What does your family say when you lose weight?

cdahl383
cdahl383 Posts: 726 Member
in Motivation and Support
Just curious as to what some of your family members say when you start to lose weight.

Personally, my wife is very supportive, but my in-laws and my parents both worry about me and say I'm losing too much weight and will look sickly if I don't stop soon. Mind you, I'm 5'11" and probably 20% bodyfat at 198 lbs. My goal is to get around 175-185 lbs and see how I look and take it from there. They think I'll look sickly at that weight though. I know they're wrong, but sometimes I wonder what prompts them to say things like that.

I think part of it could be that they're just used to seeing me with a little extra weight on me that when I get to a healthier weight, I look too thin, because in their minds they're used to seeing me the old way. My mom will even go as far as to start bringing over more snacks, candy, and other junk food to the house.

What do your friends/family say when they notice you losing weight or adding some muscle?
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Replies

  • guessrs
    guessrs Posts: 358 Member
    They are really happy until I started weighing less than them. Then they said to stop ha ha.
  • cdahl383
    cdahl383 Posts: 726 Member
    Haha yeah, I think sometimes when people see you getting into shape and making better choices, it makes them reflect on their own choices and fitness level and makes them realize they ought to do something as well.
  • liittlesparrow
    liittlesparrow Posts: 209 Member
    My family tends to start to worry as soon as I start dropping weight. I'm pretty sure they worry because I played a bit with anorexia in high school. My grandma and dad are about the only ones who don't make a big deal about it.
  • primal_cupcakes
    primal_cupcakes Posts: 280 Member
    "eat a sandwich"
  • AllTehBeers
    AllTehBeers Posts: 5,030 Member
    "Hey! You're not as fat anymore!"
  • AllTehBeers
    AllTehBeers Posts: 5,030 Member
    "eat a sandwich"

    I've eaten two today, what's their excuse?
  • bernied262
    bernied262 Posts: 882 Member
    In the most past they are supportive. My dad has mentioned he is worried that I have lost too much though. He is a retire nurse, to try and reassure him I have weighed in in front of him and that has reassured him a little. I am 5'1", starting weight was 189lbs, now at 127, trying to get to 126. BF% is 21.95
  • kuntry_navy
    kuntry_navy Posts: 677 Member
    what did you do? i need to do that!....that's about as far as that conversation usually goes
  • AngelRobbie
    AngelRobbie Posts: 153 Member
    I have always gotten negative feedback from my family regarding my weight. I've ALWAYS been overweight and they have never let me forget it. I have lost 94 lbs and all I hear is "How much longer until you reach my goal?" I've learned to look no further then the mirror for satisfaction and motivation. I'm doing it for me and me alone!
  • lithezebra
    lithezebra Posts: 3,670 Member
    Members of my family went into denial and started bringing up every time in my life when I was a little overweight. In all the years that I've kept weight off, they've never acknowledged it.
  • Gkfrkv
    Gkfrkv Posts: 120
    Since I was 16, my mom has been telling me I'm to big. But then she keeps telling me to eat more. And the times I have lost weight she gets jealous.
  • ElizabethFuller
    ElizabethFuller Posts: 352 Member
    Nothing! I've lost 11kg (24lb), dropped 1-2 dress sizes and no-one has said "Have you lost weight". Even my husband had to be shown my 90 day weight loss graph before he was impressed. It's a bit sad but I am doing this for me and I definitely feel thinner and certainly feel fitter. I must have carried my excess flab in a tidy way :smile: Maybe in another month, and I really hope another dress size, my friends and family will be wowed. Here's hoping.
  • fatoldladyonamission
    fatoldladyonamission Posts: 581 Member
    My family are great, very supportive and encouraging. My sisters in law however don't like to mention it just in case I might be smaller than them! Lol! I've given up worrying about it since as soon as I mention, eat less, move more and log everything their eyes glaze over!
  • CipherZero
    CipherZero Posts: 1,418 Member
    "You're losing weight too fast" (one pound a week average)
    "You've lost too much weight" (at 32 lbs overweight and 30% bodyfat)
    "You look gaunt" (see above)
    "PLEASE stop losing weight!" (at 25 lbs overweight and 28% bodyfat)
    "You're eating too much meat" (Building muscle mass requires it)
    "Protein powder is dangerous" (see the contradiction?)

    I nod and tell my wife "Okay" and keep doing what I'm doing, because I've done the research and my blood work tells a different story than her "momscience."
  • Crazymonkeylove88
    Crazymonkeylove88 Posts: 2
    Before I started really trying to loose weight and just sat around and wined about my size, I asked my grandmother who raised me if I was really that big and she said "well your not skinny." Every time I tell her how much weight I lost she says "Where'd you lose that at between your toes?" Mind you she used to be 50 lbs heavier than I am now and is still 20 lbs heavier than me, you think she would be a little more sensitive to hurting my feelings. She is constantly commenting on my weight and tries to give me old clothes that she has outgrow that are 4 sizes too big for me, when I say that they are too big, She says "you look like they will fit you." I used to be tiny. I used to be a size 4 and 120 lbs after having my first child. I gained 10 to 20 lbs after every child that I have not been able to loose. 3 more kids later and I am tired of being round. I want to be my skinny self. I look in the mirror and don't even feel like I am the same person I was 5 yrs ago. I want to be that girl again. And obviously my family doesn't like my weight gain any more than I do. I quit talking to my family about my weight because it hurts me the comments they make. I feel like a beautiful woman trapped in a round body.
  • lithezebra
    lithezebra Posts: 3,670 Member

    "You're eating too much meat" (Building muscle mass requires it)
    "Protein powder is dangerous" (see the contradiction?)

    My family is anti protein too, and goes on about complex carbs. But they're all happy to eat 1/2 pound hamburgers when I cook them.
  • MyPureSteez
    MyPureSteez Posts: 265 Member
    They all seem to want to know the #'s How much did you lose? How much do you weigh? I never tell and just say I don't know.
  • Smallc10
    Smallc10 Posts: 610 Member
    You look like you've lost weight!

    That's about it...
  • Rockstar_JILL
    Rockstar_JILL Posts: 514 Member
    I had people tell me I am TOO skinny....I should stop now....I dont'' need to lose any more...etc....but they are all over weight themselves.......they say I am too skinny! Yeah, right!! NOT!! Just do what you feel is right. :)
  • ADietadaM
    ADietadaM Posts: 213 Member
    Nothing, a little sad but its truth.
  • chaoticdreams
    chaoticdreams Posts: 447 Member
    All mine are very supportive. My grandmother however likes to point out that I still have a ways to go. :| That.... well it's so annoying. I love her and I hope I'm that honest when I'm 90.

    My husband is very happy for me, but very unhappy he's not losing. He's also not really adhering to his calories or working out. But that's okay. He's my big teddy bear and I'm fine with that! I'm losing weight for me. :)
  • CandaceG514
    CandaceG514 Posts: 24 Member
    My side of the family is very supportive and always has really nice things to say about how good I am looking and that they are proud of me for working so hard. My husband's side of the family has started to tell me that I don't need to lose anymore. I am still a few pounds from a healthy BMI and I still want to lose 12 - 17 more pounds depending on how my stomach looks. When I told someone that last week I was told that sometimes people can get a problem with wanting to lose more and more weight and that I will probably never lose my stomach without having surgery because that just goes along with having 3 kids. I know it won't look perfect and I don't expect it too but I know that I still have extra fat that can come off with some extra hard work. It does seem like some people are happy for you at first and then when you start getting smaller it almost makes them uncomfortable with themselves.
  • caramelgyrlk
    caramelgyrlk Posts: 1,112 Member
    "Why are you lifting weights"? "You are going to bulk up like a man". "When you stop it will turn to fat"
    "You know our family is "BIG BONED", you are NEVER going to be small".
    "You look fine as you are, stop trying to change so much".

    When I weighed 337 pounds, here is what was said " OMG you are starting to look like Aunt Gerty" "You really should lose weight you are going to die young". "Stop eating sweets before you end up with diabetes". "Would you like another plate of food for the road"?

    Now I remember why I moved so FAR away from them.
  • kimosabe1
    kimosabe1 Posts: 2,467 Member
    nothing-bishes!
  • Jane_1705
    Jane_1705 Posts: 152 Member
    Dad mentions I am too skinny and freaks out about my weight every time I speak with him. Luckily Mum tells him that I am fine and I used to be this slim pre kids :)
  • YesIAm17
    YesIAm17 Posts: 817 Member
    I get virtually no encouragement from family. Sometimes they will get mad at me if I don't eat the same thing as them, sometimes they will try to shove food I don't want not just onto my plate but in my face, and sometimes they insist that what I am doing is completely wrong.

    All of the people included in that "they" are either obese or very overweight themselves, and some extremely offended by that fact (when told by their doctor, not me).

    They don't want to change their habits so seeing me (or maybe you in your family) changing habits makes them feel bad.

    They also think they know what is healthy and want me (or maybe you in your family) to support their completely unfounded sense of intellectual superiority.

    I think a lot of people believe they are much better and smarter than everyone else around them and if they see someone else making improvements that they aren't making and following advice other than theirs' it hurts their egos and so they subconsciously act out either with backhanded compliments, outright insults, sabotage, or even just a passive aggressive lack of support.

    I posted a somewhat related topic you might find many of the responses to it very helpful: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1110715-they-just-don-t-get-it-what-do-you-tell-them
  • cdahl383
    cdahl383 Posts: 726 Member
    I had people tell me I am TOO skinny....I should stop now....I dont'' need to lose any more...etc....but they are all over weight themselves.......they say I am too skinny! Yeah, right!! NOT!! Just do what you feel is right. :)

    That's my favorite...overweight people telling me I'm losing too much weight. Really, have you checked in the mirror lately? Haha!
  • AABru
    AABru Posts: 610 Member
    I'm the "skinny Bi$%h" with "good genes." :drinker: Exact quote BTW.
  • Hauntinglyfit
    Hauntinglyfit Posts: 5,537 Member
    My family is supportive.
    My father used to think that I should stick to cardio rather than weights, but now he is actually making me flex my muscles every time he sees me to check on my progress. :happy:
  • RingSize8
    RingSize8 Posts: 175 Member
    My family/friends are supportive, but, I've been hearing 'you should stop now' from a lot of people recently, and it's getting kinda old. Even a guy I was dating told me I should stop losing weight, and that, essentially, I would be less attractive if I didn't. Does anyone else get this, and does it bother you? My best friend, guys, my aunt, coworkers, etc, have all said this. Why would someone think it's okay to tell you to be less healthy?

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