Am I wrong?
crimsonlady2014
Posts: 6 Member
So I've lost about 15 pounds over the last couple of months. This is about the point where people at work start to notice and ask me what I am doing to lose weight. My standard answer is, "It's not rocket science. Eat less; move more." And that's what I do. However, yesterday I was at lunch with colleagues and I didn't eat any bread, ordered a salad with shrimp on it and refused french fries when offered. One co-worker - said, "Oh you're not eating carbs! That's how you're losing weight!" A classic "Ah ha I knew you had a secret!" moment. So I felt obligated to explain. I am actually eating a lot of carbs - all the veggies in my salad are in fact carbohydrates. Which makes most people's head explode. I do avoid refined carbs and white food as I like to call it - bread, pasta, rice, potatoes. Not because I am on Atkins or doing a low carb diet - just because I have a hard time controlling my intake of those foods. I want 3 pieces of bread not one. I want a pound of pasta not a reasonable serving size. I know it's not that food that's evil - it's my self control that's lacking. I have a much easier time controlling my intake when I eat fruits, veggies, chicken, fish etc. And I love all those things - I eat just about anything and can always find something I like - so I don't feel like I am depriving myself when I have spaghetti squash instead of raviolis - I'm really just after the taste of my mother's tomato sauce anyway. But I felt like I was on trial at lunch while trying to enjoy my salad. This woman kept insisting I was "on Atkins" - when I am just "on my own damn way of eating". I have cookies, cake, popcorn - the occasional granola bar - all refined carbs as well - but it's easier for me to have one cookie - than one rigatoni. I'm thinking of just telling people I've got a tapeworm...
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Replies
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You're not wrong.0
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Tapeworm is good
or eat that granola bar in front of them. Congrats on the awesome weight loss!! 0 -
Hahaha,
People are going to believe what they want to, even when it's pointed out to them. Just smile and keep eating!0 -
People don't like that there's no magic way to lose weight. CICO is so boring and not at all flashy and exciting - so clearly you MUST be doing something else. Taking a pill or being on a fad diet is the only way don't you know?! Don't make me actually do anything to lose weight - I want some magic potion with instant results or nothing at all!!
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You're not wrong at all. I might borrow that tapeworm thing.0
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Tapeworms *snort*. That'd be fun to tell people just to see their reaction. I can picture it now "Oh, yeah. Haven't you heard about it?" "It's all the rage" "you can by the larvae in capsule form" "I eat whatever I want and the weight falls right off" "Oh, except now I have tape worms falling out of my butt. Gross, but totally worth it"
Hahahahaha0 -
You are not wrong.
I had a really similar experience -- people got the idea that I was doing low carb or paleo since I will (subtlely -- I dread having it be noticed) remove bread from sandwiches at work lunches sometimes. I don't do this because I'm anti bread (and you'd think they'd notice I still eat pizza when we have that!), but I usually don't like wasting calories on a huge amount of white bread that I don't even like that much and would much rather have more salad and fruit and the meat from a second sandwich.0 -
You're not wrong at all. Trying to explain that you're not avoiding carbs and that what you're actually eating contains carbs will probably just confuse her. If you can fit it into your calories, go by the grocery store and see if you can get a single cookie, then eat it in front of her. That'll confuse her even more. XD0
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Do it!!!sherbear702 wrote: »Tapeworms *snort*. That'd be fun to tell people just to see their reaction. I can picture it now "Oh, yeah. Haven't you heard about it?" "It's all the rage" "you can by the larvae in capsule form" "I eat whatever I want and the weight falls right off" "Oh, except now I have tape worms falling out of my butt. Gross, but totally worth it"
Hahahahaha
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You're not wrong. You're definitely not on Atkins. People are just dumb. I love that people don't know that fruits and veggies are carbs. So cute.0
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It scares me how many people we could easily convince to acquire tapeworms on the black market.0
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My wife -- after a year of my doing this -- thought I was cutting carbs. Hell, I ate 450 grams of carbs that day alone. "You see me eating ice cream every night, right?"0
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I know that. I merely wish to capitalize on those who don't. I'm sure it's ethical, don't worry.
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If someone wants to believe you are doing something other than eating less, they will. You can't change people.
I would simply have said "I am eating carbs now, so obviously I eat carbs. If you mean grains, I also eat them but this is what I choose to eat now." And I'd have left it at that.0 -
"Whatever. Thanks, what I'm doing is working for me, how's your lunch?"
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You guys are awesome. Thank you. I'm printing out the tapeworm thing and putting it on my wall.0
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You're not wrong. In my case, most people assume that I lost weight (65 lb. total) from cycling and running. I have to tell them that's wrong; in 2013 I cycled 2000 miles and gained 10 lb; it came off in 2014 and 2015 because I counted calories and ensured that I burned more than I ate.0
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You're not wrong, but they aren't (completely) wrong either.
First, there is not necessarily one definition that is considered low carb. Some people eat under 20 grams a day, some 50, some 100, some 150... However, MOST people who would say they eat low carb do eat veggies (as in your salad) because non-starchy veggies actually have very few carbs. When low carb eaters say they "avoid carbs" this is generally understood to mean some combination of starchy/refined/highly processed/high glycemic index carbs...not ALL carbs and not things like lettuce. But they might say they don't eat carbs because everybody knows what is meant, and it is incredibly wordy to constantly give a long detailed explanation when a shortcut will do.
Most low carbers DO avoid refined carbs.
You yourself wrote:
THAT is something the vast majority of low carb eaters do.I do avoid refined carbs and white food as I like to call it - bread, pasta, rice, potatoes
But what is the problem? People are always curious about other people, and getting questions from people you know relatively well is to be expected.0 -
I know the feeling. Once people started noticing my weight loss, I was constantly asked by co-workers, friends, and family what I was doing to lose weight. No one likes the real answer of "eat less, move more."0
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Maybe tell them you're on a doctor's diet and this is what they told you that you can eat. Then eat the cookie.
Seriously, most people won't argue if you say this is something you and your doctor have worked out, even if it's not true. They'll assume there's medical stuff involved, and who knows, they might actually take the advice of 'eat less, move more' a bit more seriously.0 -
A few years ago I was maintaining my weight but eating like crazy. They were always amazed at how much food I could put away. My coworkers would ask me what I was doing to be able to eat that much. I would tell them that I had a tapeworm. They thought it was funny and would pick on me about it. So I once I started gaining weight, I just told them that my tapeworm died. I overfed it. It just became the office joke.0
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Just going to leave this video here lol your friend made me think of this actor for some reason, probably the "there has to be a gimmick" thing lol it just cracks me up
I was actually talking to my new gynecologist the other day and she mentioned I looked good, I said yeah I'm down 30+ pounds so far and she asked how, calories in versus calories out I told her and she nodded seriously and said "It's the best equation, Good job keep it up" I'm definitely keeping her lol
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VKs0oEIVOck 0 -
It's always people who are on a healthy eating plan that come under attack for their food choices! If you were to say to a friend with a plate full of donuts "Oh I see your approach, ALL carbs, right?" - it would be considered rude!
You're fine OP. Ignore them and enjoy 0 -
Yeah. Sometimes it can be this way. I probably would have replied something more along the lines of saying, "well, yes, I am watching some of my carbs (like the pasta and bread examples) because I have a hard time limiting portions of certain carbs. But other carbs, especially certain vegetables, I eat a lot of. So, it really depends on the type of carb. We can discuss this more if you want to, but I'm really not doing anything as extreme as Atkins or keto. That just doesn't work for me."
Then, you'll see if they really care to have a more nuanced discussion or not and will just leave you alone.
I've found some people are just nosy, some are just making conversation and some are genuinely interested. I've also found some people are VERY threatened by those that make different choices -- whether it's in food or other things (clothes, money, religion) -- and so they'll always look to put those that think/feel differently down or be dismissive. We have plenty of those types here on MFP too. It comes from a deep insecurity, either about themselves generally or their own choices. Can't do much about these people. I just smile and nod. Then ignore.0 -
crimsonlady2014 wrote: »So I've lost about 15 pounds over the last couple of months. This is about the point where people at work start to notice and ask me what I am doing to lose weight. My standard answer is, "It's not rocket science. Eat less; move more." And that's what I do. However, yesterday I was at lunch with colleagues and I didn't eat any bread, ordered a salad with shrimp on it and refused french fries when offered. One co-worker - said, "Oh you're not eating carbs! That's how you're losing weight!" A classic "Ah ha I knew you had a secret!" moment. So I felt obligated to explain. I am actually eating a lot of carbs - all the veggies in my salad are in fact carbohydrates. Which makes most people's head explode. I do avoid refined carbs and white food as I like to call it - bread, pasta, rice, potatoes. Not because I am on Atkins or doing a low carb diet - just because I have a hard time controlling my intake of those foods. I want 3 pieces of bread not one. I want a pound of pasta not a reasonable serving size. I know it's not that food that's evil - it's my self control that's lacking. I have a much easier time controlling my intake when I eat fruits, veggies, chicken, fish etc. And I love all those things - I eat just about anything and can always find something I like - so I don't feel like I am depriving myself when I have spaghetti squash instead of raviolis - I'm really just after the taste of my mother's tomato sauce anyway. But I felt like I was on trial at lunch while trying to enjoy my salad. This woman kept insisting I was "on Atkins" - when I am just "on my own damn way of eating". I have cookies, cake, popcorn - the occasional granola bar - all refined carbs as well - but it's easier for me to have one cookie - than one rigatoni. I'm thinking of just telling people I've got a tapeworm...
You are spot on.0 -
i just tell people i eat less and move more.
which, is totally true. LOL0 -
*shrug* I actually WOULD consider avoiding breads, potatoes, pasta, rice, etc as a low carb diet. Or low (er) carb diet at least.
That doesn't mean it's your magic trick, but people will treat it like it is one.0 -
DeguelloTex wrote: »You're not wrong.
Nope - not you! I eat the same way you eat. I restrict some foods only because they are triggers for ME, not because they are inherently bad. However, I eat everything *I* want. In fact, I just polished off a Payday candy bar because I wanted it and it fit into my calories for the day. However, I might turn around and skip half the bun on a sandwich at lunch tomorrow because the bread isn't that great and I don't want to spend the calories on it. Skipping bread at a particular meal is not indicative of any special diet - it just means you are paying attention to what you like and enjoy and what is worth the calories.
Long story short - your co-worker was wrong!0
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