Tell me, what's your secret? *rolls eyes*

since I have lost weight people keep asking me, "Tell me what's your secret?"
There is no secret. I always reply I'm eating less and moving more, it's that simple!

When will people realise that there is no magic formula to weight loss?

The other effect this is having is that I'm starting to get comfortable because of being complimented on weight loss so far. I don't want to fall off the wagon so need to stay motivated. Add me on here, (if you want), for accountabilities sake please!!

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Replies

  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    I look them in the eyes and explain that it's actually a bit faddy...amazing how their ears prick up

    Then I say I eat less and move more and you should see them deflate like a child's helium balloon at the end of a party

  • NiqueKristan
    NiqueKristan Posts: 152 Member
    Same exact thing!! "How do you lose weight??" "What do I do??" I also reply "eat less, move more." They usually gape at me incredulously.
  • jennifer_417
    jennifer_417 Posts: 12,344 Member
    Them: You look great, how did you do it?
    Me: Counting calories.
    Them: *eyes glaze over before I finish my sentence.
    Every. Dang. Time.
  • scottacular
    scottacular Posts: 597 Member
    I tell them a drink a combination of toilet duck, lemon, cinnamon and almond milk every morning. Because lets face it, it's the sort of thing they want to hear.
  • boredfatman
    boredfatman Posts: 100 Member
    I tell them a drink a combination of toilet duck, lemon, cinnamon and almond milk every morning. Because lets face it, it's the sort of thing they want to hear.

    Love that! Might include Cillit Bang in that too...
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    I tell them a drink a combination of toilet duck, lemon, cinnamon and almond milk every morning. Because lets face it, it's the sort of thing they want to hear.

    Look at you being all atruistic
  • Lick fingers of an indigenous person
  • WishesOnTheStar
    WishesOnTheStar Posts: 114 Member
    People always ask my wife, what's her secret. It's actually quite simple, every day maintaining a clean diet, getting plenty of exercise, and eating diet pills.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    People always ask my wife, what's her secret. It's actually quite simple, every day maintaining a clean diet, getting plenty of exercise, and eating diet pills.

    :astonished:
  • jules6669mfp
    jules6669mfp Posts: 446 Member
    I am getting asked the same questions at work. Most don't like my answers. I say I am logging everything I eat and I don't go above the calories I am allotted. I also try to get in some physical exercise( though I'm working on getting more). People are looking for that magical secret and I try to tell them there isn't one. I'm not one who brags about weight loss or pushes eating a certain way etc. actually, I don't bring my weight loss to anyone. They noticed and most wanted the "secret".. I am at the beginning of this and already hate the negativity of people who are suppose to be friends of mine. One of the reasons I Love MFP! No negativity, lots of support, great positive people. I have even gotten, "here comes skinny Minnie" with a sarcastic tone. People can be evil. But I won't let them get in the way of my weight loss journey. I have no room for negative people.
  • cincysweetheart
    cincysweetheart Posts: 892 Member
    I get asked it all the time. Sometimes they will ask my sister instead of asking me. I've tried it all… from the most extreme (witchcraft, selling my soul to the devil, drug abuse) to the smallest possible realistic change they could make (drink more water)… I always get the same response. "I don't want to hear that!"

    I've even used surgery and misc. fad diets. What do they expect me to say… that I just magically woke up one morning 150 pounds lighter for some inexplicable reason?
  • WishesOnTheStar
    WishesOnTheStar Posts: 114 Member
    edited April 2015
    ...
  • abk1968
    abk1968 Posts: 47 Member
    lol I lost 14 pounds at the start of the year due to a flare up of Crohns disease and I got the "whats your secret question" when told the I had crohns they unbelievable say they wished they had it too !!!! guess they really dont know what it involves :)

    If I could give it away would in a heart beat
  • mangrothian
    mangrothian Posts: 1,351 Member
    edited April 2015
    My doctor doesn't even believe me. :(

    I changed GP's because my old one moved clinics, and when we were discussing my history and I explained the weight I've lost, I told her that it was 'I eat less by counting calories, move more'. She then asked "So are you doing? Low carb, paleo, keto?". She looked at me like I was crazy when I said I eat ice cream almost daily....
  • MelodyandBarbells
    MelodyandBarbells Posts: 7,724 Member
    Them: You look great, how did you do it?
    Me: Counting calories.
    Them: *eyes glaze over before I finish my sentence.
    Every. Dang. Time.

    It's a two word sentence, how do their eyes glaze over before you're done :laugh:

    Counting calories does sound awfully boring. Geez can't they just do something else??
  • crazyjerseygirl
    crazyjerseygirl Posts: 1,252 Member
    abk1968 wrote: »
    lol I lost 14 pounds at the start of the year due to a flare up of Crohns disease and I got the "whats your secret question" when told the I had crohns they unbelievable say they wished they had it too !!!! guess they really dont know what it involves :)

    If I could give it away would in a heart beat

    My dad had Chron's, I kinda want to swat someone for you!
  • 4legsRbetterthan2
    4legsRbetterthan2 Posts: 19,590 MFP Moderator
    abk1968 wrote: »
    lol I lost 14 pounds at the start of the year due to a flare up of Crohns disease and I got the "whats your secret question" when told the I had crohns they unbelievable say they wished they had it too !!!! guess they really dont know what it involves :)

    If I could give it away would in a heart beat

    I have heard of people saying this about cancer too, what is wrong with people.

    Cancer or chrons vs having to count calories.....I am leaning towards the calorie counting here....
  • Jgasmic
    Jgasmic Posts: 219 Member
    edited April 2015
    I think people don't want to believe it's that simple because if it is really that simple then there is no excuse for them not doing it. People don't believe me when I tell them that it is as simple as a free app and a $15 food scale, they want to believe it's magic or I have superpowers that they don't possess and that's why I'm losing weight and they aren't. Honestly, I'm still a little pissed I never got a letter to Hogwarts so if people want to think I'm magic they can go right ahead. :D
  • evileen99
    evileen99 Posts: 1,564 Member
    I'm always asked how I stay so thin. I think the askers are hoping for the "I have a magic metabolism answer" when in fact they get "I count calories and exercise 5 days a week." They didn't want to hear that it takes work.
  • beemerphile1
    beemerphile1 Posts: 1,710 Member
    Everyone is looking for that elusive magic pill that allows them to live an unhealthy life without consequences. It doesn't exist.

    However, for a limited time I can provide you with a magic elixir that will make the fat melt off. It was $50 but for the next 30 minutes it is reduced to only $19.95! If you call right now, I will double your order for free if you pay additional handling and shipping.
    :)
  • JSurita2
    JSurita2 Posts: 1,304 Member
    It's interesting some people will actually say "I'd do anything to lose this weight" and I say "really? how about eating less and getting more active?"

    Then I'll get a blank stare and I could almost read the cloud bubble above their heads that says...Well let's not go overboard now. (Like there must be something else they can try). LOL....
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    A lady was talking at the pool (warm-ups before class started so we can chat) about how she needs to lose weight and she knows it is all about the food since "food is what got me to this point". Her companion called to me and asked me to join them, explaining that I have lost almost 100 lb. The first lady asked me how I did it. "Watching what I eat and exercising more". Yup, got the blank stare from someone who even admits that it is all about the food.
  • jasmineruth
    jasmineruth Posts: 88 Member
    I tell people I use a free app called myfitnesspal. People mostly get all excited and then ask what it does, when I say it just helps figure out how many calories you should be eating and makes counting calories easier, I usually get "Oh counting calories is not for me, I have a friend who is doing *insert weird fad diet*, I'm thinking about trying that." I have one work friend who has started meticulously counting her calories on MFP too though, and guess what, she is losing weight, exercising more and doing awesome, because CICO works.
  • geotrice
    geotrice Posts: 274 Member
    The thing is, at least for me, the phrase "counting calories" puts this idea of a pencil and paper and a journal and lots of effort and work which may or may not pay off (because you know lots of food doesn't have labeled calories like produce and Reataurants) because that's how it was demonstrated in my schools as far back as 1999. MFP changed everything for me. The app in particular makes counting calories so easy and fast particularly with the barcode scanner. So I my head MFP is not counting calories (even though it is). When I'm asked, I tell people MFP. Their eyes don't glaze over, in fact they are super engaged and generally enthusiastic about the process.
  • peachyfuzzle
    peachyfuzzle Posts: 1,122 Member
    herrspoons wrote: »
    I tell them a drink a combination of toilet duck, lemon, cinnamon and almond milk every morning. Because lets face it, it's the sort of thing they want to hear.

    Love that! Might include Cillit Bang in that too...

    BANG! AND THE FAT IS GONE!

    It's a winner!

    Ahem..

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGooQ8yYC0c
  • scottacular
    scottacular Posts: 597 Member
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    I tell them a drink a combination of toilet duck, lemon, cinnamon and almond milk every morning. Because lets face it, it's the sort of thing they want to hear.

    Look at you being all atruistic

    And that's the name I'll give this diet...the altruistic diet. Winner.
  • serafinelaveaux
    serafinelaveaux Posts: 45 Member
    edited April 2015
    I could tell them the truth but it wouldn't make them happy. So I tell them sex. LOTS of sex. They're still not happy, but their husbands are eager to help them try it out.
  • CountessKitteh
    CountessKitteh Posts: 1,505 Member
    geotrice wrote: »
    The thing is, at least for me, the phrase "counting calories" puts this idea of a pencil and paper and a journal and lots of effort and work which may or may not pay off (because you know lots of food doesn't have labeled calories like produce and Reataurants) because that's how it was demonstrated in my schools as far back as 1999. MFP changed everything for me. The app in particular makes counting calories so easy and fast particularly with the barcode scanner. So I my head MFP is not counting calories (even though it is). When I'm asked, I tell people MFP. Their eyes don't glaze over, in fact they are super engaged and generally enthusiastic about the process.

    I usually go with "I track what I eat and how much I exercise" so it doesn't automatically default to the (incredibly negative somehow!) stigma that "counting calories" has developed. I shill this app/site like it's my job. B)
  • eplerd
    eplerd Posts: 91 Member
    We should tell people

    "I'm on the E.L.M.M. diet, and it is SO NEW and SO REVOLUTIONARY that I was required to sign a non-disclosure agreement and go to training for a WEEK in order to understand how to do it. It is also VERY EXPENSIVE because it is GUARANTEED TO WORK"

    Bet they'd be BEGGING to hear how it works and ask how to get in on the super-secret program!!

  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    I eat less and move more. They usually do not want to hear that.