Can non experts give expert advice?
honorthecolors
Posts: 33 Member
If you see a plane that crashed into a tree you can say, "wow, someone really screwed up" and I will understand you don't need to be a pilot to make that statement for its understood that someone or something really screwed up.
When it comes to health and fitness I get lots of unsolicited advice from my family and they're not even in shape. My rule of thumb is that unless someone ask or remotely hints for the request for health and fitness advice I don't give it. It can be down right offensive to some, and I don't care of people want to be out-of-shape looking for that's their business and not mine. I am not here to save the world. Some of the things said or asked are:
Them: You need to gain weight.
What I want to say/ ask: What sort of weight? Should I stop exercising?
Them: You need to gain more muscle.
What I want to say/ ask: Where's your muscle?
Them: Did you get this small on purpose?
What I want to say/ ask: Are you staying your current size on purpose?
Them: Why do you eat so much if you want to lose weight?
What I want to say/ ask: Did you ever meet anyone who got far eating veggies, fruit, and lean meat but avoided pop, candy, and junk food?
Them: Why do you eat 12 times a day?
What I want to say/ ask: I like to spread my meals out instead of wolfing it down two or three times a day.
Them: Isn't eating healthy much expensive?
What I want to say/ ask: Isn't lying in your death bed dying expensive?
Them: Why are you eating cheese if you're trying to lose weight?
What I want to say/ ask: You must know my fitness plan. Please do tell me about it.
Them: Why are you eating carbs if you're trying to lose weight?
What I want to say/ ask: Did I say I was on a low or carb free diet (which I am not)?
Them: That's fattening for you so don't eat that.
What I want to say/ ask: Are you a dietitian?
There are some more I can't think of. I really don't want to alienate anyone but much of their questions are based on ignorance of health and fitness and assumptions of me. I am slowing educating them. For my background, I was nearly 200lbs a year ago. I am now 145lbs with 8% body. I won't lie, I have a rigid eat habit, and I work out a lot. I take my fitness very seriously, but I still manage to eat tacos, just not every single day.
When it comes to health and fitness I get lots of unsolicited advice from my family and they're not even in shape. My rule of thumb is that unless someone ask or remotely hints for the request for health and fitness advice I don't give it. It can be down right offensive to some, and I don't care of people want to be out-of-shape looking for that's their business and not mine. I am not here to save the world. Some of the things said or asked are:
Them: You need to gain weight.
What I want to say/ ask: What sort of weight? Should I stop exercising?
Them: You need to gain more muscle.
What I want to say/ ask: Where's your muscle?
Them: Did you get this small on purpose?
What I want to say/ ask: Are you staying your current size on purpose?
Them: Why do you eat so much if you want to lose weight?
What I want to say/ ask: Did you ever meet anyone who got far eating veggies, fruit, and lean meat but avoided pop, candy, and junk food?
Them: Why do you eat 12 times a day?
What I want to say/ ask: I like to spread my meals out instead of wolfing it down two or three times a day.
Them: Isn't eating healthy much expensive?
What I want to say/ ask: Isn't lying in your death bed dying expensive?
Them: Why are you eating cheese if you're trying to lose weight?
What I want to say/ ask: You must know my fitness plan. Please do tell me about it.
Them: Why are you eating carbs if you're trying to lose weight?
What I want to say/ ask: Did I say I was on a low or carb free diet (which I am not)?
Them: That's fattening for you so don't eat that.
What I want to say/ ask: Are you a dietitian?
There are some more I can't think of. I really don't want to alienate anyone but much of their questions are based on ignorance of health and fitness and assumptions of me. I am slowing educating them. For my background, I was nearly 200lbs a year ago. I am now 145lbs with 8% body. I won't lie, I have a rigid eat habit, and I work out a lot. I take my fitness very seriously, but I still manage to eat tacos, just not every single day.
4
Replies
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A non committal "aha" and changing the subject works 99% of the time and saves a boat load of family/friend/coworker arguments1
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It seems the answer is "yes, yes they can."1
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Wow you have intrusive family/friends...how about "I'm sorry, I don't discuss my weight or diet with anyone except my doctor."2
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honorthecolors wrote: »There are some more I can't think of. I really don't want to alienate anyone but much of their questions are based on ignorance of health and fitness and assumptions of me. I am slowing educating them.
Your "what I want to say" answers are very combative. Have you heard the expression "you catch more flies with honey than vinegar?" It's about diplomacy. Here's how I might answer some of these questions, in light of your goal to educate people and eradicate their ignorance.
Them: Why are you eating cheese if you're trying to lose weight?
Helpful answer: Because it's pretty high in protein, which leaves you feeling full and satisfied. Also it's important to get enough protein while you're losing weight to minimize muscle loss. Finally, it tastes good, I enjoy it, and I've been able to fit it into my calorie goal for the day.
Not helpful answer: You must know my fitness plan. Please do tell me about it.
Let's try one more example.
Them: Why are you eating carbs if you're trying to lose weight?
Helpful answer: Because you can't survive without carbs. And carbs don't make you fat, excess calories do.
Not helpful answer: Did I say I was on a low or carb free diet (which I am not)?7 -
It's so strange how people want to share their opinions about other people's bodies and eating habits. We wouldn't really dream of asking an overweight person if they mean to keep gaining weight or if they know how bad that is for them (and society, but I digress).
But yeah, just shut them down. Not their place to give advice.0 -
People's experience makes them an expert. No they aren't nutritionists or experts. They just know what works for them. Nothing wrong with that.0
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If someone were to look at Lyle McDonald, they'd think he was a non-expert. Heck, I've seen people dismiss him and his lifting/exercise advice because he isn't jacked/ripped/hyoooge. That is most definitely a bad idea.
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I think that, most of the time with these kind of comments, the easiest thing to do is answer very simply and then move on. Engaging in more thought about the answers just wastes your time and irritates you and then actually giving a long explanation gives the impression that you want to discuss them.honorthecolors wrote: »
Them: You need to gain weight.
Answer: Okay.
Them: You need to gain more muscle.
Answer: Okay.
Them: Did you get this small on purpose?
Answer: Yes.
Them: Why do you eat so much if you want to lose weight?
Answer: Because I like to.
Them: Why do you eat 12 times a day?
Answer: Because I like to.
Them: Isn't eating healthy much expensive?
Answer: No.
Them: Why are you eating cheese if you're trying to lose weight?
Answer: Because I like to.
Them: Why are you eating carbs if you're trying to lose weight?
Answer: Because I like to.
Them: That's fattening for you so don't eat that.
Answer: Okay.0 -
This was so funny to me because I think the same thing:
1- you need to gain more muscle
WHERE IS YOUR MUSCLE
HAHAHAHAHAHAAA
everyone thinks they know best.
Do You and ignore ;-)0 -
KetoneKaren wrote: »Wow you have intrusive family/friends...how about "I'm sorry, I don't discuss my weight or diet with anyone except my doctor."
Your lucky0
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