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"You're beautiful, you don't need to watch calories."

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Posts: 4,572 Member
edited February 22 in Goal: Maintaining Weight
I think the title is the problem. Three times in the last week people have noticed me logging food on my phone at a restaurant or on a plane. Yesterday I was recommending this awesome carrot cake to my mother-in-law and mentioned that I always split it with my husband because it has literally half the calories I get for the day.

All three times strangers have turned to me and said 'you don't need to watch your calories, you look great'.

Flattering. But that's the problem. I look fine because I do watch what I eat. If we did it right, we'd never have to 'lose' weight because we'd watch what we ate our whole life and just maintained.

For me, I did that fine until I got older and my metabolism slowed down faster than my eating.

Watching what you eat/calories shouldn't be associated with dieting. They should be associated with living - it's a prevention activity, not an intervention. Just like brushing your teeth prevents calories, it's not something you just do after you get cavities to make them go away.

End of rant.

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  • Posts: 399 Member
    Exactly! I have exercised since I was a teenage and can honestly say aside from being pregnant, I have never really been overweight. It's always the unhealthy overweight co-workers that say I'm too hard on myself. I don't see it that way at all. It really is a lifestyle.
  • Posts: 5,481 Member
    I don't eat half of a slice of carrot cake, I eat the WHOLE piece!!!.....and it still fits into my calories. Moderation is the key word here. :wink:
  • Posts: 2,168 Member
    YEAH!!! I agree 100 %.
  • Posts: 899 Member
    I'd ignore them. I plan to count calories for life personally even when I get down to a normal weight range. I got obese in the first place by not being responsible and watching what I eat, I'll get back there again if I don't.

    Also another thing to consider, after I reach my goal weight I plan to gain muscle, which can only be done in a calorie surplus scenario. I'd rather not gain all the fat back by over-eating when I'm just trying to improve muscle mass.
  • Posts: 3,271 Member
    one more thing...americans in general dont understand what a normal weight even looks like on a person because EVERYONE is overweight. Even the people they think look good are overweight so it becomes the norm.

    The people that are actually the appropriate weight are viewed as crazy Gym fitness nuts who are obsessed.
  • Posts: 15,228 Member
    I like you!

    :drinker:
  • Posts: 7,010 Member
    I think the title is the problem. Three times in the last week people have noticed me logging food on my phone at a restaurant or on a plane. Yesterday I was recommending this awesome carrot cake to my mother-in-law and mentioned that I always split it with my husband because it has literally half the calories I get for the day.

    All three times strangers have turned to me and said 'you don't need to watch your calories, you look great'.

    Flattering. But that's the problem. I look fine because I do watch what I eat. If we did it right, we'd never have to 'lose' weight because we'd watch what we ate our whole life and just maintained.

    For me, I did that fine until I got older and my metabolism slowed down faster than my eating.

    Watching what you eat/calories shouldn't be associated with dieting. They should be associated with living - it's a prevention activity, not an intervention. Just like brushing your teeth prevents calories, it's not something you just do after you get cavities to make them go away.

    End of rant.

    Your profile is private and your default picture is not of you....just some wallpaper/image. It is impossible for me to tel if you actually do look great/are beautiful.
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  • Posts: 41,865 Member
    Yeah, most people don't get that. I don't log anymore and have been maintaining for over a year now, but I'm still very mindful of what goes into my mouth and keep a rough estimate of my intake in my head and know roughly where I stand.

    I always get grief from the guys at work because I ride pretty much every day at lunch and just brown bag it while they make the daily run to Lou's for a carne adovada burrito that could easily feed 3 people or a plate full of chicharones...they're always telling me I've lost the weight and I can cut lose now. They just don't get it...I look the way I do and have maintained this because I eat right and in appropriate quantities and I rock my fitness...people just associate this kind of stuff with weight loss rather than maintenance. Just look at the sheer number of people on MFP who don't understand why you would exercise for any reason beyond just burning calories.
  • Posts: 14
    I don't eat half of a slice of carrot cake, I eat the WHOLE piece!!!.....and it still fits into my calories. Moderation is the key word here. :wink:

    I believe the half of cake is her form of moderation. Like she said, that is all that fit into her calorie budget that day. She still allowed herself to indulge, just didn't over do it. Not sure where you were going with what you were saying, but anyways...good day :)
  • Posts: 300 Member
    one more thing...americans in general dont understand what a normal weight even looks like on a person because EVERYONE is overweight. Even the people they think look good are overweight so it becomes the norm.

    The people that are actually the appropriate weight are viewed as crazy Gym fitness nuts who are obsessed.
    Totally agree ^^^
    I'm 5'6 and 120 pounds and I'm called "skinny". I'm not skinny, I'm healthy! :noway:
  • Posts: 2,480 Member
    Love your analogy and I completely agree.

    People tell me I don't need to watch what I eat or exercise so much because I "look great".........no, I look great because I DO those things. If I DIDN'T, I wouldn't look great.
  • Posts: 300 Member
    show previous quotes

    I believe the half of cake is her form of moderation. Like she said, that is all that fit into her calorie budget that day. She still allowed herself to indulge, just not over did it. Not sure where you were going with what you were saying, but anyways...good day :)

    Saw this and thought the same thing :huh:
  • Posts: 432 Member
    I just smile and say "I'm just doing preventative maintenance". Some of them get it, some of them smile and nod. Either way it works.
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  • Posts: 22,281 Member
    I think it's funny that three random strangers complimented you and this led you to rant.

    IN to see what happens when OP gets insulted.
  • Posts: 300 Member
    Failed quoting
  • Posts: 4,397 Member
    Agreed, I hate that! I'm a healthy weight because I pay attention to what I eat, so don't tell me I can afford to have dessert after I know I just ate a huge, high calorie restaurant meal. If it fits, I'll eat it. If not, I'll hold off.
  • Posts: 300 Member
    show previous quotes


    They also tell me I have "california body" in a new england state and have to "fatten up"

    so disturbing

    Eh the "norm" is completely overrated anyways. I think you look fantastic! I'm sure they're green over your "California body" :wink:
  • Posts: 228 Member
    show previous quotes


    They also tell me I have "california body" in a new england state and have to "fatten up"

    so disturbing

    It seems to me that lately the "fat acceptance" thing is swinging a little too far the other way, and all of the sudden people are slamming skinny people left and right. If I hear "real women have CURVES" one more time I'm going to scream! We should be accepting of ALL body types. The main goal should really be health anyway.
  • Posts: 4,572 Member
    I don't eat half of a slice of carrot cake, I eat the WHOLE piece!!!.....and it still fits into my calories. Moderation is the key word here. :wink:

    I actually don't like eating that much of it any more. It's too rich. But I love it in small bits. It's 1300 calories. That's a LOT of fat at a sitting. It makes me feel ill if I eat the whole thing.

    But YUMMY in small amounts.
  • Posts: 3,498 Member
    All three times strangers have turned to me and said 'you don't need to watch your calories, you look great'.

    Isn't the appropriate response "Thanks, but I look great because I watch calories.."

    Then smile sweetly and go about your business looking mighty fine...
  • Posts: 4,572 Member
    show previous quotes

    Isn't the appropriate response "Thanks, but I look great because I watch calories.."

    Then smile sweetly and go about your business looking mighty fine...

    That is exactly what I did. And I was VERY flattered. But it did get me thinking about the underlying idea.
  • Posts: 647 Member
    I think people are just being kind, and... that they just don't know what calorie counting really means for you.

    I must say though, I don't get the correlation between watching calories and being beautiful.
  • Posts: 7,010 Member
    I think it's funny that three random strangers complimented you and this led you to rant.

    IN to see what happens when OP gets insulted.

    Once I see a real pic your dreams may come true. I am trying to make a valid assessment of the situation.
  • Posts: 22,281 Member
    show previous quotes

    Once I see a real pic your dreams may come true. I am trying to make a valid assessment of the situation.
    Orly
  • Posts: 161 Member
    I was at maintenance a few months ago and counted calories for a few months , it was completely fine for me, but people kept grating on me that it wasn't 'normal' to count calories forever, it got to me and I thought I was a freak so I stopped and guess what happened xD gained 15lbs in a month. not even funny.
    Some people know how to eat sensibly without counting calories and good for them , but I grew up greedy and I am excellent at being in denial about what I eat if I don't track it.
    Especially in today's society where calorie laden foods are so easily available, it's almost ridiculous to think you can let your guard down like that if you've always struggled with a weight problem like I have.

    If losing weight is meant to be a lifestyle change, and I used calorie counting to lose weight, well then calories are my lifestyle and the strategy I have to eat what I like in moderation.
  • Posts: 3,602 Member
    I think the title is the problem. Three times in the last week people have noticed me logging food on my phone at a restaurant or on a plane. Yesterday I was recommending this awesome carrot cake to my mother-in-law and mentioned that I always split it with my husband because it has literally half the calories I get for the day.

    All three times strangers have turned to me and said 'you don't need to watch your calories, you look great'.

    Flattering. But that's the problem. I look fine because I do watch what I eat. If we did it right, we'd never have to 'lose' weight because we'd watch what we ate our whole life and just maintained.

    For me, I did that fine until I got older and my metabolism slowed down faster than my eating.

    Watching what you eat/calories shouldn't be associated with dieting. They should be associated with living - it's a prevention activity, not an intervention. Just like brushing your teeth prevents calories, it's not something you just do after you get cavities to make them go away.

    End of rant.


    I agree with you completely!!! I'm not on a 'diet'...I'm living a healthy lifestyle. MFP allows me to track to calories so I know I'm on the right path and to gently (LOL...in big red letters) remind me when I've gone over. There will always be people in the world that just don't get it. It used to bother me....now I just ignore them:wink:
  • Posts: 811 Member
    show previous quotes

    Isn't the appropriate response "Thanks, but I look great because I watch calories.."

    Then smile sweetly and go about your business looking mighty fine...

    TRUTH! Also as a side note...I will never have a "California Body" I am 5'10" mother of 3 with a larger frame. Even at a healthy weight and toned I look a little on the heavy side..books and covers people.
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