Do People Get Annoyed With You Because You Count Calories?

jakemg
jakemg Posts: 42
edited September 26 in Health and Weight Loss
I've found this to be the case. Tracking food for me through MFP has really helped me curb my snacking because I'm accountable for every calorie I put in my mouth. Therefore, I track EVERYTHING. I ate a cookie and grabbed my phone to enter the calories in the app. A few friends told me I was neurotic and didn't need to be so nuts about calorie counting. I also get that I'm already thin, so why am I counting calories? As if once I lose 25 pounds, I can go back to not tracking and just eat whatever I want. For me, this is going to be a lifelong thing.

So, just curious if other people have had this happen. I just brush it off and add my food, but I have trouble knowing how to respond to people who are critical that I track everything down, or who tell me that I'm already in shape so I don't need to keep track of my food.

-Jake-
«134567…11

Replies

  • bethanyweathers
    bethanyweathers Posts: 296 Member
    All. The. Freaking. Time. I have one friend who will literally give e a lecture if I talk about counting calories in front of her. I've had to just learn to remember what I eat and add it later when I'm around her.
  • RoadDog
    RoadDog Posts: 2,946 Member
    Not to my face.
  • angryguy77
    angryguy77 Posts: 836 Member
    My wife. Funny thing is, she's the one who let me know about this site.
  • hollyknouse
    hollyknouse Posts: 232 Member
    Happens to me constantly. Very frustrating!
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,422 Member
    wow. That is petty on their part. I would either repeat it back to them with an incredulous question mark at the end, "You think I'm neurotic for keeping track of my food?"

    or ignore them.

    or get new friends.

    People feel like they have to comment on everything. Whatever happened to manners?
  • tandroes
    tandroes Posts: 163 Member
    happens to me all the time... my coworkers said that i need an intervention...
  • TexasNurseMom78
    TexasNurseMom78 Posts: 897 Member
    It goes oth ways. Some people are irritated by it. Others have told me it has made them more aware of what they are eating too. But then if I eat something that is not so healthy and people know I am tracking it, they seem to have this attitude like I am not allowed treats now and then. Weird. But, I figure its their problem. I am trying to better myself. If they get irritated by it, tough.
  • BobbyDaniel
    BobbyDaniel Posts: 1,459 Member
    Only on the days that end with "y" for me.
  • adjones5
    adjones5 Posts: 938 Member
    People give me crap for it all the time, just ignore them. They're just jealous ;)
  • fcrisswell
    fcrisswell Posts: 234 Member
    Nobody usually even knows I am doing it LOL.

    LUV the phone app.

    For all they know I am texting!
  • kimcat73
    kimcat73 Posts: 687 Member
    Not yet, but I have a lot of people around me who are doing the same thing:) I wouldn't let it get to you. You do your thing! :)
  • ktblueyz
    ktblueyz Posts: 72
    yup! I work in the restraunt industry so there is ALWAYS yummy food around extra that everyone is snacking on. People seem annoyed when I turn down sweets... especially people who are bigger than me. oh well i think of it as their problem. maybe they are just jealous of the self control you have?
  • taiyola
    taiyola Posts: 964 Member
    My friend does it. When I'm around him and come on here, he's like 'god, you're on that dieting website again, just eat healthily and exercise'. Jeez! Easier said than done for him who has never had to watch what he shovels in his mouth and has remained slim his whole life. I think maybe he says it because I have a past with EDs, but if anything this helps me stay away from that track, but he doesn't understand.
  • Tiffy11011
    Tiffy11011 Posts: 81 Member
    I try not to let my boyfriend know when I'm counting everything because he gets frustrated by it. I also don't let it rule my life and see this more as a lifestyle thing as well so I can wait until I get home from a dinner out to mark everything down. Or I can do it on my phone in the car.

    Don't let it bother you tell the nay sayers that this is how you got healthy and you're going to stay healthy by doing the same thing that got you here.
  • carlfry
    carlfry Posts: 62
    I was called "obsessed" by my Fiance the other night because it was 10pm and I was really wanting to snack and he said "Just have it.. go ahead. Can't starve yourself" blah blah blah and I said yeah, but all that sugar will get stored since I'm just going to sleep right after. I told him he can suck a big fat D lol Seriously.. how am I obsessed because I want to make sure I am eating what I'm supposed to be eating. GAH! He apologized, but still. He is not very helpful when trying to lose weight.. he tells me all the time "go have this, have that." Some people!
  • Davali
    Davali Posts: 225 Member
    Happened last week when I went back to see my parents. They saw us or the first time in 4 months, so did notice a difference, but my Dad was really rude when he saw us checking the calories - refused to listen to any kind of reason. I gave up in the end with him. I'm not interested in wasting any more time listening to anyone who isn't prepared to be supportive.
  • chovest81
    chovest81 Posts: 99
    I get people all the time that feel the need to comment on what i am eating and what i should eat....everyone has their own opinion on how to make "lifestyle changes" truth is its none of their business unless you are truly unhealthy about it. In my opinoin it is a matter of jealousy.
  • fsugirl26
    fsugirl26 Posts: 207
    YES!! My co-workers and family members get really annoyed because I constantly point out how many calories everything has. Hey, if I can help people make healthier eating choices, I'll count calories all day long...
  • taso42_DELETED
    taso42_DELETED Posts: 3,394 Member
    Most of my friends are doing a good job of tolerating me.
  • alpharhythm
    alpharhythm Posts: 2
    Oh, all the time, from everyone! My best friend can't deal with it - she says it makes her feel worse about herself, even on the good days, and it stresses her out, she doesn't understand how I can do it, etc. etc. Well, it works for me! Some of the girls in my office are doing similar programs, so that's nice. I just don't let it bother me, because at the end of the day I am bettering myself and learning new things, which is better than most of them can say for themselves! :)
  • Chuckw40
    Chuckw40 Posts: 201
    I may be annoying them but not nearly as they annoy me with their constant temptations. How many times do I have to tell them I can't eat the junk food they are eating.
  • MyNameIsNotBob
    MyNameIsNotBob Posts: 565 Member
    Well, I don't make it the center or focus of conversation. If I'm eating with friends, I mentally do some rough calculations in my head, make the best choices I can, and then add things in later. Nobody wants to hear about anyone else's diet. That's rule #1.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,332 Member
    Not more than once . . . actually people have been pretty good, but since a major health event (small stroke) precipitated my weight loss, those who are my friends and family and actually care about me want me to get and stay healthy. Maybe I annoy some of them, but that is there problem. Counting calories in some way is likely going to be part of my life as I cannot afford to go back to being fat. I may take breaks at times for a week or so but overall I figure that will be what I need.
  • godroxmysox
    godroxmysox Posts: 1,491 Member
    My sister told me I'm despressing to eat with, haha!
  • FearAnLoathing
    FearAnLoathing Posts: 4,852 Member
    Nope never
  • Tiffy11011
    Tiffy11011 Posts: 81 Member
    My friend does it. When I'm around him and come on here, he's like 'god, you're on that dieting website again, just eat healthily and exercise'. Jeez! Easier said than done for him who has never had to watch what he shovels in his mouth and has remained slim his whole life. I think maybe he says it because I have a past with EDs, but if anything this helps me stay away from that track, but he doesn't understand.

    Oh man... "eat healthily and exercise" what does he think you're doing on here?!?!

    I think that's the great thing about this website it holds you accountable to eat healthy and exercise.
  • damonmath
    damonmath Posts: 359 Member
    I get questions about my diet... and people apologize for offering me crap food!

    It took a while to get to that point... I think people see the physique and think oh, he must be training for something... They even ask me what I am training for...
  • sarah44254
    sarah44254 Posts: 3,078 Member
    My pals aren't annoyed, more mystified. They seem to have a game of it now. I work in a store that sells crappy food (a gas station, you know the kind) and my co-worker will walk around holding up random items and yelling "How many calories in this?"

    With more than 4 months of practice, I can guess calorie content pretty well now :bigsmile: I'm usually within 30-50 cals when I guess. I enjoy the game! I am glad that my pals don't condescend me for being careful about my foods. How can they make fun of me when I lost 20 lbs this year and all they have is gained / stayed the same? (yep, they are 'trying' to lose weight, too)
  • jmathews
    jmathews Posts: 196
    My husband and one son really get on me about it. I try to be discreet about it around certain ppl. I'm in the same boat as you...just maintaining. It IS a way of life for me and I definitely don't want to go back to where I was 2 years ago.
  • she_elf
    she_elf Posts: 108
    My parents get at me all the time for it. My mom will make comments like, "God, first you're vegetarian, and now you're counting calories... we just can't win!" My dad makes fun of me for it.

    It's really hurtful, but I think they do it because I'm making them more aware of what they're eating, and they don't like it (I grew up a junk food junkie). I think they'd rather pretend that two giant platefuls of pasta is perfectly healthy for them, or that the diet pop they drink by the gallon is great (because it's diet!), or that fast food isn't "that bad" when you're only eating it.... 8 or 9 times a week.... So I try to brush it off.

    I've lucked out with my friends because they're all super supportive. I know my boyfriend gets annoyed with it sometimes just because it slows everything up when I'm constantly measuring things and making him go check calorie counts and brands. But he puts up with it and rarely says anything. But most of the time he's really great about it and helps me measure things and makes things according to package directions so I don't have to guess about stuff.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories