Food Pushers

robingmurphy
robingmurphy Posts: 349 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I deal with a lot of food pushers in my life, so I'm always looking for new ways to handle them. I'm reading the book "Lean Habits" and the author has a good tip:

"My secret weapon against loved ones encouraging you to overeat is to give a positive reason when you decline additional servings of stuffing or say no to taking home leftover pie. “I’ve been eating less sugar lately, and I feel amazing!” is tough to contend with, because who would want you to feel less amazing? Other things to try are, “I sleep so much better when I’m not too full,” and, “I’m at the perfect Goldilocks fullness now, so content but not uncomfortable. I’m staying here!”"

What are some positive reasons you might skip the treats people are pushing on you?
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Replies

  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    That is lovely. No thank you.
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    Just say no thank you. It gets easier the more you say this.
  • juggernaut1974
    juggernaut1974 Posts: 6,212 Member
    Agree with the above...when you give them an excuse, you give them a way to circumvent your excuse.

    Say "I'm watching my sugar"...and next time they make an entire sugar free pie all for you.

    Practice saying "no thank you". Use that twice if necessary. The third time a much firmer "I SAID no thank you"should do the trick
  • zoeysasha37
    zoeysasha37 Posts: 7,088 Member
    I just say no thanks. There's no reason you must explain yourself every single time someone offers you a unwanted treat. Just say no thanks and that's it. If they want to discuss it further then be honest. Giving some Goldilocks fullness story one day and the next day saying how amazing you feel while cuttitg sugars may not go over well . if your honest then maybe they will stop asking.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    If it's something I have no intention of eating (because it's not something I eat, like pastries): ooh, thanks, but no thanks, that's no really my thing.
    If I've had a bit and don't want more: no thanks, I'm good.
    If they are jerks and put it on my plate after a few firm no thank yous, I leave it.
  • nordlead2005
    nordlead2005 Posts: 1,303 Member
    just say no thanks. If someone said that Goldilocks line to me I'd roll my eyes at them.
  • Dreysander
    Dreysander Posts: 294 Member
    I just say no thank you as well.
  • SilverRose89
    SilverRose89 Posts: 447 Member
    robingmurphy wrote: »
    My secret weapon against loved ones encouraging you to overeat is to give a positive reason when you decline additional servings of stuffing or say no to taking home leftover pie. “I’ve been eating less sugar lately, and I feel amazing!” is tough to contend with, because who would want you to feel less amazing? Other things to try are, “I sleep so much better when I’m not too full,” and, “I’m at the perfect Goldilocks fullness now, so content but not uncomfortable. I’m staying here!”"

    I really don't think anyone should have to justify why they are saying no to anything being offered, be that food or anything else. "No thank you" is perfectly fine.

    That Goldilocks thing is pretty funny though :lol:
  • AskTracyAnnK28
    AskTracyAnnK28 Posts: 2,817 Member
    I just say "no thank you...I'm not hungry right now."
  • helenbenzie75
    helenbenzie75 Posts: 95 Member
    no thank you, no thank you, NO THANK YOU! or did you not hear me the first two times! (ok the last bit I do say in my head!) :smile:
  • jkal1979
    jkal1979 Posts: 1,896 Member
    Someone may take that sugar line as an opportunity to critique your diet (noun) or they might think you are laying on a guilt trip for them having it.

    Just say no.
  • StaciMarie1974
    StaciMarie1974 Posts: 4,138 Member
    No thanks works for me.
  • melonaulait
    melonaulait Posts: 769 Member
    If I'm really close with the person, I'll say "You know how much I would love to eat all that, but I won't right now" and they do know! But if somebody I didn't know so well did this to me, I would just say no thanks.
  • Keladelphia
    Keladelphia Posts: 820 Member
    edited January 2016
    I just tell people I don't like things. "Do you want a cupcake?" "No I hate cupcakes." "Do you want some pizza?" "No I hate pizza." "Do you want some macadamia nuts? "No I hate macadamia nuts." People around me must think I hate life but no one offers me ANYTHING anymore. ha-ha

    *Edit to add- I really do hate chocolate yet people don't believe me on that one.
  • ForeverSunshine09
    ForeverSunshine09 Posts: 966 Member
    If someone is literally pushing food on me that is anyone besides my grandma. I would tell them to mind their own and leave me alone if they didn't take no for an answer. But, I am not exactly full of sugar and rainbows. So that doesn't happen to me.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    edited January 2016
    I usually just say "That looks delicious, but no thank you." If they keep pushing I'll usually follow-up with "WTH!? I said I didn't want any. Stop." or "Thank you, but seriously, no." depending on the relationship
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    edited January 2016
    At times I have had to get up and walk away.
    When I return, that person has moved on to something else. If not, I repeat, "No, I really do not want it. Thank you anyway."
    ->> Google "Broken Record Technique."
    It works on some people with certain mental illnesses, rude people, and food pushers.
  • sullus
    sullus Posts: 2,839 Member
    Do people who won't take "no, thank you" for an answer actually exist? (other than grandmothers)
  • NesCastanon
    NesCastanon Posts: 101 Member
    I just keep it real. I tell them I am trying to lose weight and I do not need or want another serving. After awhile they stop asking or pushing :)
  • Of_Monsters_and_Meat
    Of_Monsters_and_Meat Posts: 1,022 Member
    I just make this face.
    lemon.gif?w=440&h=361&crop=1

    I don't have a lot of friends.
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    sullus wrote: »
    Do people who won't take "no, thank you" for an answer actually exist? (other than grandmothers)
    Good point. People do not usually care one way or another unless food is usually one of your topics of conversation.


  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    sullus wrote: »
    Do people who won't take "no, thank you" for an answer actually exist? (other than grandmothers)

    Oh yes indeed they do! Some people become very offended if you won't eat what they offer.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    "That was delicious, but no thanks, I'm good"
  • robingmurphy
    robingmurphy Posts: 349 Member
    sullus wrote: »
    Do people who won't take "no, thank you" for an answer actually exist? (other than grandmothers)

    Yes. For example, I have a boyfriend who takes it as a challenge when I turn down tasty things. He thinks he's being nice by reassuring me I look fine and should share something sweet with him... I also have several sisters who will continue pushing if I say "no, thank you."
  • jkal1979
    jkal1979 Posts: 1,896 Member
    sullus wrote: »
    Do people who won't take "no, thank you" for an answer actually exist? (other than grandmothers)

    I have to deal with it each time I visit my parents. I have to tell my stepdad no about 5 times (each time with increasing volume) before he gets off my case about getting a second plate of food.
  • WendyLaubach
    WendyLaubach Posts: 518 Member
    I start with "No, thank you," but I often follow up by changing the subject to what they really want to talk about, which is how good their cooking is. It helps if I've had at least one bite. Lots of "Wow, that was unbelievably tasty. How did you cook it? Tell me every detail. Wow, you're amazing. One bite of that is better than a whole plateful of [whatever]." (And I'm not being snarky, it's really true.) Or it could be that what they really want to talk about is "Are you going to turn into a different person who makes me feel we can't have anything in common about food any more?" or "Are you going to change physically so that I feel uncomfortable in comparison with you?" If it's something you can't address directly, or you don't know them well enough to get into it, you just have to stick with an unshakeably pleasant, "No, thank you," to be repeated as necessary. Miss Manners gives great advice about how to say "No, thank you" to invitations of all kinds, and make it stick. For one thing, never, ever, explain or justify yourself, or they'll just keep arguing with you. Change the subject to anything else, including the weather.
  • stealthq
    stealthq Posts: 4,298 Member
    edited January 2016
    sullus wrote: »
    Do people who won't take "no, thank you" for an answer actually exist? (other than grandmothers)

    Yes.

    I had a really good friend in grad school who was insistent that I try a beer she was drinking. She knew I don't like the taste of beer (if it's not lambic) and this was lousy, cheap Fat Tire. She must have asked me twenty times - 'Do you want a sip? Have a sip. Come on, just taste it!' ... and on, and on.

    I went from 'No, thanks', to 'You know I don't like beer. I really don't want any.', to (at the very end) 'Look, Andrea, get the f- out of my face, I said I didn't f'ing want any of your g*****n beer!'

    And I'll mention that I don't hardly curse at all now. I did it even less, then.

    She didn't speak to me for days. I wasn't sorry.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    robingmurphy wrote: »
    sullus wrote: »
    Do people who won't take "no, thank you" for an answer actually exist? (other than grandmothers)

    Yes. For example, I have a boyfriend who takes it as a challenge when I turn down tasty things. He thinks he's being nice by reassuring me I look fine and should share something sweet with him... I also have several sisters who will continue pushing if I say "no, thank you."

    Unless you fear they will get physically violent if you refuse food then just keep saying no firmly. If they do get violent or abusive over food then consider getting those people out of your life.
  • jmh_90
    jmh_90 Posts: 17 Member
    KellyAnn1286 wrote: »
    I just tell people I don't like things. "Do you want a cupcake?" "No I hate cupcakes." "Do you want some pizza?" "No I hate pizza." "Do you want some macadamia nuts? "No I hate macadamia nuts." People around me must think I hate life but no one offers me ANYTHING anymore. ha-ha

    *Edit to add- I really do hate chocolate yet people don't believe me on that one.
    Hahahaha omg that killed me
  • tomteboda
    tomteboda Posts: 2,171 Member
    Where I'm from, a host of hostess with good manners will offer you food three times. This is because many people will refuse the first odder or two out of politeness (they don't want to burden their host). So if food is offered three times, you know that they sincerely want to offer it and are not feeling obligated. After three refusals they will drop the matter. However it's also considered polite to take the offer up, "just a little". This is because the offered for was usually prepared specifically in anticipation of the guest's arrival. I just leave room in my daily allotment for a treat if I'm visiting someone because I don't wish to refuse their hospitality and thereby insult them.

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