Why do people insist on giving (bad) advice?
Replies
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^ and delicious lol0
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The thing I love about math, although I much prefer teaching English, is that you can't really argue with it's simplicity. Calories in<calories out. Bam! This is usually my response to all of this advice. That or silence.0
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*its. I apologize for that. I am ashamed. Lol.0
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It is just indicative of just how widespread misinformation about weight and fitness management really is.
This. That's why I chose to go into health education, but now I feel like i'm getting in way over my head with these people :laugh:
Great job, OP. Just keep doing what works, and just nod and smile at all the broscience and keep on. :flowerforyou:
THIS!0 -
Join the club on that one. :grumble: I've lost 123lbs in about 15 months and a week doesn't go by without someone insinuating that I'm doing it wrong and suggesting something they've read about on Facebook or seen on Dr. Oz. It goes like this generally:I've lost 50 pounds since I started my weight loss plan. I pretty much just eat what I want and count calories, although I do try to avoid processed foods and artificial stuff as much as possible. I feel like the fact that I am losing steadily, feel good and am rarely hungry says I am doing things the right way, at least for me. So, why then, does everyone who sees or hears that I have lost weight insist on giving me advice? I'm already losing the weight, I don't need their ill-informed advice!
I've gotten where I really don't tell anyone what I am doing, but my mom insists on telling everyone and their grandmother.
When I told my aunt I just count calories she said "well, they say it's not about calories, it's about fat." No, no one says that, not since like 1962.
If I post on facebook that I have lost weight a bunch of people ask how and when I say that I just count calories a bunch of other people chime in to inform me that I should be cutting carbs.
It's like I can't just say "hey, I lost 10 more pounds since xxx" and have people tell me "great job" or whatever. Everyone insists on telling me the "right" way to do it.
Random acquaintance/customer/half assed friend/family member says: "Wow, you've lost a lot of weight!"
Me: "Why yes, I have. Just eating at a calorie defict and exercising, nothing fancy."
Random Person: "But you cut carbs/fat/processed/gluten/chocolate/junk food, right? You eat clean/paleo/primal right?"
Me. "No. I eat ice cream everyday."
Random Person. *looking annoyed now* "Well, that's not possible. You should try cutting carbs/fat/protein/salt/processed/gmo's/gluten/sugar/aspartame.... and buy raspberry ketones/garcinawhateveryoucallit/shakeology/visalus/eat clean etc.... because what you're doing CLEARLY doesn't work."
:laugh:
:laugh: sounds so familiar!
That just made me snort laugh
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I recently ran into a casual acquaintance in the grocery store.
Her: Wow, you've lost a lot of weight.
Me: Thanks.
Her (as she eyed my shopping cart and pointed): You aren't going to eat that or that are you?
Me: Yep.
Her: You know you should be eating "clean". It's the only way to lose weight.
Me: Interesting. Gotta run.
Oh, this is just FANTASTIC. Great post. My favorite event is when you succeed (at anything) and other people tell you its impossible, you're doing it wrong, they know better, when youve done it and they havent. Cluelessness knows no bounds with some people.0 -
Great job. I love seeing success stories like this one!!!!
I have recently gone off track and put some weight back on.
I now get comments like
'See I told you that idea wouldn't work'
'Counting calories was a waste of time wasn't it..Should've done Paleo'
' Told you to eat low carb'
'You should really do this clean eating diet that I do'
Pffft I shall begin counting calories again because that IS what works for me 0 -
So, why then, does everyone who sees or hears that I have lost weight insist on giving me advice?
Because we're social creatures, and biologically programmed to stick our nose in other people's business. As should be evident by the fact that we're all posting to a bunch of strangers on an internet chat board.
Gotta just let it all roll off your back, like water off of a duck.
I vote for this one.0 -
I've lost 50 pounds since I started my weight loss plan. I pretty much just eat what I want and count calories, although I do try to avoid processed foods and artificial stuff as much as possible. I feel like the fact that I am losing steadily, feel good and am rarely hungry says I am doing things the right way, at least for me. So, why then, does everyone who sees or hears that I have lost weight insist on giving me advice? I'm already losing the weight, I don't need their ill-informed advice!
I've gotten where I really don't tell anyone what I am doing, but my mom insists on telling everyone and their grandmother.
When I told my aunt I just count calories she said "well, they say it's not about calories, it's about fat." No, no one says that, not since like 1962.
If I post on facebook that I have lost weight a bunch of people ask how and when I say that I just count calories a bunch of other people chime in to inform me that I should be cutting carbs.
It's like I can't just say "hey, I lost 10 more pounds since xxx" and have people tell me "great job" or whatever. Everyone insists on telling me the "right" way to do it.
because everyone wants to feel helpful and also because most people cannot believe the old fashioned way of counting calories actually works. they'd rather believe all the fads and "doctors" and pills are the new magical way to loose weight0 -
Agreed! and it's how I feel when I tell folks I lost weight by going back to the basics. Eliminating all the crap created in labs in the last several decades and bam. Good old fashioned food. :-)I've lost 50 pounds since I started my weight loss plan. I pretty much just eat what I want and count calories, although I do try to avoid processed foods and artificial stuff as much as possible. I feel like the fact that I am losing steadily, feel good and am rarely hungry says I am doing things the right way, at least for me. So, why then, does everyone who sees or hears that I have lost weight insist on giving me advice? I'm already losing the weight, I don't need their ill-informed advice!
I've gotten where I really don't tell anyone what I am doing, but my mom insists on telling everyone and their grandmother.
When I told my aunt I just count calories she said "well, they say it's not about calories, it's about fat." No, no one says that, not since like 1962.
If I post on facebook that I have lost weight a bunch of people ask how and when I say that I just count calories a bunch of other people chime in to inform me that I should be cutting carbs.
It's like I can't just say "hey, I lost 10 more pounds since xxx" and have people tell me "great job" or whatever. Everyone insists on telling me the "right" way to do it.
because everyone wants to feel helpful and also because most people cannot believe the old fashioned way of counting calories actually works. they'd rather believe all the fads and "doctors" and pills are the new magical way to loose weight0 -
I know the feeling. My sister came to me and told me she had heard about a miraculous new way to lose weight instantly and told me about the "sweat suit."
I told her that it would be a waste of hard earned money and was a bunch of crap, she'd just lose water weight and would gain it back as soon as she drank water.
She then asked me what I suggested. I explained calories in/calories out. She says "see my way makes way more sense than that, that one sounds like the scam!"
Seriously? How? There's nothing to sell!
Sigh* I gave up0 -
different things work for different people......
Oh, really? So not everyone is subject to the laws of thermodynamics and calories in/calories out? :huh: What an interesting world you must live in. *slowly back away*
I think they're just pointing out that there's more to health than calories in/calories out. Like for instance, if you cut calories too far you stop losing weight. That defies the basic calories in/calories out (because there's more to the story). And different approaches will work for different people; some people work best with a daily treat, others weekly, and some no "treats" at all because it doesn't work for them.0 -
I know the feeling. My sister came to me and told me she had heard about a miraculous new way to lose weight instantly and told me about the "sweat suit."
I told her that it would be a waste of hard earned money and was a bunch of crap, she'd just lose water weight and would gain it back as soon as she drank water.
She then asked me what I suggested. I explained calories in/calories out. She says "see my way makes way more sense than that, that one sounds like the scam!"
Seriously? How? There's nothing to sell!
Sigh* I gave up
It boggles the mind. Even as I was gaining weight, I knew exactly what was happening. I knew I was eating too many calories for the amount of activity I had in my routine. It's not a mystery. It's not a trick. It's mindboggling how uninformed many people are. And it makes you really wonder how they missed all this information during elementary, junior high and high school.0 -
I'd say it's more like "more than one way to skin a cat." One can cut calories by counting them, or eliminating things. Both can create a caloric deficit. Different strokes for different folks. I never counted while losing. I counted (here) after maintaining for a decade. And determined that counting (right now) isn't for me...different things work for different people......
Oh, really? So not everyone is subject to the laws of thermodynamics and calories in/calories out? :huh: What an interesting world you must live in. *slowly back away*
I think they're just pointing out that there's more to health than calories in/calories out. Like for instance, if you cut calories too far you stop losing weight. That defies the basic calories in/calories out (because there's more to the story). And different approaches will work for different people; some people work best with a daily treat, others weekly, and some no "treats" at all because it doesn't work for them.
creating a deficit is what's key. How we do it is left to the individual to decide. The OP's post reminds us that folks are adamant about shoving THEIR approach (aka the only right approach) down the throats of others.0 -
50 lbs of weight loss is great... But you really should reduce your protein intake. After all, the human body is 70% water, so I get 70% of my calories from liquids... Coke, olive oil, milkshakes, and pork chop smoothies
:drinker: :bigsmile:
**^^THIS!!!
Hahahaha. :laugh:
Great job on your weightloss and thanks for posting this, I have really enjoyed reading all of the responses. lol0 -
Because they think it's good advice.0
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I'd say it's more like "more than one way to skin a cat." One can cut calories by counting them, or eliminating things. Both can create a caloric deficit. Different strokes for different folks. I never counted while losing. I counted (here) after maintaining for a decade. And determined that counting (right now) isn't for me...different things work for different people......
Oh, really? So not everyone is subject to the laws of thermodynamics and calories in/calories out? :huh: What an interesting world you must live in. *slowly back away*
I think they're just pointing out that there's more to health than calories in/calories out. Like for instance, if you cut calories too far you stop losing weight. That defies the basic calories in/calories out (because there's more to the story). And different approaches will work for different people; some people work best with a daily treat, others weekly, and some no "treats" at all because it doesn't work for them.
creating a deficit is what's key. How we do it is left to the individual to decide. The OP's post reminds us that folks are adamant about shoving THEIR approach (aka the only right approach) down the throats of others.
Hmm... This could be true but I'm not sure things turned out so great for that cat... :happy:0 -
It never does.:frown:
I'd say it's more like "more than one way to skin a cat." One can cut calories by counting them, or eliminating things. Both can create a caloric deficit. Different strokes for different folks. I never counted while losing. I counted (here) after maintaining for a decade. And determined that counting (right now) isn't for me...different things work for different people......
Oh, really? So not everyone is subject to the laws of thermodynamics and calories in/calories out? :huh: What an interesting world you must live in. *slowly back away*
I think they're just pointing out that there's more to health than calories in/calories out. Like for instance, if you cut calories too far you stop losing weight. That defies the basic calories in/calories out (because there's more to the story). And different approaches will work for different people; some people work best with a daily treat, others weekly, and some no "treats" at all because it doesn't work for them.
creating a deficit is what's key. How we do it is left to the individual to decide. The OP's post reminds us that folks are adamant about shoving THEIR approach (aka the only right approach) down the throats of others.
Hmm... This could be true but I'm not sure things turned out so great for that cat... :happy:0 -
Tell them to shove it. If you wanted two cents you would look down while walking in a parking lot!! You're kicking *kitten*!! Keep up the good work!!!!0
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First - great job OP!
Second - Dunning-Kruger effect.
From Wiki:The Dunning–Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which unskilled individuals suffer from illusory superiority, mistakenly rating their ability much higher than average. This bias is attributed to a metacognitive inability of the unskilled to recognize their mistakes.[1]
I MUST commit this to memory and share it often :laugh:0
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