Anyone else doing this completely alone?

I started out alone (also live alone) and found the MFP boards extremely helpful & motivating. But after a noticeable weight loss and being very open about logging my foods immediately after a meal out with friends, checking calories before ordering, and being clear that yes, I CAN have that yummy dessert or helping of lasagna as I have saved enough calories for it, I now have 3 friends on the MFP program. One is pretty dedicated & we meet at the gym for workouts when our schedules coincide (which is how we originally became friends) and frequently eat out together, which is a pleasure because we are on the same page nutritionally. The second friend is struggling with lots of emotional issues and constantly sabotaging herself, so I try to be an example and an encouragement to her without making her feel guilty when she makes poor choices. She is still in a "diet" mentality, not the MFP way of thinking. The third friend had some very scary high blood pressure readings, and I basically made him go on the program (yeah, yeah, I know, he ideally should be self-motivated, but I really don't care, desperate times require desperate measures); he's been the most successful of all, although his macros are very carb-heavy from what he tells me of his meals.

Although it's helpful to have a few local friends who have some understanding of what I am doing, I didn't mind going it alone. I compete with the numbers and get a little thrill out of finding new ways to eat more nutritionally and stay within my goal calories. I'm glad not to have someone pulling me off track on a daily basis, I like eating on my own unconventional schedule, and I don't have to justify anything to anyone who might look askance at a scheduled indulgence. It does help to know someone is going to meet you at the gym, though, but it's easy enough to join a class or strike up friendships there to find an accountability partner.

shell1005 wrote: »

Yep. I talk very little about weight loss in my actual real life. People who talk 24/7 about their diet and exercise program....well, IMO it couldn't be more annoying. I do what works for me and don't feel the need or desire to talk about it. If a friend or a co-worker wants to chat about....I'm A OK with that, but I am rarely one to bring it up.

+1. Talk about it here, with us

And +1 that it's way easier to do this on your own.

I'm technically doing it alone, as in there isn't anyone else losing weight with me. But I'm always going on about my weightloss to any who would listen to me lol. My mum babysits for me so I can workout and my husband comes along for walks sometimes. Also my MFP friends are champions and are all so inspirational and motivating. So no, come to think of it, I don't think I'm doing it alone.

I like to exercise and see the progress made when I commit to a healthier way of life. I don't need friends or family to do it with me, I just want them to see me when I'm done

I haven't really thought of it that way, but according to your definition I'm doing this alone.

Except really I've got all of MFP community and my amazing MFP friends. Yay!

Kalikel wrote: »

I've had a few people say they were going to start losing because if I can do it, they can, too. They ask a bazillion questions, which I answer. Then they decide to eat like 500 or 800 calories a day, which they do for a day or two or three. Then they're off the diet. Every. Single. Time.

They're just crash dieting. They don't really want to lose weight.

So, yup! Just me. That I know, anyway.

Would you be supportive if someone wanted to reach the same goal you do, more than anything?

Yes, I'm a single mom of 4, recently moved to a small town and don't know too many people. MFP boards have been very helpful. At the beginning I was on the success stories page reading multiple times a day. It really helped.

shell1005 wrote: »

Yep. I talk very little about weight loss in my actual real life. People who talk 24/7 about their diet and exercise program....well, IMO it couldn't be more annoying. I do what works for me and don't feel the need or desire to talk about it. If a friend or a co-worker wants to chat about....I'm A OK with that, but I am rarely one to bring it up.

Same here, I save it for my MFP. I do have some real life friends who are on MFP (that's how I got here!) and I mention any victories/struggles I have to my partner. I talk to gym buddies about exercise and fitness but that's because we train together and are interested.

Yeah I'm alone at it too. I don't think my wife fully grasps it or understands it. My Mother-in-law who lives with us doing a different type of program but hers is more because of her diabetes.Thank god for my MFP friends I love them and am willing to add anyone who is serious about so we can support each other.

I did it completely alone by choice. I am the one who will have to live in this body and eat or not eat what is on my plate. Whenever I tried to diet with other people they want to do the same thing at all times. No two people are the same so no diet will work the same for any 2 people. I might want to walk 4.0 today and I don't want to go 3.5 because someone else didn't sleep as well last night. I might be ok just having a protein bar for lunch and I don't want to go get salads just so someone else doesn't eat alone. I might want to lose 1.5lbs a week and I don't want to feel guilty cause someone else only loses .5lbs. It is easier to run this sort or race with blinders on so that you can focus on your progress rather then someone else's path. Everyone is different though. I am not very social so I do not feel the need for support or sympathy the way most people do.