Everyone wants a quick fix
Replies
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I often get the question, "Okay what did you do to lose all that weight?" When I tell them I exercise 6 days a week, manage my calories and eat healthier I can see the disappointment on their face. They understand but they're not ready to make that kind of commitment.
Yes, this. Commitment.
I do wonder sometimes if the people who can't commit to their health etc are also the ones who can't commit to varying things in their lives.
Then I slap myself in the face because I know some really fit and sexy people who are complete douche bags when it comes to committing to other things.0 -
Good mate: Geez he's lost weight! Hows he done it?
Jealous Mate: Na, he still fat! He's just standing further away.
^This has been my favourite comment i've received so far :P
HAHHAHAHHAHA WTF
Someone ACTUALLY said that!??!
People are nuts. All the people :P0 -
Though maybe I should say something outlandish... I'm on the squid, octopus and unicorn blood diet.
Ok, I also have to point out, aside from this comment being WIN, the Deadpool profile pic gains you SO MANY MORE WIN POINTS.0 -
bump0
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I've been getting this question a lot lately, mainly friends I don't see very often and people at work. After about the nth person's eyes glazed over when I said "portion control and I exercise about 5 times a week" I gave up. If they still showed any interest after I said that, I'd mention MFP, but most people don't want to actually hear reality.
Now I make things up. My favorite right now: "crack cocaine and vodka, but it has to be cheap vodka, not the good stuff." Past favorites: "raspberry ketones and green tea extract." or "the grapefruit and Tutti Frutti diet."
Is it frustrating losing weight slowly? Only sometimes, because I want to actually keep it off this time so I'm going slowly to eat right, keep my metabolism healthy, and to make changes which are sustainable. I've been there--losing it quickly and gaining it all back quickly when I started eating more than 1200 calories a day.
A couple of women here at work have had gastric by-pass recently. NOT passing judgement on WLS here...but they are losing very quickly (good for them?). I'm actually going to be a little annoyed if people also assume that I had WLS in order to lose weight. Which is funny because if I actually did have it I wouldn't care. But making lifestyle changes and exercising my butt off (literally!) is how I'm losing weight, and I don't want to perpetuate a myth that it can only be done with either a fad diet or surgery. Does that make sense or am I off my rocker...?0 -
I found a fix for the KILLER margarita. I take TWO bottles of the skinny mix with me and give them to my bartender. I use one and he keeps the other!! They never mind and if you ask--they may already HAVE them. Bars want LOTS AND LOTS of pretty women and pretty women do NOT touch sugar
so suggest this to your favorite bar or restaurant.0 -
It all boils down tot he fact that people don't want to work hard. Once you accept that you have to work hard to be in good shape, then that's when you actually start getting in shape. Until then, they'll jump from fad diet to fad diet for weight loss: low carb, detox, cleanse, paleo, vegetarian, low fat, no sugar, no carbs after 2:00pm etc. etc.
^^^ well said!! thats certainly how I used to look at it
OP I can relate! people think there really is some magic formula but you're right, we just have to work our butts off but its SOOO WORTH IT :-D0 -
Having lost over 80lbs, it's kinda funny, explaining it for the umpteenth time that I weigh my portions, read calorie labels, lift heavy, drink lots of water, and watching their look go from hopeful, to slightly glazing over.
Then the inevitable excuses come.0 -
I'd like to add something different here: I might be one of those people you are talking about. I've tried lots of things in the past that were supposed to be "quick fixes." I'm always the fat girl asking others how they did it. However, I've never once said anything like "oh, I don't want to do that" or "that is too much work." It's always been a subconcious thing - I think I've always said to myself that I'll get there someday, but when it comes down to it, I'm really no different than those that respond with answers such as those. Because I STILL have not done it (maybe waiting around for the miracle?). I STILL haven't found the "real" drive and motivation to rinse and repeat the exercise and healthy diet routine. I have this annoying mentality that I have lots of time to get real about it and when I become motivated, the weight will just drop off. Once I actually start, the weight starts coming off, but as soon as I hit a bump in the road, it's all over and I'm back where I started.
I am one of those people, even if I don't show it to others. It exists on the inside.
Now, I have to thank you for this post - it actually made things a little clearer for me. To break this stupid mentality, I first need to have realistic expectation of how this is going to work. Yesterday does not matter. Tomorrow does not matter. TODAY is what matters. I have complete control over TODAY. I have control over my exercise and what I eat. The choices I make are mine and I am responsible for the outcome. I'll forget about yesterday - can't change what has already happened. I'll focus on tomorrow when it becomes today. Today is when I have to put forth my best effort. Some days I will feel as if I failed, some days I will have surpassed what I thought was possible. But if I just get up each day and start fresh, I can do this. And I will break the instant gratification mentality.
Thanks, guys!! :blushing:0 -
Yes, they do.....and I can admit that sometimes I am one of them! Somedays I feel like I will never get to where I want to be, but I know it is all ME and not anyone else's fault. But I refuse to do any "fad" diets, I love food and they all sound so dangerous and outrageous. I know if I really want to make a change I need to start lifting and work-out more, but I am too good at finding reasons to not do it such as cost, time, kids, too much other stuff to do and not enough time to do it all- i.e.: housework, grocery shopping, helping kids with homework....I envy the women I know personally and the women I see on here that seem to have boundless energy, motivation, and determination.
I have lost some weight and on my little frame it is noticeable. And I too have had people at work comment on how slim I look and ask what I am doing. They all seem shocked when I said all I have been doing is watching my calorie intake and doing minimal exercising. One girl asked me how I know how many calories a day I should be eating and I told her about MFP, but I doubt she will do anything about it. Over the course of the 5 years I have worked here she has tried to lose weight so many times. She will get on this kick where she and some other co-workers will go walk the bridges (in our city, downtown, they walk across one and come back on another). But everyday at work she is getting take-out food for breakfast and lunch, and they are never healthy, low-cal choices. Ugh, and don't even get me started when she was diagnosed as a diabetic and kept putting off going to see a nutrionist to learn about carb counting and how to control her diet.
On the flip side, my younger sister is a fitness instructor and is an inspiration to many. She was always chunky growing up and now she is smaller than me and seriously buff. You would think just looking at her change I would be motivated, but I know that she MOVES constantly for her job and has seriously changed her diet. And I know deep down I am not there yet. Somedays I feel like I should quit my job and work at her gym just so I could exercise everday too, lol! But....then my bills would probably not get paid, so......0 -
Yes I agree, EVERYONE wants a quick fix, hell if I could wake up tomorrow 50lbs lighter, I would be ecstatic and I would probably trade a kidney for it aswell, unforunately, thats not gonna happen to I work my butt off 6/7 days a week and measure everything I eat.
I have managed to convert 1 friend to MFP but I have tried with my mum who insists on doing the 5:2 diet or the slim fast diet or any other bloody diet she reads in a magazine, citing that she is simply too tired to work out after a long day at work - she doesnt get that the more she works out, the more energy she will have. I dont preach though, she will either do it or she wont.0 -
I have managed to convert 1 friend to MFP but I have tried with my mum who insists on doing the 5:2 diet or the slim fast diet or any other bloody diet she reads in a magazine, citing that she is simply too tired to work out after a long day at work - she doesnt get that the more she works out, the more energy she will have. I dont preach though, she will either do it or she wont.
Mothers......Yeah, mine has always complained about her weight and now that she is older it is really a health issue. I have told her about MFP, but I think at this point it will take some sort of miracle to change her ways. She even said to me the other day that she eats all day long out of boredom. She is newly divorced, in her own apartment, but doesn't work. I told her she needs to look into volunteering or some small part-time job, join a senior center, something to keep her busy and active. And she agrees. But she feels like she is too old, too fat, too tired......she is the most negative person I know!0 -
I often get the question, "Okay what did you do to lose all that weight?" When I tell them I exercise 6 days a week, manage my calories and eat healthier I can see the disappointment on their face. They understand but they're not ready to make that kind of commitment.
Definitely this.
They'll nod in an 'ah I see' kind of way but they're not ready to look at the long term picture and the next thing I know they're on their next juice/shake/fast diet.0 -
I must admit that if I believed there were something I could buy that would make the weight drop off without any effort on my part, I'd be all over it. Changing habits is hard work!0
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After I tell everyone how long it took me to get to my goal weight, they totally lose interest;) So many people think they can do it within a couple of months and then go back to eating/living the way they used too!0
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Toats agree.
It's either people asking what the secret is, are you starving yourself, what diet pills are you taking??
Or people saying "aren't you getting obsessed with the gym"
These types of people have no willpower or dedication to embark on a healthier, more active lifestyle unfortuantely,0 -
I've just been reading some blogs and it occirs to me this happens all the time.
This is what happened on Friday night to me...
K: OMG you're so tiny, what's your secret? (Whilst holding a large tequila in her hand)
ME: Working my butt off literally (whilst holding a large water in my hand)
K: But you must be doing some diet or cleanse or something.
ME: Nope. Gym. Heavy weights. Ballet. HIIT. And paying attention to whats going IN to my body (pointed look at her large tequila).
K: Fine, be secretative then, see if I care.
Do people really think there is some magic formula? If someone had found it all the other crap things people sell would be left in the dust because it actually worked...
How many times does this happen to you? Have you ever managed to convince someone the only thing that works is hard work?
I have had the same conversation, with the large drink in my hand though. That has nothing to do with it.....0 -
After I tell everyone how long it took me to get to my goal weight, they totally lose interest;) So many people think they can do it within a couple of months and then go back to eating/living the way they used too!
This! The time is going to pass anyway! Just make the changes!0 -
I get this and "Oh, it's because you have skinny genes!"
My family has always been thin because we are very active and eat healthy balanced meals, however, I gained a bit of weight when I moved overseas and away from home. I lost the weight fairly quickly when I went back to my old eating and exercising habits, but whenever I tell people what I did, they always dismiss it by saying that I'm just lucky enough to have "skinny genes."
Funny Example: The other day when I was visiting home, I biked to the next town over to get ice cream from my favorite creamery. One of these people mentioned above said I was so lucky I could eat like that and be so skinny, so I invited her to come on the same ride with me to get ice cream the next weekend. Her response was, "Sure, but let's drive there. Biking is so much extra unnecessary work!" I think some people just choose to be oblivious to the problem because they want and excuse and/or just don't want to take the initiative to make a change.0 -
I don't think it is that people don't want to work hard. I think losing weight is a struggle and some people are overwhelmed by how slow the results can be. Everyone's body & life is different. It is a difficult task to balance what works for you and fits into your life. Not to mention habits and lifestyle changes are not easy. Totally surprised to find such judgement under a "support" topic.
:-(0 -
OMG - You are so right!!! People hear that I've lost what I've lost and go, "Oh - tell me what you're doing!!" as if it were magic or something. "I watch what I eat." They look at me as if I'm from outer space and say, "like what?"
"Like, lean healthy proteins." I may as well have told them to go eat slugs or something with the look I get back!
I just feel like telling them, "Okay - when you're really ready to hear this or actually DO something about your current state, come find me."
One of the girls at work is actually taking pills to help make her feel full. I keep trying to tell her she isn't eating because she's hungry, but falls on deaf ears. Surely it can't be what she's eating! LOL0 -
I don't think it is that people don't want to work hard. I think losing weight is a struggle and some people are overwhelmed by how slow the results can be. Everyone's body & life is different. It is a difficult task to balance what works for you and fits into your life. Not to mention habits and lifestyle changes are not easy. Totally surprised to find such judgement under a "support" topic.
:-(
Actually I would consider this post support because it is good to see people who are trying to not only work on their overall health but on their discipline and organization. So I look at this post here and support it because I look at the "glass half full"
When I finally stopped making excuses.. then I finally started seeing results. And.. I know this process will literally take years.0 -
same reason people want free money... because getting something without having to work for it is a lot easier than doing tons of hard work. some people don't find satisfaction in the feat of accomplishing something, but rather in just the end result. oh and also people can be extremely lazy.0
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some people don't find satisfaction in the feat of accomplishing something, but rather in just the end result.
^^^ This - Well said!0 -
Do people really think there is some magic formula?
Yes.If someone had found it all the other crap things people sell would be left in the dust because it actually worked...
True.How many times does this happen to you?
Countless.Have you ever managed to convince someone the only thing that works is hard work?
Not yet.
ETA: I was at the DMV renewing my license, and the clerk noticed that my weight had changed (the number has gone down significantly from the last time I lied on my license about my weight). She said, "I was going to ask how you did it, but every time I ask someone that question they always say, 'Diet and exercise,' and I don't want to hear it again." *SIGH*
I am so looking forward to doing my driver's license in March 2014 when they expire- I think I'll be down by 60 pounds or so then (with 70 more to go, but that's okay because I'll go do them again after that last 70 comes off).0 -
Yep, my mom is the same way. Drives me crazy. I lost over 20 lbs by using this site last year before I got pregnant with baby # 4 and she'd always want to know how I was losing weight but when I told her "All I do is count my calories and exercise" she didn't want to hear it. Instead she will try anything else under the sun as long as it doesn't involve her actually doing anything (weight loss pills, etc). I've pretty much given up trying to convince her that those things don't work.0
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I'm really lucky--my mom lost 60 pounds 8 months ago and has kept it off, so she's a great support system for me. In fact, it makes me work harder because if my 56 year old mother can do it with a full-time job, 6 dogs, and a house/husband to care for, what is my excuse? I know that she just looks so much better, feels so much better, and has more energy and stamina. The only thing I have trouble with is that she lost her weight doing a low-carb diet because she's diabetic, so she tries to push that on me.
It always pisses her off when people ask if she's had WLS because she had to work SO hard to lose that weight. I understand--I would be upset too.0 -
On the subject of the DMV I was soooo excited that I was going to be skinny for my renewal picture...then guess what...PREGGO with baby number two LOL! So yeah...it was another fat picture heehee! Maybe next time (which isn't for another year and a half at least unfortunately).
And yes...it definitely takes work, dedication and motivation. For me, if I half *kitten* it, never works. I have to get full on mental control mode and once I'm in that frame of mind for at least two weeks I can usually keep it up. Of course I do allow myself a few cheats every once and a while (especially if I've really kicked it up on exercise that week) just to keep myself sane
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I've been getting this question a lot lately, mainly friends I don't see very often and people at work. After about the nth person's eyes glazed over when I said "portion control and I exercise about 5 times a week" I gave up. If they still showed any interest after I said that, I'd mention MFP, but most people don't want to actually hear reality.
Now I make things up. My favorite right now: "crack cocaine and vodka, but it has to be cheap vodka, not the good stuff." Past favorites: "raspberry ketones and green tea extract." or "the grapefruit and Tutti Frutti diet."
Is it frustrating losing weight slowly? Only sometimes, because I want to actually keep it off this time so I'm going slowly to eat right, keep my metabolism healthy, and to make changes which are sustainable. I've been there--losing it quickly and gaining it all back quickly when I started eating more than 1200 calories a day.
A couple of women here at work have had gastric by-pass recently. NOT passing judgement on WLS here...but they are losing very quickly (good for them?). I'm actually going to be a little annoyed if people also assume that I had WLS in order to lose weight. Which is funny because if I actually did have it I wouldn't care. But making lifestyle changes and exercising my butt off (literally!) is how I'm losing weight, and I don't want to perpetuate a myth that it can only be done with either a fad diet or surgery. Does that make sense or am I off my rocker...?
Perfect sense
Also...LOL cocaine and cheap vodka :P0 -
Having lost over 80lbs, it's kinda funny, explaining it for the umpteenth time that I weigh my portions, read calorie labels, lift heavy, drink lots of water, and watching their look go from hopeful, to slightly glazing over.
Then the inevitable excuses come.
Ahhhh the glaze over...yes...I know that one well0
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