2 Questions you get when you lose weight

amisbest
amisbest Posts: 38 Member
edited November 8 in Success Stories
I have lost about 45 lbs and I regularly get the same two questions. How much weight have you lost and how have you done it. I actually feel a little uncomfortable answering the first. Do you? I always answer the second question the same way. "I use the ELF diet" (Eat Less Food) Then I say just counting calories. Do you give out your weight loss info in numbers?
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Replies

  • cosmichvoyager
    cosmichvoyager Posts: 237 Member
    edited November 2014
    I say by eating smaller portions and exercising more.
  • gvhunterollie
    gvhunterollie Posts: 74 Member
    I call it the pie diet. Less pie in the pie hole!
  • Pootle2002
    Pootle2002 Posts: 22 Member
    I just say that I eat less and move more! I will always say what I have lost as I am proud of what I have done and want to share...in fact if I could I would tell everyone I meet but that's not always appropriate lol

    But, we are all different and if you don't like sharing that information it's entirely up to you :) x
  • JenAndSome
    JenAndSome Posts: 1,893 Member
    I am not a big fan of people asking how much weight I have lost or how much I weigh, mostly because I was taught it was rude to ask. It's not so much that I care to share the information so I answer anyways. I don't get "how have you done it?" too often. I think mostly because the ones asking are co-workers and they have seen me get ready for runs and know I go to the gym a lot.
  • cutierozie
    cutierozie Posts: 35 Member
    I say crack and then I laugh. I then follow by saying I do the things everyone knows they should be doing to lose weight. Count my calories and exercise. No secret, no short cut.
  • cutierozie
    cutierozie Posts: 35 Member
    I do share my weight loss weight number with people if asked. I worked hard to lose them and I'm proud so why not? It motivates people for the most part.
  • JaneECS
    JaneECS Posts: 71 Member
    I'm quite happy to say what I have lost, but not what I weigh - I am happy however, to say what dress size I was and what size I am now.
  • knitapeace
    knitapeace Posts: 1,013 Member
    edited November 2014
    "ELF diet" makes me think of this:

    XKtQ9L4UJ1j5S.gif
  • lynder64
    lynder64 Posts: 285 Member
    ^^^ LOL
  • glevinso
    glevinso Posts: 1,895 Member
    Canned sarcastic answers that I use that are guaranteed to elicit shock:

    1) Be as casual as you can and say "tapeworm eggs"
    2) A slight more "true" answer, but still sarcastic: "The PTFFD diet". If they ask - "Put The F---ing Fork Down"
    3) For the big money just shrug shift your eyes a bit and say quietly "clenbuterol"


    Once the shock wears off I'll usually just tell them the disappointing truth: eat less, move more.
  • Tell them you have a secret weapon and when they ask what it is simply say, "bulimia." And walk away.
  • sodakat
    sodakat Posts: 1,126 Member
    edited November 2014
    I say, "its boring, you don't want to know". If they insist I tell them I count calories. When they ask (as most do because they don't want to count calories) "do you walk a lot too" I disappoint and tell them, no, I count calories. Most often eyes glaze over at that point so we're done.

    I also will tell how much I've lost and what I weigh now. Its kind of "freeing" for lack of a better way to put it, to be able to say "I weigh 176" instead of being ashamed (again for lack of a better word) like I was for years. I usually add, "and I'm not done". By now the eyes are really glazing over!

    Once in a while I do make a difference for someone though, especially when I explain how a food scale works. And when that person tells me later that its working for them too, I feel really good.

    55835802.png
  • The0dora07
    The0dora07 Posts: 14 Member
    I tell them lifestyle change! Lots of good food and hard work :) But great job! this is a good issue to have to worry about
  • 47Jacqueline
    47Jacqueline Posts: 6,993 Member
    I don't tell people how much I lost - the number wasn't that big compared to some on this site and although it was significant to me, it doesn't reflect what I look like.

    I also don't tell people what to do. Everyone knows that. All that conversation does is give the other person an opportunity to say why it won't work for them.

    Yesterday, someone said that I looked really good - hot, actually. They said I always looked good, but something had definitely changed. I liked that.
  • farfromthetree
    farfromthetree Posts: 982 Member
    I don't mind sharing how much I lost. I am very proud of it. When I answer the second question with "I counted calories", I usually get a feeling of disappointment from them. Did they want to hear I have a "magic pill?"
  • Adc7225
    Adc7225 Posts: 1,318 Member
    I don't have any issue with either question. 'How much weight have you lost?' is much better than 'How much do you weigh now?' The how did you do it question is usually the conversation stopper - most people want to hear something about magic beans or following the rainbow, instead of counting calories or portion control.
  • glevinso
    glevinso Posts: 1,895 Member
    Tell them you have a secret weapon and when they ask what it is simply say, "bulimia." And walk away.

    Yup - like my "clenbuterol" statement. Get's em every time. :)
  • DaniTronMcNally
    DaniTronMcNally Posts: 44 Member
    I laugh and say I lost it all with hopes and dreams. Or if they're the kind of person that I don't really like I just say, no idea it just happened!!!!
  • IILikeToMoveItMoveIt
    IILikeToMoveItMoveIt Posts: 1,172 Member
    What? I've lost weight? Where? lol
    Seriously though, I don't mind answering either of them. But it is true that as soon as I say "counting calories and barely exercising", I've lost them halfway to a burst bubble...
  • amisbest
    amisbest Posts: 38 Member
    knitapeace wrote: »
    "ELF diet" makes me think of this:

    XKtQ9L4UJ1j5S.gif

    Hilarious !!! Thanks
  • berto23
    berto23 Posts: 160 Member
    What is wrong with people asking. You should be proud, because that means you are doing a great job and people noticing your accomplishment. Come Men!!!!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited November 2014
    I never had a problem with telling anyone how much I lost...it opened the door for me to go on and on about whatever new fitness endeavor I was starting or working on. I think people just ultimately got tired of me trying to get them to go to the gym with me or for a run or whatever...I think pretty soon they also started feeling a bit self conscious as they started to notice not only the weight loss...but my body tightening up and looking more fit, etc...at any-rate, people stopped asking after a point.

    That said, I've gotten at least 4 people at my office to at least get out there and start moving. I try to get out with them at least once or twice per week just for a good run...I get to push them and it helps push me because I don't want to look like a wuss...

    I think most people just assumed that I started working out and thus lost weight...nobody except my wife and other family members and a couple of really close friends know that I counted calories to lose weight.
  • SteampunkSongbird
    SteampunkSongbird Posts: 826 Member
    edited November 2014
    Several of my girlfriends have asked me what my 'secret' is, saying that my progress has clearly been good and that they need to lose weight too, so would love to try what's obviously working for me. I tell them that all I do is count calories and log what I eat, explaining calorie defecit = weight loss in simple terms, followed by mentioning that I still eat my favourite sweets, and without necessarily doing much exercise but they all seem to instantly lose interest and say that they 'might try it' because it 'sounds great'. Then they don't do it and just continue to complain about their weight.

    I think when some people ask, they're often seriously hoping for some magical miracle that shows results in one day and requires absolutely zero effort of any kind. I don't hate on people who moan about being fat and then stuff themselves silly with ice cream, because I've been that person, but I guess it does confuse me a bit why they ask and then don't bother trying it even for a day, considering how simple the calorie defecit = weight loss formula is; before discovering mfp, I personally would've been delirious to hear I could eat whatever I want while sitting on my butt and still lose weight! :p

    When I'm asked how much I've lost, I'm happy enough to tell, as I'm still pleased to hear it out loud myself after such a long time of weight struggles, lol.
  • emd2570
    emd2570 Posts: 126 Member
    I get that all the time - I really don't like when people ask me how much I have lost - it's mostly the patients in the doctors office where I work because I have been there for 12 years - my heaviest was 243 lbs- I am now 152- i have had patients ask me how much do I weigh now? What size pants do I wear ? And most of them when they ask how I did it and I say diet and exercise either say oh I don't want to hear that or tell me the truth what did you do ... Just say I look healthy and end it ...
  • Sixsal
    Sixsal Posts: 5
    edited November 2014
    When i get asked how I did it I always respond with meth and coke mixed in. Their surprised looks as they consider if I am telling truth and if they should do it is amazing :smile: I then just tell them nutrition, sleep and working out, they get disappointed.

    1636983.png
  • MKEgal
    MKEgal Posts: 3,250 Member
    Pootle2002 wrote:
    I just say that I eat less and move more! I will always say what I have lost as I am proud of what I have done and want to share.
    Yep.
    "I'm on the E.L.M.M. diet."
    What's that?
    "Eat less, move more."
    Blank look.
    They want to hear some magical, simple, no-effort answer. :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:

    I've gotten the question from potential employers (completely inappropriate!), as well as a couple doctors (who sometimes want to know what calorie level I'm aiming for & what exercise I do, I guess to make sure I'm not being dangerous to myself), and some random people I've met socially.

    But I'm generally happy to share how much I've lost, how great I feel, and how happy I am with myself. :smiley::sweat_smile:
    In fact, I update my shirt every 10 lb & wear it to the gym. (Pictures here.)
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1421034

    51637601.png
  • slimbettie
    slimbettie Posts: 686 Member
    "their eyes gets glazed over"...hehehehe oh man does that not sound familiar! Not so long ago I was one of those, but luckily I saw the light and BOOM I am almost 40kg down in 18 months :D
  • MKEgal
    MKEgal Posts: 3,250 Member
    Oh, and a couple times I've gotten questions about how much more I plan to lose (at this point, about another 50 lb, for 110 total; that will put me just into the top end of a healthy BMI range).

    Other than the doctor's office, nobody has ever asked me how much I weigh, and MFP is the only place I'll tell publicly. (That's a picture of my scale - and toes :smiley: - in my ticker. It gets updated every time I lose more weight.)
  • BruceHedtke
    BruceHedtke Posts: 358 Member
    When someone asks me if I have lost weight, I respond with "No, I just left it at home today."
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    The other day I was told by a colleague while I was walking in the parking lot that I was "looking great." I said "thank you." No one at my work place would ever ask "how much" and I would never tell them if they did.

    If they ask me "how," I might give them a one word answer like "swimming" -- mostly so that they know that I am well and losing the weight on purpose rather than because of an illness or something like that.
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