To Tell Or Not To Tell

I do this with many things. I think it actually comes from not wanting to disappoint anyone. I have struggled with this all my life. This time its a little easier because my hubby decided to take this journey with me. While he has lost quite a bit compared to me, he is still very supportive and I do not feel like I am disappointing anyone.

For me I told my dad, the most supportive and understanding of the bunch... I'm sure whatever you decide will be right for you.

I can totally understand why some people would not want to tell family. I'm really close to my parents & talk to my mom at least once a day, so I told them & they've been great. They were actually my inspiration to get started, because when my dad was diagnosed with diabetes a few years ago, they totally changed their eating habits & both lost a ton of weight almost by accident. I was so amazed at how much can happen just by eating in moderation & decided to try it myself!

Other than family, I've only told maybe 2 of my close friends who are also here on MFP, and some of my cohort-mates in grad school. It's hard to secretly diet around people you see every single day - especially since you're often asked to go out to eat, etc. I had to tell them so I didn't look like a total jerk turning down homemade cookies & cupcakes when people make them & bring them in. I purposely haven't said anything on Facebook or any other social media site because I intend to just lose weight quietly and let any pictures that show up throughout the year speak for themselves.

If you don't feel they will be supportive, and that their negativity would impact you in a bad way, keep it to yourself for now.

Do you mean extended family or immediate like husband, boyfriend, SO? It took me about a week and a half to tell my hubby and kids. They've been very supportive.

My extended family I've said nothing about it and they have not mentioned any changes they've noticed. Me? I like it that way.

If they won't be supportive, don't tell. You're doing this for you, not them.

Get your support here and from people you know will be positive.

It is a hard decision, I don't discuss with family members. I did have a body fat analysis done in January.( I skipped the waist & hip measurement). With another body fat analysis on the 17th of this month, I struggle if I have lost enough weight or if I should have done more. I know I should only have to be accountable to myself but the trainers response weighs heavily on my mind.

I lost 10 pounds before telling anyone about my lifestyle change. I did it this way because I tried so many other times and failed.

I have struggling between telling my boyfriend and not telling him.
It's been over a month and I still refuse to tell him.
Part of it is because I've tried to lose it so many times and told him and then failed so I feel like he just wont take me seriously if I tell him again, and I want it to be a surprise this time. Kinda like I wanna see how long it will take before he notices and says something like "babe you look different.."
I've told my mom but she's not really supportive at all. I find the most support to be from everyone on MFP to be honest.

I didn't tell

It's entirely up to you who to tell. You could tell the part of your family you live with...they may be able to help you with your eating habits. Otherwise, it shouldn't be something "to tell." If you lose weight and they just start to notice, all the better!

I agree with this.

When I joined MFP, I didn't tell anyone except my husband (then boyfriend) and my best friend, who was using a similar site to help get her diet in check due to diabetes.

This may sound really bad. But I have just known so many people (usually, but not always female) who make a really, really big production about their latest diet, exercise habits, or weight loss product they are using. And it always just kind of annoys me. So I didn't want to be that annoying person and I definitely didn't want to set myself up to feel ashamed and embarrassed if it didn't really work...or if my progress stalled after like 5 lb or something.

I'd rather be that person causing their friends, family, and coworkers to say "Whoa, have you lost weight?" It is much more satisfying. But I know there are many people out there (including here on MFP) who seem to be motivated even more by sharing as much as possible. Some people talk about weekly facebook posts sharing their progress and so on. I can't even imagine. I was shy to do a "year end" random Q's thing and include the detail that I'd lost 58 lb in 2013.

Dr. Seuss says "those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind", or something to that general effect. That doesn't mean that an aunt who isn't supportive doesn't matter in your life, if just means that her opinion about your weight is unimportant.

Unfortunately, it doesn't always feel that way, and these feelings can make us stumble. Sometimes, people stay fat just because other people expect them to stay fat! Let them think what they want, they will anyway, but you will loose the weight for yourself.

Like others have said, you can make heaps of friends here who will support you, and they matter.

I ended up being public about my journey into losing weight and changing my life for a few reasons. The major one being I was cutting back on my soda intake and wasn't sure how that would effect me at first. Thankfully I didn't get massive headaches like some do. I have had many of my friends/family support me and cheer me on and help make me accountable for what I put in my mouth. I have also had one family member make back handed comments/compliments. The first time it made me sob cause it was very hurtful and I was still going through sugar adjustments with the soda with drawl.

But than one of the guys at work who dropped weight like a mad man told me some words of wisdom.. There are going to be people who always think they are right. Who are going to be cruel in your journey, surround yourself with good people who love you and will help you through your journey. They are the one's who deserve to be there in the end when you've lost all the weight and be proud of you. Everyone else is just doesn't either understand where you've been or what you've gone through to get where your going. Don't feel bad if you falter, cause you will, but pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get back too it.

And that alone gave me what I needed to say to myself screw my horrible cousin for his cruel comments. I'm not doing this for him or to impress him. I'm doing this for ME. And anyone who wants to join me on my journey as a cheerleader is more than welcome, but the negativity is not allowed.

I really don't think weight loss is anyone's business but the person doing it. I told my husband because we cook together and exercise together, but that's it.

My family is supporting me on my journey. We changed what everyone eats and now they've joined the YMCA with me as well. I love that for us it's a family affair. Makes it that much easier.

This whole thing about people being offended when you refuse their offer of ANY kind of food, high calorie or not, is SUPER ANNOYING. Why do you care what I eat or don't eat, random person who isn't me?

It's FOOD, not a referendum on our relationship.

Sheesh.

I adopted an "if they ask, I will tell" policy. My husband knows, of course, because I constantly bug him about weighing meat before he cooks it. If anyone does ask, I tell them all about MFP and how awesome it is; other than that, I just sit back and let my success speak for itself.