how do you deal when people try to sabotage you ?

i live close to my parents and my mother has tried everything in her power to get me to lose weight shes tried giving me tae bo tapes ( how retro is that?) shes told me about exercise routines you name it but as time wore on and i wasnt getting the results SHE wanted from me she resorted to drastic measures she has invited over my brothers skinny friends and invited me over as well so ill feel insignificant next to them, she has pressured me into restrictive diet after restrictive diet and has all but demanded i try the recent crash diet shes wetting herself over.. now i've found a meal plan that works and i have confidence in myself for the first time ever and shes trying to sabotage me again by saying i cant eat fruit when every diet shes ever given me ever says i can..
and that ill have to do dozens or crunches a day because running on a tredmill wont give me abs according to her... im realy close to my family and i don't want to have to cut ties with them for me to succeed in my efforts to lose the weight i've been carrying around for years but how can i do that when i have someone giving me unsolicited fitness advice and telling me to weigh my food or use a measuring cup to does out my food before i eat it? i know it sounds like im whining and im sorry if i offended anyone i didn't mean to if anyone out there has any advice about this it would be greatly appreciated thank you very much :smile:
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Replies

  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    i live close to my parents and my mother has tried everything in her power to get me to lose weight shes tried giving me tae bo tapes ( how retro is that?) shes told me about exercise routines you name it but as time wore on and i wasnt getting the results SHE wanted from me she resorted to drastic measures she has invited over my brothers skinny friends and invited me over as well so ill feel insignificant next to them, she has pressured me into restrictive diet after restrictive diet and has all but demanded i try the recent crash diet shes wetting herself over.. now i've found a meal plan that works and i have confidence in myself for the first time ever and shes trying to sabotage me again by saying i cant eat fruit when every diet shes ever given me ever says i can..
    and that ill have to do dozens or crunches a day because running on a tredmill wont give me abs according to her... im realy close to my family and i don't want to have to cut ties with them for me to succeed in my efforts to lose the weight i've been carrying around for years but how can i do that when i have someone giving me unsolicited fitness advice and telling me to weigh my food or use a measuring cup to does out my food before i eat it? i know it sounds like im whining and im sorry if i offended anyone i didn't mean to if anyone out there has any advice about this it would be greatly appreciated thank you very much :smile:

    Stop being weak, only weak people allow themselves to be sabotaged
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    Tell her that you're 27 years old and as such, you're old enough to ask for help when you want it without her telling you what to do.

    Beyond that, if you don't like her advice then don't take it.

    Lastly, she's not forcing you to do anything. Calling this "sabotage" is quite extreme.
  • yes in fact she is, she pushes me and then harps at me when i fail she dosnt trust me enough to do this on my own..
  • lsmsrbls
    lsmsrbls Posts: 232 Member
    That's a really difficult situation. I'm sorry you're having to deal with it!

    I'm not sure what the best advice is, but I know I wouldn't enjoy constantly hearing about how I'm doing everything wrong (especially when I think I'm on track!). The next time she criticizes your food or exercise choices, I would say, "Thank you for your concern, but this is all part of the plan that I'm working on! I like what I'm doing." Then the next time she says something, "Mom, I already told you that I'm happy with what I'm doing. Please don't give me any more advice. If you keep giving me unwanted advice, I'm going to leave the room." And then leave whenever she brings it up again.

    Hopefully, eventually she'll get the point and stop badgering you. If not, at least you'll be in another room and won't have to hear about it.

    Good luck!
  • IronDame
    IronDame Posts: 275
    I punch them in the throat and continue on with my day.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    yes in fact she is, she pushes me and then harps at me when i fail she dosnt trust me enough to do this on my own..

    Is she tackling you when a piece of fruit approaches your mouth? Is she taking food off of your plate and measuring it for you?
  • ZombieChaser
    ZombieChaser Posts: 1,555 Member
    "Listen, smile, nod, and agree. Then, go do whatever the fvck you were gonna do anyway." Robert Downey Jr.

    Seriously, you're 27 - go, be free and live for YOU. Question is, do YOU know that you can do it without mum? I know you can :)
  • sunsnstatheart
    sunsnstatheart Posts: 2,544 Member
    You're way too old to be blaming your mother for your problems. The only way she can sabotage you is if you allow her to do so. Stand up for yourself.
  • thanks zombiechaser and lsmsrbls you've both given me great advice i know im whining but i felt like i had to get this off my chest thank you all for listening
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  • nalia08
    nalia08 Posts: 252
    You may have to cut your mother off for awhile until you have the courage to tell her to put a sock in it. She will only continue to make matters worst and be a hindrance to your success.
  • kbogati
    kbogati Posts: 39 Member
    just gonna throw in here that the tae bo works
  • Gramps251
    Gramps251 Posts: 738 Member
    I learned to ignore my mom when I was 10 years old. You're just a late bloomer.
  • joleciamichelle
    joleciamichelle Posts: 139 Member
    I'm sorry but some of you are being extremely insensitive. Just because her mother isn't physically forcing food from her hands or "tackling her" doesn't mean that it is not sabotage and certainly isn't behavior that helps someone who struggles with their weight. If you don't have anything helpful or nice to say, move on. To the OP, I think the person that said just politely decline your mother's input is the best advice. Let her know that different things work for different people and you've found what works for you and you don't need her advice but you will ask her when you do. I know it's tough, I'm close with my mom and we both struggle with our weight and we just don't talk about it at all anymore. I hope you can come to a place where you can still have a good relationship with your family and continue to take care of yourself. Good luck!
  • MelStren
    MelStren Posts: 457 Member
    Move to another state.

    Seriously, you are an adult. Tell her how you feel, ask her to stop and if she doesn't, then either learn to ignore her or move away.

    Measuring your food before you eat it IS good advice though and it's recommended here all of the time. I measure and weigh everything that goes in my mouth.

    And I have a friend that just LOVES tae bo... she does her billy blanks and I watch her and giggle between my sets and she thinks I'm crazy for lifting weights. Find what works for you and let the rest go.
  • supplemama
    supplemama Posts: 1,956 Member
    Hmmmm...you're 27. You are good and grown. Let her say her piece and say, Ok that's your opinion.

    Leave it at that, and do what you want. No one can sabotage you unless YOU allow them to. You really do have control of yourself.
  • Invite her to join MFP set up the app for her and let her begin research on weight loss through healthy goals, diet , and exercise. I have learned alot and I am sure your mother would as well. And if she doesn't it is not your problem you can not change people and the only person that you can change is yourself.
  • sjohnny
    sjohnny Posts: 56,142 Member
    Tell your mom to get bent. If that fails, skull-crack her.

    Take responsibility for yourself and do what you need to do to get where you want to be. It's all up to you and if you take control of your life you can do it.
  • PicklePlum
    PicklePlum Posts: 192 Member
    Stop being weak, only weak people allow themselves to be sabotaged

    I like this quote.
  • NiSan12
    NiSan12 Posts: 374 Member
    I punch them in the throat and continue on with my day.

    LIKE THIS ONE!

    But seriously, I use their comment/negative thoughts as stepping stones, because only hurting people try to hurt people.
    Pray for them and MOVE ON!
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    Every time she pulls that kind of stuff, excuse yourself. Either go home or go to another room for awhile.
  • UKMarjie
    UKMarjie Posts: 257 Member
    i live close to my parents and my mother has tried everything in her power to get me to lose weight shes tried giving me tae bo tapes ( how retro is that?) shes told me about exercise routines you name it but as time wore on and i wasnt getting the results SHE wanted from me she resorted to drastic measures she has invited over my brothers skinny friends and invited me over as well so ill feel insignificant next to them, she has pressured me into restrictive diet after restrictive diet and has all but demanded i try the recent crash diet shes wetting herself over.. now i've found a meal plan that works and i have confidence in myself for the first time ever and shes trying to sabotage me again by saying i cant eat fruit when every diet shes ever given me ever says i can..
    and that ill have to do dozens or crunches a day because running on a tredmill wont give me abs according to her... im realy close to my family and i don't want to have to cut ties with them for me to succeed in my efforts to lose the weight i've been carrying around for years but how can i do that when i have someone giving me unsolicited fitness advice and telling me to weigh my food or use a measuring cup to does out my food before i eat it? i know it sounds like im whining and im sorry if i offended anyone i didn't mean to if anyone out there has any advice about this it would be greatly appreciated thank you very much :smile:

    Here is the thing. Previously you managed to resist her advice on weight loss and stayed at a size she (and obviously you) found unacceptable. If you have a place you already know exists where you can go and tune her out go there now.

    The only person in charge of you is you. Also, one thing I had to learn, interestingly enough about the age that you are now, is that for anything to truly be mine (achievements, successes, failures, life) I had to learn that sometimes I just didn't share it with my parents until it was accomplished. You need to establish boundaries and you need to defend them. So telling her that you will no longer discuss your weight or health with her officially (like a sit-down, proper grown up chat) and that you will be enforcing this boundary by leaving or hanging up whenever she (or anyone) goes there. And then enforce it. Don't wine about it, don't argue, don't get mad - just leave the situation. And then go and prove them wrong. The best revenge? Proving them utterly wrong by finding a will of iron and getting this done. But even better - find the 'how many f8cks don't I give' place about anyone else's opinion and do this because it is the right thing for you and what you want to achieve!

    In an aside: I don't like to discuss my weight with my husband - he makes me feel like he is taking over whatever I am doing - I don't discuss when I am going to the gym - what I am eating or anything because it causes fights and it makes me resent him and get really mad. I know part of that is to do with accountability - as in: he makes me feel like I am not in control of the situation when he asks me about it - and sometimes I am and so get mad because I don't feel he is being supportive and sometimes it is because I am not and it makes me mad that he has 'caught me out'. This just illustrates how complicated my relationship to weight is and how the journey really is a solo trip. This time things are working because I am doing it for me and mostly couldn't give a flying fig what anyone else's ideas about my ideal self are. At 41 I am feeling a lot more free to do what I want.

    Good luck.
  • lenniebus
    lenniebus Posts: 321 Member
    Psychological sabotage is tough, whether you are doing it to yourself, or someone close to you is! My mom has passed away, and I would do anything to have her back to harp at me! Assuming your mom is doing it out of love, I think talking to her would do the trick. If she has some other motivation, some space and serious boundary setting when you are with her would probably help. If she does something you feel is inappropriate or not helpful--just don't put up with it. Nothing wrong with calling her out on it.
  • iAMsmiling
    iAMsmiling Posts: 2,394 Member
    Join the Navy and don't go home for 10 years or more.

    Hey, worked for me.
  • UKMarjie
    UKMarjie Posts: 257 Member
    Join the Navy and don't go home for 10 years or more.

    Hey, worked for me.

    That is setting some serious boundaries. I just moved to another continent. Worked a treat as well! ;)
  • iluvprettyshoes
    iluvprettyshoes Posts: 605 Member
    You have to set some boundaries with her. If she chooses not to comply then limit your time with her as much as possible until you are strong enough to handle her vitriol.
  • stephdeeable
    stephdeeable Posts: 1,407 Member
    Nobody has ever tried to sabotage me because I don't associate with supervillains.
  • queenhiphop
    queenhiphop Posts: 286 Member
    yes in fact she is, she pushes me and then harps at me when i fail she dosnt trust me enough to do this on my own..

    Is she tackling you when a piece of fruit approaches your mouth? Is she taking food off of your plate and measuring it for you?

    sabotage doesn't have to be physical....

    all i can say is she's your mother so she probably genuinely wants the best for you

    can you move out or is that not an option?
  • wibutterflymagic
    wibutterflymagic Posts: 788 Member
    Hmmmm...you're 27. You are good and grown. Let her say her piece and say, Ok that's your opinion.

    Leave it at that, and do what you want. No one can sabotage you unless YOU allow them to. You really do have control of yourself.

    Seriously.
    If for the moment you have found something that is giving you results and confidence(that isn't unsafe) to continue then you need to tell your mom to step off. You need to let her know that she is just making things more difficult for you and that she needs to leave you alone. You are an adult, take control. If she really won't leave you alone then you need to stay away from her and anyone else that isn't helping you.

    I don't know what your "meal plan" is but if it's not something that is teaching you how to eat healthy on your own, it will help you to begin with but in the long term you won't learn healthier, sustainable eating habits. Your mother's comment about measuring and weighing your food is sound advice. Most people here on mfp watch their calorie intake by learning how to measure and calculate correct serving sizes so that we can change our eating lifestyle. "Diets", "meal plans" work in the short run but do not teach anything.
  • MightyDomo
    MightyDomo Posts: 1,265 Member
    She is your mother and they certainly think they always know best. My mother crams her opinion down my throat but I had friends and some family kindly remind me that opinions are given but they don't have to be used. It is up to you what you want to do with them.

    If she is forcing it on you in her home it might be time to lay down your own law, if she meddles then you won't come for a visit. Or you can create your own way of coercing her into listening and taking a step back and letting you continue the way that works for you. If you don't say or do anything then nothing will change.