Do you tell everyone?

sriley721

What are the pros and cons of making it known you are trying to lose weight?

BethBent

I do, I find that if I make sure I make my posts, I tend to cheat A LOT LESS:laugh: Beth

tuckerrj

Let 'em know. It's called "accountability". If you keep it a secret it's easier to cheat or give up.

Taterpoof

Everybody knows that I am trying to get fit. I eventually want to get into physical therapy and personal training so to increase my chances of this job I have to be in shape.

sriley721

Everybody knows that I am trying to get fit. I eventually want to get into physical therapy and personal training so to increase my chances of this job I have to be in shape.

Sounds like you have great motivation and a method to maintain your goal.

Fit_Mama84

I don't make a point of telling people, but I don't hide it either. If you tell people, it can be helpful to keep you accountable, but it also opens you up to alot of opinions that you never asked for. Ultimately I just do my own thing and if people ask me about it I'm more than happy to share.

Taterpoof

Everybody knows that I am trying to get fit. I eventually want to get into physical therapy and personal training so to increase my chances of this job I have to be in shape.

Sounds like you have great motivation and a method to maintain your goal.

Thanks It's kind of like homework. Have to keep up with it otherwise you won't pass and good a good job. In my case it really IS my homework.

sunshine4jess

Let 'em know. It's called "accountability". If you keep it a secret it's easier to cheat or give up.

I agree! More motivation and hopefully more support!

aubreybouck

I don't make a point of telling people, but I don't hide it either. If you tell people, it can be helpful to keep you accountable, but it also opens you up to alot of opinions that you never asked for. Ultimately I just do my own thing and if people ask me about it I'm more than happy to share.

I dont tell every one, either, because I get too many "Why, you already look great!" or "its about time" Both of which turn me off, and put me down, even if they dont mean to. If people see me working out, and are interested, im more than happy to tell them, but otherwise, I keep it to me and my family.

MayaSPapaya

I tell everyone, because it makes me actually want to stick to it. I want to tell everyone so I can prove it to them. I convince myself that I don't want to seem like I didn't lose anything to them, I want to wow them.

UsernameStillLoading

I only tell a few people. It's like a right of passage. If you don't know me well, why would I let you into my journey?
Okay, that's total bull. I don't tell people because, well honestly, I think I will bore the crap out of them.

wendybird5

Every time I told people in the past, I ended up failing and gaining back the weight, plus some. Also a lot of people felt like it was an invitation to tell me how to lose weight or what I was doing wrong.

Then I saw this video and decided not to announce my intentions when I started on MFP: http://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_keep_your_goals_to_yourself.html

It was actually a lot less pressure, it was fun to watch people notice the change and I knew it was genuine because they weren't expecting a change.

lsjd2000

I don't go out of my way to tell people - mostly cause I have the problem with people questioning my food choices which kind of makes me grouchy - so I have a cookie with my lunch doesn't mean I "fell off my diet", it means that I had 1 cookie and not 10 which is ok. I have a few close friends that know but that's about it, some of which are also trying to lose weight.

nikb1983

Every time I told people in the past, I ended up failing and gaining back the weight, plus some. Also a lot of people felt like it was an invitation to tell me how to lose weight or what I was doing wrong.

^^^THIS!

I've started and stopped my journey so many times...I feel like at this point, if I made the big FB announcement, everyone would either blow it off or be waiting for me to fail again.

Nope, this isn't for THEM, it's for ME! I have the support of my husband and a few choice friends/family members and that's all I need. The rest will figure it out when they see me shrinking.

Cp731

Why wouldn't you want ppl to know? :huh:
There are many folks that would appreciate a heads up, you know so they arnt constantly asking you what ur deal is.
AS in why you seem so happy
why your looking so rested
How you got in dem jeans
Whats ur secret
There are so many reasons the list is endless.
Avoid all the small talk and get right in there
Announce your goals and be proud your lifestyle is changing.

sriley721

Every time I told people in the past, I ended up failing and gaining back the weight, plus some. Also a lot of people felt like it was an invitation to tell me how to lose weight or what I was doing wrong.

Then I saw this video and decided not to announce my intentions when I started on MFP: http://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_keep_your_goals_to_yourself.html

It was actually a lot less pressure, it was fun to watch people notice the change and I knew it was genuine because they weren't expecting a change.

Yes! I feel the same way. thank you

alitap

I tell those who matter to me, because their support is what i need, especially since i need to be with them most of the times. Usually, they tend to help you. For eg, my parents dont force me into eating what they eat, especially since ive worked hard at the gym, likewise, my boyfriend doesnt make me eat at restraunts that caused me to put on weight.

I do not bother telling other people who i least care about, because their opinions or actions do not matter to me. I started the weight-loss without their help, and im sure i can make it through too. These are the people who have nothing productive to do in life and simply comment on your actions, like when your fat they say "oh, you should start working out/you've put on so much of weight" and when you do work out and lose weight they go like "you've lost weight, you dont need to lose anymore/you need to eat properly and not be picky about food"

So i think it depends on whose support you need throughout your weight-loss programme.

JeneticTraining

Nahh, only close friends. Even tho some don't support me, I know they're struggling with their insecurities.

korinapayne

I am always afraid that if I tell people and then fail, I look foolish.

Pamko57

I've really gone way out on a limb and post my exercise minutes and calories burned for the week on Facebook. Public accountability. It really only started out as a check in from my bike with minutes each day, but since I'm actually doing everyday, that's too often to post, so a few months ago, I started doing the weekly check in with a picture of my minutes/calories. I've gotten a lot of support, and I've been told I've inspired several people. A dear friend says she bought her bike, because "we've always been so competitive." Not true. I'm not in any way competive, but whatever motivates her is cool with me.

I've had a few people be negative, but mostly people are supportive. Of course, some say nothing. My dil and son saw me in person and said NADA about the 40-ish pounds gone at that time. (I know it says 44 on my ticker, but my actual total is 60. I lost the rest before I found MFP.)

I've found that on days when I don't feel like working out or I think, "well, I could just do 30 minutes or 40" instead of my 50, I remind myself that come Saturday, I'm going to post that picture on FB. And, yeah, I could lie, but that's a place I don't want to go.

Everyone is different, so whatever works.

NanaWubbie

Pros...lots of support.

Cons....unsolicited stupid personal specific questions...how much do you weigh? I don't mind sharing how I am losing weight, it is no one's business what my weight actually is.

pinkperfume

I used to but I don't anymore because they next will say, "what are you doing to lose?" They then will tell me I am doing it wrong and THIS is how you do it, blah, blah. Or they say, "you don't need to lose weight, you look good". That does me no good to hear.

sunshinestater

I tell people if it comes up naturally in conversation (for example, if they notice my Fitbit). It's something I don't feel the need to hide because I think it's positive, but not something to bring up unless it naturally fits.

StarChanger

Not only do I make it obvious (with my water in hand 24/7, protein bars, and fresh fruit) but I actually put a sign on my office door stating I was "in training" for the Tough Mudder. I need to lose ~70lbs prior to the race, so.....

Mavrick_RN

I'm not saying anything to my workmates. I'll just let them notice.
My wife is on board with MFP and we both started with a trainer at 24hour fitness who actually insisted we sign up with MFP.
I have a couple friends on MFP and try to comment regularly to stay accountable to them as they check my food log and jazz me.
I have been reading community posts and am starting to make comments to get involved with people with similar goals who, of course, know what I'm doing but don't know ME.

mmddwechanged

Honestly, personally, I don't see many pros except if anyone asked me advice I would give it, but no one has. The cons are hearing all about the latest diet or boring people.

Erin959

My family knows that I'm trying to lose weight because they are all overweight (except my dad). I'm not overweight, but I just want to lose the belly fat and get fitter.

I was almost at my goal weight last year and people at work noticed I was toning up. I told them I was counting calories and going to the gym. So many of them told me to stop losing weight because I was either too skinny or didn't need to. I worked every Sunday and I would treat myself and have a croissant for breakfast and my supervisor would always say "how can you lose weight when you eat things like that?" I found it made things harder because even though I was doing this for me, their frequent comments would get me down.

I've since started a new job, but I'm not going to tell people unless they ask, just so I can avoid those annoying comments

WendySPWarren

I tend to keep it to just family and other friends that are trying to get fit.

In the past when I have been open with some of my female friends, I end up getting lectured about being "perfect just the way you are", which usually leads to them lecturing me about anorexia. Everyone just assumes I have to be mentally ill to want to get fit, but I'm far from self-loathing. I actually love my body most of the time and I want to be the best that I can be. This seems to be a concept that many of my female friends struggle with understanding. I believe their concern for me is legitimate, and I try not to worry them.

On the other hand, my immidiate family (half of them work in health) and my fit friends are all very supportive. My dad and my brothers are especially supportive.

horsewhisper91

My friends and family that are closest to me know because I am around them most and I tell them when I can't have something (that is if they don't remember me saying for before). Then there are the time I tell them I hate them for bringing out the sweets. XD

But in all honest, things like on fb I never post results, just my work outs like my runs with best times or maybe an enjoyable trail ride for my many horsey friends who care. Because I know the friends I keep in touch with online or by phone would say I was fine the way I am. Just like some friends at work who had already been saying that. And I just flat out don't say anything to them about my progress. I get funny about that kind of stuff.

likeschocolate

If someone asks or it comes up naturally, I tell them.

melbournemummy79

I haven't told anyone but my partner and my kids.
I felt my kids should understand what I was doing and that it was not a "diet" and that they should get involved by coming for bike rides when I go walking so we can all spend more time doing positive healthy things instead of sitting in front of the tv.
My partner had to know because I didn't want him shoving tim tams in my face.

As for everyone else they can sod off. I am not interested in my families bodgy dieting advice. I am so very tired of their passive aggressive fail methodology. I just figured it has nothing to do with anyone else and the giving of unhelpful advice from people who are overweight.... not even having really ever achieved a healthy weight range.... goes against what I am trying to achieve.

Sadly this was reinforced when my walk tracker app connected with fb to post my walking route and how long i had been walking , how many cals i had burned etc etc and the comments from certain family members were just awful, rude and mean.