dogs... then i have to listen to them whine about them weighing 300 lbs and that they dont understand why they are gaining weight... sigh....

arabianhorselover

Yes and no. My sons are supportive of me, but don't really understand why I even worry about my weight. I guess they don't think it's that bad. My husband also thinks I shouldn't worry about it so much. He has heard me talk about my eating problems too much over the years, and doesn't have any reason to believe I will actually lose the weight, so I can't really expect him to get excited about it. He has generally been really good about not complaining about my weight. He thinks I should just eat when I'm hungry, stop when I'm full, and not worry about it. He has always been able to do that. He's one of those people who doesn't even think about food all day, and then at 9:00 at night realizes he should probably eat something. I, on the other hand, have been a compulsive over eater since I was a teenager, so it's quite different for me. He loves to eat processed meats, huge dishes of ice cream, steak, and bakery stuff when he does eat. He can still get into his clothes from high school, and he's 47.

LisaUlrey

My husband cooks almost all of our meals and he always asks what he is making will work with my alloted calories that I have available. He doesn't diet with me (although he should) but he supports me completely. He measures out everything for me when making his own concotions so I can put the recipe in MFP. He sends me recipes ahead of time to get my approval. He is awesome!

ploppersdf1

Nope my husband is a food junkie... He likes to have junk food and take out everyday. So I had to adapt. I have a little list of things I can eat at the different places we go to. It i possible to eat on a calorie budget eating out.. I'm trying to cut us back but he's slow on the progress but it helps knowing that I can eat with him an I don't have to eat just a salad everywhere we go.

natmckn

My husband is very supportive, and I do all the shopping so if there's junk in the house, it's because I shopped while I was hungry. He also needs to really watch his cholesterol so that helps too. However if I make something that looks "too green" I usually get an earful of whining, but he's entitled to it since he hears me complain every time I lose my willpower and break out a bad snack.

seltzermint555

I live alone Mon-Thurs, so it's not an issue. But my fiancé lives with me Fri-Sun and he is my #1 support. He lost over 100 lb more than a decade ago and has kept it off. He's pescetarian and loves to cook exotic and healthy recipes, we often cook together. It works out great!

As for friends & family (none of them live with me but I see them weekly)...

My mom is the least supportive although she thinks she IS supportive. She's very misguided on what is healthy and not healthy, at least in my opinion. At her house, there are many processed things I don't eat like margarine, heavily salted entrees, and baked-from-a-box treats. I usually indulge in a small amount of something if it appeals to me but sometimes turn it down. I've started keeping a box of veggie burgers and some frozen sweet potato fries at her place, they're not my ideal foods but they are generally better than what she's serving. She does try to get me to eat chili and things like that sometimes (I don't eat beef) but she isn't too pushy about it.

My dad's super supportive. He was obese most of his life, although quite healthy due to a very active job. Now he has to watch his diet more carefully due to his advanced age and he is very aware of healthy foods. For years we've gone to lunch once a week and the lunches have gradually become smaller and healthier, which is good for both of us. If we go someplace less healthy, we'll split a plate of fried catfish and each have one veggie side. Works out great. My stepmom is the same way.

Best friend started eating totally differently due to a diabetic diagnosis. She is/was not overweight but now she really needs to eat low carb, diabetic diet. She is obsessed with gluten being evil, and that makes it kind of hard for us to go out to eat together in some situations. In our town there are a lot of places promoting artisanal breads and such, and she won't even go into them. I eat very differently from her. Nevertheless, she is not the type to try and tempt me with "bad" food nor do I push those things onto her.

Honestly for me one of the best things, even though they have no IDEA they're being "supportive" hahahaha....is my office. In the past I have often worked at offices full of dieting women who somehow wound up bringing in donuts, cakes, cookies, Halloween candy, in attempts to sabotage each other and "celebrate" every small victory or deal with stress. NOT good. In my office now, no one ever eats anything in the office, unless it's their lunch, and I love that! It makes it much easier for me. I sit and drink water all day while they smoke and drink Cokes. But at least they are not bringing in maple bars, because I KNOW I would indulge at least half of the time. It's also nice that they're not parading around with treats. At one former job, my boss had a delicious smelling Starbucks latte with her every morning and it would get that craving in my head.

emjaycazz

Initially, my boys didn't "get" it when I started eating healthier, but then my husband did a circuit training DVD with me and my sis and realized that he needed to make an overall change at the beginning of July. I do the meal-planning and cooking for dinner, which is a great help. I try to be fairly flexible because my man DOES love his carbs but he is managing pretty well using portion control.

The main issue doesn't have that much to do with emotional support but rather the practicality of having a preteen boy who plays competitive/travel soccer and as a consequence is in need of simple & complex carbs to fuel himself for practices and on tournament weekends days with multiple games. Yes, he does get vegetables, proteins,and calcium but we do need to account for his needs when planning dinner.

LouLoulost

I have an awesome support, my family does support me and encourage me too, I feel blessed. My work mates are terrific super proud of me and I feel great- I'd be lost if I had people that didn't support me , change is tough and In my house it's just me and my husband , he has health issues and likes to make food about reward- He learned that I wasn't going to celebrate with food any longer. It's not a passing fad to make these changes but a overhaul of your life and when you put your foot down people will roll their eyes but then they say Wow what resolve you have! , I over heard him talking about my change(I don't like to call it a diet) he was all bragging on me - so I think I have set an example and that feels amazing!