Has anyone asked you to help them lose weight?

What is your response?

Now that I *AM* back on track (was going to put THINK I AM but changing the mind set is 1/2 the battle), I have a feeling a few people in my life will start to ask me to help them.

I don't mind helping people that will listen but most times I find (as I have been struggling with lately) that they don't want to WORK at it. I believe, for me, losing weight is a lot of hard work, mentally and physically (making sure I get my food tracked and making time for exercise).

Yup! Most of the time I think they are looking for me to tell them some secret or something. I can pretty much see them tune out when I tell them that I just monitor my food intake and workout intensely most days of the week.

I don't want to be the one that doesn't listen .. I really want to do this! I have 3 kids and this year I will be 30 and I just don't want to be like this anymore :blushing: I know it's HARD, it has been even in the short 3 weeks I've been here. It's emotionally, mentally and physically draining, but I am doing it.

This frustrates me too. Or they ask your opinion on something and then don't do it and wonder why it's not working out. The secret is HARD work. The weight didn't go on overnight and it's not going to come off in the snap of a finger. Takes time, hard work, and dedication.

Yes I've had 2 people ask me to help them lose their weight. I said sure I'd love to help as much as I can but it's ultimately up to you. I agree that losing weight is probably the most difficult thing I've done in awhile. It's physically demanding, mentally demanding, emotionally demanding and oh so frustrating at times. I think one misconception that some people have is that what works for me might not work as well for you. So you have to play around with different exercises, different diets, and intensity levels. When helping someone, I think it's important that they know all the work is going to be on them but we can stand by and motivate, encourage and push them along. People want a quick fix, I'm guilty of desiring a quick fix but have come to terms that this is a journey....so I told them to be in for a long haul. I told them not to focus on the end, not to be hung up by the bad choices (cuz there will be plenty), and not to get discouraged by the scale. One issue one of the people is having currently...they feel so down if they don't workout. I told her not to worry about it, we're not all perfect. There's plenty of days that I feel like doing absolutely nothing but somewhere inside you have to find the "want to". Hope this helps you a little bit!

I just refer them to hear and end the conversation. They can come to me if they have specific questions. I agree some look for the "secret". I told them it is hidden on MFP.

I work in a VERY large web team (around 1,000) and most people here are shocked at how much I've lost and how much better I look. There are some that say they really want to lose some weight and I just reply when you're ready for a lifestyle change I'll be here to help and support.

No takers once "lifestyle change" gets mentioned...guess that they aren't that keen after all :laugh:

Yeah, I've had a lot of people ask me as well, but it was before I got on here. I did the fat smash diet back in 07 and lost 40 lbs in a fairly short amt of time (85 days)....so I had several people ask me for a copy of it.....and of those I had one person successfully do it (15 lbs, not an impossible feat). I'm not a fan of fad diets by any means, and I'm not trying to advertise for them. All I'm saying is that even something that simple compared to actually putting in the work was too difficult for the average person to accomplish. I even went through the detox phase with my fiance and we both lost weight, only to have that come back as well...which is why I don't believe in them anymore. Moving forward.....
I've had a few people since coming to me about their weight. I tell them about this site and how I've been going at this the right way and seeing results but through more work which gets no interest. And what's really frustrating is that I can tell who really wants to lose weight and who's frankly full of it. I tried setting up my fiance with an account here, but for some odd reason she refuses to log calories.....and wonders why the scale doesn't move. Bottom line, they have to want it for themselves

I had that happened after I lost the weight and some friends of mine didn't. Don't feel responsible for anyone else's choices. People say they want to do it, but then they don't do what they need to. I generally just tell them I lost the weight through MFP. The rest is up to them.

yeah, and I feel so flattered when they do. I love how I and feel and if I can help someone feel as great as I do then by all means I will! The problem is that I've noticed often people want to know how, but haven't reached a point yet where they are ready to put forth the effort.

Oh, I am definitely flattered too. I just realized that my first response sounded crabby and like I didn't enjoy helping people, which is completely NOT true. I just also can tell that a lot of the times when I say "cutting back on the crap food and kicking my own butt in the gym" they are waiting for something else--like the "real" way I lost weight or some secret exercise or food that I have been hiding from them. I've told many people about this site and they have no interest whatsoever. Oh well. I love talking to people who are genuine in their advice seeking and motivated to work hard. (I'm a teacher, so this spills over into all aspects of my life.)

Katilin I *know* you are a sweetheart! You are so right, many many people who ask are really just looking for an easy magic plan or pill.