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MyFitnessPal Community

Unrealistic weight loss brags

Konigboy

Do any of you see people on your friends list on social media, like Facebook, talking about their weekly weight loss and want to call them out?

I have a few that started the last few months and they posted their first week weight loss, one being 17 lbs another 10 lbs. Great, begining diet flush. Both these individuals have about 40 - 50 lbs to loose. Now they both are posting they are loosing 2 - 3 lbs a day. Of course people are giving them high fives, but I see others posting how they have given up on dieting as it goes so slow. I have been on my journey for years and count my calories and exercise. No way in heck could I lose 2 - 3 lbs a day. One says the only thing different they do is use Thrive products, the other says they just cut out sweets and soda, no other diet changes or exercises. Of course based on pics, not seeing that drastic weight loss they are saying. Lol. I just worry of the false hope they give to others saying you can loose that much weight, so quickly. One even told me they would coach me to get to my goal, since it's taking me so long Lol

Replies

LisaKay91

I lost 22lbs the first 25 days and I'm at about 40lbs in 60 days. If one of my "friends" doesn't like my progress and what I post on my own Facebook page they can delete me. I lost 6.5lbs last week... I guess 40lbs is all just water weight lol. Wonder how much more of it I have before I lose "real" weight in others eyes

sunnybeaches105

Things friends have posted on FB ad nauseam: Advocare, It Works! wraps, Herbalife, various cleanses, detoxes, etc.

Number of times I've responded to such nonsense: 0

I save the debate for here. I'd rather hide their BSC MLM silliness and keep sharing pictures of our kids. The truth is most people don't really care that much about health and fitness and they certainly don't want to debate it. Let them have their 30 to 60 days of fun. Most people's attention spans won't last much longer than that.

tlflag1620

LisaKay91 wrote: »

I lost 22lbs the first 25 days and I'm at about 40lbs in 60 days. If one of my "friends" doesn't like my progress and what I post on my own Facebook page they can delete me. I lost 6.5lbs last week... I guess 40lbs is all just water weight lol. Wonder how much more of it I have before I lose "real" weight in others eyes

The op specifically said these were people that only had 40-50 lbs to lose in the first place. When you have a lot of weight to lose, yes, it is more than possible to lose at a faster rate.

kshama2001

LisaKay91 wrote: »

I lost 22lbs the first 25 days and I'm at about 40lbs in 60 days. If one of my "friends" doesn't like my progress and what I post on my own Facebook page they can delete me. I lost 6.5lbs last week... I guess 40lbs is all just water weight lol. Wonder how much more of it I have before I lose "real" weight in others eyes

Unless you started at a very substantial weight, you are seriously under-eating. That's going to set you up for failure or malnutrition / hair loss / muscle loss, etc.

What Are the Risks of Rapid Weight Loss?

Rapid weight loss creates physical demands on the body. Possible serious risks include:

Gallstones, which occur in 12% to 25% of people losing large amounts of weight over several months
Dehydration, which can be avoided by drinking plenty of fluids
Malnutrition, usually from not eating enough protein for weeks at a time
Electrolyte imbalances, which rarely can be life threatening

Other side effects of rapid weight loss include:

Headaches
Irritability
Fatigue
Dizziness
Constipation
Menstrual irregularities
Hair loss
Muscle loss

LisaKay91

Unless you started at a very substantial weight, you are seriously under-eating. That's going to set you up for failure or malnutrition / hair loss / muscle loss, etc.

Morbid obesity and my diet is overseen by a nutritionist and endocrinologist. I am supposed to be eating 800 calories a day until I lose 70 pounds but I would rather keep eating 1200-1300 and lose at the rate I'm at until it falls off. I already have hair loss and muscle loss. It doesn't appear to be exacerbated by a calorie deficit.

The op specifically said these were people that only had 40-50 lbs to lose in the first place. When you have a lot of weight to lose, yes, it is more than possible to lose at a faster rate.

Even with 50lbs to lose starting a regime will make initial weight fall off rather quickly. I am too laid back to be fretting over someone else's weight loss journey. I keep my eyes on my own scale, plate and treadmill.

jemhh

LisaKay91 wrote: »

Unless you started at a very substantial weight, you are seriously under-eating. That's going to set you up for failure or malnutrition / hair loss / muscle loss, etc.

Morbid obesity and my diet is overseen by a nutritionist and endocrinologist. I am supposed to be eating 800 calories a day until I lose 70 pounds but I would rather keep eating 1200-1300 and lose at the rate I'm at until it falls off. I already have hair loss and muscle loss. It doesn't appear to be exacerbated by a calorie deficit.

The op specifically said these were people that only had 40-50 lbs to lose in the first place. When you have a lot of weight to lose, yes, it is more than possible to lose at a faster rate.

Even with 50lbs to lose starting a regime will make initial weight fall off rather quickly. I am too laid back to be fretting over someone else's weight loss journey. I keep my eyes on my own scale, plate and treadmill.

Yes but the fast weight loss slows much sooner for somebody who has 50 lbs to lose than somebody who is morbidly obese. The OP described loss rates that exceed healthy losses for 50 lb overweight people. Your situation is clearly not comparable.

PAV8888

kshama2001 wrote: »

I wouldn't want to be barraged with this unhealthiness. I've hidden a few people in my MFP feed with really unhealthy relationships with CICO. My inner social worker wants to fix them, and I know this is inappropriate.

Why is it inappropriate?
I tend to speak my mind.
They don't like it, they can delete me.
I get tired of my preaching to the deaf and in the absence of a reason not to... I delete them.
Free country and all that...

tlflag1620

LisaKay91 wrote: »

Unless you started at a very substantial weight, you are seriously under-eating. That's going to set you up for failure or malnutrition / hair loss / muscle loss, etc.

Morbid obesity and my diet is overseen by a nutritionist and endocrinologist. I am supposed to be eating 800 calories a day until I lose 70 pounds but I would rather keep eating 1200-1300 and lose at the rate I'm at until it falls off. I already have hair loss and muscle loss. It doesn't appear to be exacerbated by a calorie deficit.

The op specifically said these were people that only had 40-50 lbs to lose in the first place. When you have a lot of weight to lose, yes, it is more than possible to lose at a faster rate.

Even with 50lbs to lose starting a regime will make initial weight fall off rather quickly. I am too laid back to be fretting over someone else's weight loss journey. I keep my eyes on my own scale, plate and treadmill.

You are under a doctor's supervision. That's different than your average person looking to shed a few extra lbs. And IIRC, it was mentioned that the large week one (and possibly week two) losses are expected. It's when someone who only has 40-50 lbs to lose is talking about losing 2-3 lbs per day (beyond the first week or so) that it gets humorous.

Fwiw, I agree with you about keeping my eyes on my own plate. But when someone is posting every detail of their crash diet on Facebook, well... They WANT other people to look. Why else would they post it? I lost all my weight and have been maintaining for quite some time and have never posted about it on social media. I post about it here, but this is a site devoted to weight loss and fitness... So there's that.

LisaKay91

I suppose I surround myself with more positive and encouraging people. Weight loss can be a very lonely and isolating journey... sometimes you don't see the weight you lose in the mirror but others notice it. It makes things just a bit easier in the process... just insight from the other side

I would question, to myself, the duration of their losses at 2-3lbs per day as you'd think they would hit their goal in less than a month. The MLM product people I just scroll right past.. most are using other people's photos and they remain the same size themselves. I did find a lot more MLM folks came out of the woodwork when I posted about losing weight. Everyone has a pill, shake, wrap, or container to sell me to 'speed up' my losses lol.. no thanks.. that I definitely see and shake my head sometimes.
50lbs still seems like a huge amount of weight to lose for one person. They will learn on their own or they will continue to be overweight and cycle through the loss/gain effect every few months.

PAV8888

LisaKay91 wrote: »

Morbid obesity and my diet is overseen by a nutritionist and endocrinologist. I am supposed to be eating 800 calories a day until I lose 70 pounds but I would rather keep eating 1200-1300 and lose at the rate I'm at until it falls off. I already have hair loss and muscle loss. It doesn't appear to be exacerbated by a calorie deficit.

There are some situations where the risks of rapid weight loss out-weight (sorry for the pun) the risk of losing weight at a slower pace.

If you're in that situation, you have no choice but to make the best of it.

If you're not, then I would suggest you reconsider your rate of loss.

The time you spend losing weight and what you learn about yourself during that time frame are extremely valuable and, in my opinion, more worthwhile than getting to goal weight a year or two earlier.

Reducing the risk of developing gallstones is also valuable.

CattOfTheGarage

What is MLM?

dammitjanet0161

CattOfTheGarage wrote: »

What is MLM?

Multi Level Marketing - pyramid selling schemes where people are selling things like Herbalife, Clean 9 and other expensive shakes and pills.

missh1967

kshama2001 wrote: »

One thing to keep in mind if one is perplexed by big burns is that bigger people get correspondingly bigger burns. Someone just starting their weight loss journey will get bigger burns than someone at goal, especially if that someone is female and not tall.

So sad, but so true. I would have to work out very hard for at least 2-3 hours to get anywhere near a 1k calorie burn. Just the thought of that makes me want to take a nap!

DebSozo

VintageFeline wrote: »

Happens sporadically with various friends. I have sometimes voiced an opinion (usually if they're sad about a "small" loss) but mostly I let it go. Not one of them has maintained their losses over the years.

Certain people tend to go on and off weight loss schemes over and over. And gain the weight back. And go back onto an artificial fad diet that can't be sustained. It is much better to chose a plan that is sustainable, and sustain it! I want to stay close to maintenance goals and KEEP the weight off.

rsleighty

Don't worry about it. They will inevitably gain it back because extreme diets aren't sustainable. Your slow weight loss and (hopefully) lifestyle change is. As they say "he who laughs last laughs best".

ziggy2006

amusedmonkey

Personally, I don't even pay attention. Not my monkeys. They'll figure out sooner or later than it's not how it works.

danika2point0

Mentali wrote: »

3dogsrunning wrote: »

Mentali wrote: »

I used "defensive" (and titchy which I'm pretty sure is just a word my mom used with me and not a real thing but translates to uncomfortable/defensive).

'Titchy', or 'tetchy', is an actual word! Just thought you might like to know http://www.dictionary.com/browse/tetchy

amusedmonkey

Susieq_1994 wrote: »

xjessicaxrx wrote: »

I keep seeing these and dying to comment! Absolute nonsense LOL

Oh my gosh, that made me laugh! Four pounds of muscle in one week! Every bodybuilder in the world wants to know her secret.

Well, the lies here make sense. She is trying to sell that concussion.

RoxieDawn

I do NOT put a lot emphasis on any thing in social media. I like hiding and lying while I sit behind my key board. You never know my profile pic may not even be me.

DebSozo

amusedmonkey wrote: »

Susieq_1994 wrote: »

xjessicaxrx wrote: »

I keep seeing these and dying to comment! Absolute nonsense LOL

Oh my gosh, that made me laugh! Four pounds of muscle in one week! Every bodybuilder in the world wants to know her secret.

Well, the lies here make sense. She is trying to sell that concussion.

Concoction. Lol. I love spellcheck's typos. They make me smile. Yeah. MLM people hype hype hype in order to make a quick sale. Then they string you along and get you to sign up to some kind of monthly auto delivery. And then they want you to become part of their "downline" so you can get discounts and add more people to the downline.

amusedmonkey

DebSozo wrote: »

amusedmonkey wrote: »

Susieq_1994 wrote: »

xjessicaxrx wrote: »

I keep seeing these and dying to comment! Absolute nonsense LOL

Oh my gosh, that made me laugh! Four pounds of muscle in one week! Every bodybuilder in the world wants to know her secret.

Well, the lies here make sense. She is trying to sell that concussion.

Concoction. Lol. I love spellcheck's typos. They make me smile. Yeah. MLM people hype hype hype in order to make a quick sale. Then they string you along and get you to sign up to some kind of monthly auto delivery. And then they want you to become part of their "downline" so you can get discounts and add more people to the downline.

Haha yes! I'm constantly editing my replies. At least this is a benign one. I've had way worse and quickly edited them hoping no one would catch it.

All is fair in love and sales though. (and I swear I'm willing to make a reply that is nothing but smilies if that would make them go away.. it's getting annoying

)

brower47

I burned 1000 calories reading this thread and dropped 3 lbs of fat while gaining 8 lbs of muscle.

missh1967

brower47 wrote: »

I burned 1000 calories reading this thread and dropped 3 lbs of fat while gaining 8 lbs of muscle.

lmao

almostanangel21

I only just started a Facebook this year, mainly so I don't look weird to the Bar or employers looking for my social media accounts. They don't find anything, they figure you're hiding something. Anyway.

My friends don't post about having lost tons of weight; they just have a compulsive need to 'check in' whenever they're at the gym. I know they're not logging it for their own sake like MFP, they're just bragging. And then they'll post a selfie looking too cute to actually work out and WAY too cute to have actually worked out. News flash: if you wore that much makeup while breaking a sweat, you would break out in so many zits it would look like chicken pox. "In the gym transforming".... right.

Speaking of "in the gym transforming," I hate the way MFP overestimates calorie burn. I did an hour of cardio yesterday (elliptical, cross trainer) and a 30 minute kettlebell workout, and MFP told me I burned 1000 calories, not me. I work out the burn according to the MET formula and change it when I remember, but my adjustments are never saved so that I can just check off my exercises next time. I just don't eat my exercise calories back because MFP is insane.

SezxyStef

There are those on my FB who claim weight loss that doesn't seem reasonable...I don't say a word.

I just don't feel like creating the drama....if they are being honest with themselves (which they aren't) who am I to burst their bubble....

DebSozo

amusedmonkey wrote: »

DebSozo wrote: »

amusedmonkey wrote: »

Susieq_1994 wrote: »

xjessicaxrx wrote: »

I keep seeing these and dying to comment! Absolute nonsense LOL

Oh my gosh, that made me laugh! Four pounds of muscle in one week! Every bodybuilder in the world wants to know her secret.

Well, the lies here make sense. She is trying to sell that concussion.

Concoction. Lol. I love spellcheck's typos. They make me smile. Yeah. MLM people hype hype hype in order to make a quick sale. Then they string you along and get you to sign up to some kind of monthly auto delivery. And then they want you to become part of their "downline" so you can get discounts and add more people to the downline.

Haha yes! I'm constantly editing my replies. At least this is a benign one. I've had way worse and quickly edited them hoping no one would catch it.

All is fair in love and sales though. (and I swear I'm willing to make a reply that is nothing but smilies if that would make them go away.. it's getting annoying )

I think half of my posts are edited for the same reason. That's why I smiled.

DebSozo

brower47 wrote: »

I burned 1000 calories reading this thread and dropped 3 lbs of fat while gaining 8 lbs of muscle.

What product are you selling?

I want what you're having. Haha

Francl27

It would annoy me too, but I don't tend to stay friends with people with the mentality of a teenager, so I usually don't have to deal with such things.

dragon_girl26

Francl27 wrote: »

It would annoy me too, but I don't tend to stay friends with people with the mentality of a teenager, so I usually don't have to deal with such things.

Unfortunately some of the people see doing that stuff are family members, which is a little harder. Not saying they don't have that teenager mentality, though, haha. My cousin was telling everyone she was a size 0 from all the weight she had lost awhile back, yet I'm an 8-10 and she was still bigger than me.
I also have those ones who like to check in at the gym every day. They just love the attention I suppose.