To my brethren and sistren* converted from deep and woo

WinoGelato wrote: »

Wheelhouse15 wrote: »

synacious wrote: »

People can believe all the woo they want, but what frustrates me is when people ask me how I've done what I've done and they reject my honest answers while indirectly or outright calling me a liar.

• "How did you get so thin?" I exercise and eat at a calorie deficit. "Oh don't tell me that, I go to the gym and haven't lost a pound!" Are you eating less calories than you burn? "I don't eat much." Oh, okay then.
• "Oh you're not going to eat any cake." Actually, I love cake. I'll have a piece, thanks! "Are you going to vomit it up later?"
• "You count calories? Oh, my life is far too busy for that. I don't have the time to do something like that." I guess my life isn't busy at all then, huh?

The problem is that many people want the results without accepting that it takes work to get there. No, there has to be some secret that only a few people are privy to and it's being hidden from the rest of the world. Many people don't want to accept that they eat too much or aren't active enough. They aren't willing to exercise during the week or keep tabs on their food intake, but they're willing to invest hundreds in miracle pills, creams, and diet plans that accomplish absolutely nothing. You can't have the "beach body" without putting in the time and effort it takes to achieve that goal.

When I get asked how I lost all the weight so fast and I give them similar answers they just tend to look very disappointed. They seem to be hoping I found some secret I could share or some product that performs miracles. People rarely want to hear that's it's a time consuming and often difficult process.

I get this a lot too, and I used to be surprised, but the more time I spend on these forums the more I realize that there is a huge gap between what people think successful weight loss looks like, and what actually needs to happen.

At least the real life conversations don't usually devolve into the person getting totally defensive, white knights don't swoop in to save the day, and there are less mean people discussions that result from the initial conversation where the person didn't like what we had to say...

I support you.

xkcd

rabbitjb wrote: »

If you choose to be insulted by the phrase "kale is stupid"...well, that's clearly on you

Ironic considering you're the one who suggested people who eat kale are suckers.

I haven't taken offense.

I don't think the thread espoused magical properties of kale. Though the OP did say it was awesome and the thread title was in effect asking who liked it. Maybe that implies magical properties. Magic seems to get thrown around a lot here, when someone doesn't like something.

This thread is about the insulting things said in other threads.

WalkingAlong wrote: »

juggernaut1974 wrote: »

lemurcat12 wrote: »

I get the sense that to some expressing any disagreement or correcting inaccuracies or asking questions is seen as mean or improper, and I find that extremely puzzling and, really, an enemy of the idea that free discussion is a good way to get at the truth (which I still idealistically believe in, silly me).

I couldn't possibly agree more. On a site that purports as it's purpose to help people meet their health and fitness goals, this has always baffled me.

Contrary to popular belief, some ideas are really just plain stupid. And while I will never call another person on this site stupid, pointing out that stupid ideas are stupid (or derp, or woo, or whatever terminology you prefer) should be encouraged, not shamed.

I don't think it's the disagreement, it's the "I'm right, you're wrong, so there" attitude.

What makes any of us the arbiter of what is stupid? You don't know someone else's belief system or point of reference.

Right now there are threads saying kale is stupid, turmeric is stupid, hot water with lemon is stupid, Walk Away The Pounds is stupid, WW is stupid, it probably goes on and on. I mean, choose not use it, say you don't use it or find benefit, but is it necessary to call it stupid or imply it's stupid to those who do find benefit and use it? No one's saying they are crucial to weight loss or anything. Different things help different people.

And yet, absolute relativism is stupid. (see what I did there.)

The idea that "it is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it," cuts both ways. I hold the constant expectation that people have the ability to look at opposing ideas and inspect their worth. Surely a certain amount of reflection allows one to take a certain distance and be accepting that a variety of solutions work for a variety of people. It does not mean you turn in your cognitive ability to consider that some strategies are sub-optimal and other things are quite literally stupid. I also expect that one would value knowledge, education and experience as, not absolute arbiters of truth, but as tools which can help in a decision process.

Please do not surrender your intelligence to empty phrases like "everyone is different" because all they are is comical anti-intellectual arguments to avoid looking at a thing in depth. To understand if true, how so.

Things like the tapeworm diet, chewing diets, sedation diet (sleeping pills to prevent you from eating), ear staples, fat dissolving soaps... are all snake oil, some dangerously so and they are stupid. And you should have the high responsibility to be critical about what you do to your body, what you recommend. So while there are many paths and a variety of successful methods - it is also perfectly ok to call out incorrect concepts in method, poor explanation and low 'science'. It doesn't mean someone eating a diet different from mine is wrong. However, their explanation about how it cures cancer, is the only way, is magical can certainly be looked at critical.

Everyone is NOT so different.

I may be sounding kinda stupid, but what's "deep" and "woo?" I've seen WOO used a lot. I'm not hip with this lingo.

newmeadow wrote: »

thatshistorical wrote: »

I may be sounding kinda stupid, but what's "deep" and "woo?" I've seen WOO used a lot. I'm not hip with this lingo.

It's better to keep it that way. You're not missing much and the fact that you don't use these non-words is a good sign. Oh, and the funny thing is that "deep" is misspelled in this thread to begin with.

A good sign of what?

I can't even get mad at them for trying. I know that before I starting eating well and exercising regularly, I also believed in magic pills and mythical methods of losing weight. All you can do is smile and wish them the best. When people ask me how I lost weight, when I tell them that it is through diet and exercise, they look at me like I'm lying. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink; you can give them the right answers, but it is up to them to take the advice. Maybe one day, they too will get the "aha moment" that led us to use MFP!

newmeadow wrote: »

thatshistorical wrote: »

I may be sounding kinda stupid, but what's "deep" and "woo?" I've seen WOO used a lot. I'm not hip with this lingo.

It's better to keep it that way. You're not missing much and the fact that you don't use these non-words is a good sign. Oh, and the funny thing is that "deep" is misspelled in this thread to begin with.

Have you read any Shakespeare? It's full of newly coined words. You probably know that. Language evolves whether we like it or not. Best to stay open for the sake of effective communication. I have never spoken the words derp and woo. I am too old and would look foolish. But for the sake of internet communication, its good to stay up on it. Thank you Urban Dictionary."