Not a diet...

scolaris wrote: »

Well it's gotten to that point where change is visible and family, friends, acquaint enhances ask
'Sooooo, what DIET are you doing?'
'You doing one of those super low calorie DIETS?'
'What did you give up for your DIET?'
And I just smile sweetly & say, 'oh no diet. Just some new hobbies...'
Like biochemistry, accounting, nutrition, sports psychology, ethics, economics, and religion.
Hahahahahahaha

*dew claws up*

Some people seem to get worked up about the word ' diet'

To me, you are on a diet OP - a long term calorie counting diet.

Or lifestyle change if you prefer that terminology.

When people see someone successful at losing weight they tend to want to know how it is being accomplished. The word Diet is pretty much synonymous with losing weight today although that isn't the true definition of the word.

I like the OP's answer but I also think we need to stop getting all insulted about people asking us about our "diet". Just tell them what you are doing. No need to go into detail unless they ask for it. No need to get all in a huff over the word diet. And no need to get upset because people noticed your weight loss. People are going to notice when someone loses a significant amount of weight. Your having been overweight wasn't a secret that only you were aware of. If they care about you they might ask questions.

Try to take that as a good thing.

Friend: Wow you look great!
Me: thanks!!
Friend: what's your secret?
Me: Just eating less.

End discussion.

Friend: wow you have lost a lot of weight. What kind of diet are you on?
Me: I am restricting my calorie intake using a web app called Myfitnesspal and a food scale to track how much a eating and a Fitbit to track how many calories I am burning each day.
Friend:Oh... that's great.
Me: It is.

End discussion

See not hard.

It actually is a diet. Diet = what you eat. Rabbits eat a vegetarian DIET, nobody calls it a "lifestyle" for rabbits. Bears eat a omnivorous DIET.

My "diet" consists of whatever I want to eat within my daily calorie restrictions. It's a diet. I own it.

Sometimes I think people ask "what diet are you on" because they want to know what your "secret" is, what magic weight loss solution you've found. If you tell people that you're counting calories and/or weighing food, they lose interest because it sound like too much work.

A co-worker once asked me what I was doing. I explained about calorie counting. She said that sounded crazy and obsessive and that she just "tries to watch" what she eats.

What I said (with a sweet smile): That's great!
What I wanted to say: Well, I've lost [at the time] 30 lbs, and you've been trying to lose the same 5 lbs since I've known you, so....

Now when people ask me I just tell them "eating less and moving more". Most of the time, that answer disappoints them. But I'm not doing this for their benefit or for their entertainment, so who cares?

What is your secret?

You've been eating pages from accounting books?!? EMMA RIGHT?!?

shadowfax_c11 wrote: »

When people see someone successful at losing weight they tend to want to know how it is being accomplished. The word Diet is pretty much synonymous with losing weight today although that isn't the true definition of the word.

I like the OP's answer but I also think we need to stop getting all insulted about people asking us about our "diet". Just tell them what you are doing. No need to go into detail unless they ask for it. No need to get all in a huff over the word diet. And no need to get upset because people noticed your weight loss. People are going to notice when someone loses a significant amount of weight. Your having been overweight wasn't a secret that only you were aware of. If they care about you they might ask questions.

Try to take that as a good thing.

Friend: Wow you look great!
Me: thanks!!
Friend: what's your secret?
Me: Just eating less.

End discussion.

Friend: wow you have lost a lot of weight. What kind of diet are you on?
Me: I am restricting my calorie intake using a web app called Myfitnesspal and a food scale to track how much a eating and a Fitbit to track how many calories I am burning each day.
Friend:Oh... that's great.
Me: It is.

End discussion

See not hard.

Whenever I say I counted calories using MFP, it's always met with "oh the calorie counting app where you enter all your food?" People seem to know what it is and how it can help

It's actually quite refreshing to see a lot of people okay with the word "diet". I could easily eat double my calories and be very happy. Very, very happy.

Annie_01 wrote: »

Even my doctor asked about my method of weight loss and from the look on his face he was a bit surprised when I told him...eat less...move more. That surprise I assumed was because many of his patients wanted to do the fad diets.

My husband would love you as a patient! He always tells his that it all comes down to energy in/energy out--they need to eat less and (ideally) move more. Few have taken him up on that advice...and their bodies are not thanking them.

Relatives ask me how I lose my pregnancy weight each time and my answer is always "I run a lot. And don't eat as much." ::crickets::

gradchica27 wrote: »

Annie_01 wrote: »

Even my doctor asked about my method of weight loss and from the look on his face he was a bit surprised when I told him...eat less...move more. That surprise I assumed was because many of his patients wanted to do the fad diets.

My husband would love you as a patient! He always tells his that it all comes down to energy in/energy out--they need to eat less and (ideally) move more. Few have taken him up on that advice...and their bodies are not thanking them.

Relatives ask me how I lose my pregnancy weight each time and my answer is always "I run a lot. And don't eat as much." ::crickets::

I think that there are many doctors that are a little intimidated when they have a patient come in that has done their research...my GP was. He finds it easier just to eliminate certain things. So I learned to just nod my head and go home and do it my way. I think that when I brought up sodium mgs and the ratio of sodium to potassium it was more than he could handle!

My cardiologist and orthopedic surgeon both just had a look of shock but were on board. Both just said keep doing what I was doing except for a few restrictions that I needed to follow during recovery. Then back to business.

I would think that most doctors would be frustrated knowing that their patients won't follow a "eat less/move more" as a way to manage their weight loss.

Best to adopt a lifestyle change. I'm in a weight loss challenge that has guidelines as to what to eat and when - 6 meals per day every 2.5 - 3 hours - and of course, it requires 5 exercise classes/week for 6 weeks. You could say it's a "diet" but I do not feel hungry in between meals and the results starting showing after the first week: I've lost ~7lbs of the 20 I am going for, am no longer needing to take my BP meds (after 20 years, my BP is normal!!), and I'm caffeine/gluten/sugar/alcoho FREE and nearly fat free. Sleeping much better too. I'll keep you posted. Extremely motivated to finally get my normal weight back, lose the tummy and feel good about my body/self.

But magic!