Do you tell everyone?

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.....

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.

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.

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