"I want to get in shape, unless it requires effort..."
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Bry_Fitness70
Posts: 2,480 Member
The other day I had the same early January conversation in our workplace gym locker room with the same person, regarding the same topic, for probably the third time in the last 5 years.
Him: “Hey, what do you do to stay in shape?”
Me: “It is mostly through my diet, I try to eat a set amount of calories and a minimal amount of protein each day”.
Him: Blank stare. “I don’t see how I can do that every day, I don’t have the time.” (As if I am just some free-spirit who is unburdened by a full time job, kids, etc.).
Me: “It doesn’t really take that long once you get used to it, you can probably do it in 15 minutes a day”
Silence.
Apparently it is too much of a bother to track calories, so this guy just goes on year after year working out consistently every week and never sees any changes. I don’t understand how he can have the discipline to regularly go to the gym and exercise but not to attempt to get his diet under control. The gym is full of them. I have a feeling we will have the same brief, awkward conversation in January 2018 or 2019, lol…
Him: “Hey, what do you do to stay in shape?”
Me: “It is mostly through my diet, I try to eat a set amount of calories and a minimal amount of protein each day”.
Him: Blank stare. “I don’t see how I can do that every day, I don’t have the time.” (As if I am just some free-spirit who is unburdened by a full time job, kids, etc.).
Me: “It doesn’t really take that long once you get used to it, you can probably do it in 15 minutes a day”
Silence.
Apparently it is too much of a bother to track calories, so this guy just goes on year after year working out consistently every week and never sees any changes. I don’t understand how he can have the discipline to regularly go to the gym and exercise but not to attempt to get his diet under control. The gym is full of them. I have a feeling we will have the same brief, awkward conversation in January 2018 or 2019, lol…
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Replies
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Most of my friends are the same. Counting calories seems to them not only time consuming but odd. Perhaps even an unhealthy behaviour. One of my friends tried it and had great success and sung it's praises and still did not effect all the others who are frustrated with their own inability to lose weight. They have all seen my success and know how I've done it. Shrug. I make no effort at convincing anyone. We're only ready when we're ready.10
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A secretary in my office is the same. She's asked me three or four different times what I'm doing. I've given her the exact same answer every single time. She's made minor changes for a short amount of time, then goes back to her old ways. Not sure why she keeps asking.
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Same thing with "eat a little less, move a little more."
ANGTFT2 -
my sister is the same way,she tells me" I cant do what you do" I said what count calories,weigh your food and get exercise in? she thinks Im on some restrictive diet when I tell her I still eat things I like,I just dont overdo it, she says" I just love food too much".yet she is always crying and whining about being fat(her words not mine). she will also do whatever it is she does to lose some weight then she goes right back to gaining it back and then some. I told her it gets easier once you do it for awhile and its not as hard as it sounds. I guess she just isnt ready.8
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The people who don't want to take control of their diet to lose weight generally don't want to admit they're cramming so much food in their pie-holes.
I'm jealous that hubby eats what he eats because I miss eating what I want, but my little brain calculates the calorie totals of his supper, the 300 g bag of Lay's, the 2 handfuls of chocolate peanuts, and the Tim's PB cookie he ate last night and yep, that's how he's gained 8# this last year.10 -
I have a friend like that. She always asks me what I do, then says she's going to do it. But then runs after the next fad diet she sees. I'm currently watching her slowly get sucked into a ridiculous MLM diet sold by a mutual acquaintance. I'm ready to disown them both.
She invited me over for dinner tonight. She said she made boneless/skinless chicken breast, brown rice and steamed broccoli "just for you!" Ummm.... OK. But I hope to hell you don't think I've eaten like that every day for the last 2 1/2 years. I prefer chicken thighs with extra crispy skin, white rice pilaf and broccoli with a little butter or cheese sauce.33 -
Bry_Lander wrote: »The other day I had the same early January conversation in our workplace gym locker room with the same person, regarding the same topic, for probably the third time in the last 5 years.
Him: “Hey, what do you do to stay in shape?”
Me: “It is mostly through my diet, I try to eat a set amount of calories and a minimal amount of protein each day”.
Him: Blank stare. “I don’t see how I can do that every day, I don’t have the time.” (As if I am just some free-spirit who is unburdened by a full time job, kids, etc.).
Me: “It doesn’t really take that long once you get used to it, you can probably do it in 15 minutes a day”
Silence.
Apparently it is too much of a bother to track calories, so this guy just goes on year after year working out consistently every week and never sees any changes. I don’t understand how he can have the discipline to regularly go to the gym and exercise but not to attempt to get his diet under control. The gym is full of them. I have a feeling we will have the same brief, awkward conversation in January 2018 or 2019, lol…
Sadly, there is nothing we can do to convince others that's what it takes.
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He also asked me if I eat things that are "fattening". I told him I do all of the time, I either allow for them by eating less of other things, exercising, or just accepting that I am going to exceed my caloric limitations that day and move on with life. Then he asked about eating late in the evening. I told him it didn't matter, as long as he ate within his limits it really doesn't matter when he eats.
He looked really unenthused about all of this, I think he just wanted me to pull a bottle of magic pills out of my gym bag and say "I take one of these each day and they magically make me fit!"15 -
I tell people I eat salad and do yoga to cut the conversation short. People don't want to hear that the "real trick" is to create a calorie deficit by eating less or moving more.21
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I always love those conversations.
"How did you do it?"
Me - Generally diet, exercise, limiting calories, watching what I eat, making better food choices...
Them - That's too much work. I couldn't do that.
I just have to shake my head at them because it's the only way to do it and maintain. I have yet to find a magic pill that let's me binge on Krispy Kreme and Netflix while dropping weight and fat and not doing anything in return. If anyone makes it, sign me up.10 -
I actually do better at counting calories than I do at exercising. I entertained my friends with how I portioned things out - particularly snacks - and put them in little zip-top baggies. I would buy the larger bags of M&Ms and count out the number of them in a serving (I was NOT giving up chocolate), then bag them. When I had a chocolate craving, I could grab a little bag and know that was all I could have. Because I can literally eat a large bag in one sitting. Done it more than once. If I deprive myself of things like that, I know I will fail. As they say, everything in moderation. Things went great - I lost 30 pounds. Unfortunately, a lot of stressors invaded my life, I quit caring, and I fell off the wagon. Fortunately, I've managed to keep within ± 5 lbs of the weight I'd gotten down to. Even more unfortunately, a recent visit to the doctor and routine blood tests showed my cholesterol is definitely high. So here I am again. I'm going to be following the Mayo Clinic's diet for heart health. I know how healthy eating can change your life (even when your cholesterol isn't a concern!). And you're right goldthistime - we're only ready when we're ready.12
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And really, counting calories takes no more time than not. We're going to plate our food, might as well have that plate on a scale. We're going to faff around on the internet or our phones at some point(s) in the day, might as well open the MFP page and enter our food.
Of course, those with the too much time/effort excuses are just not ready. Many of us (I, too) were in that same not ready mode at one time. Give the info, when asked. What others do with it is none of my concern.21 -
Bry_Lander wrote: »The other day I had the same early January conversation in our workplace gym locker room with the same person, regarding the same topic, for probably the third time in the last 5 years.
Him: “Hey, what do you do to stay in shape?”
Me: “It is mostly through my diet, I try to eat a set amount of calories and a minimal amount of protein each day”.
Him: Blank stare. “I don’t see how I can do that every day, I don’t have the time.” (As if I am just some free-spirit who is unburdened by a full time job, kids, etc.).
Me: “It doesn’t really take that long once you get used to it, you can probably do it in 15 minutes a day”
Silence.
Apparently it is too much of a bother to track calories, so this guy just goes on year after year working out consistently every week and never sees any changes. I don’t understand how he can have the discipline to regularly go to the gym and exercise but not to attempt to get his diet under control. The gym is full of them. I have a feeling we will have the same brief, awkward conversation in January 2018 or 2019, lol…
Sadly, there is nothing we can do to convince others that's what it takes.
That sums it up entirely. If a person isn't ready, he isn't ready. It's a waste of time and exercise in futility to give a half-hearted effort to losing weight.
You don't have to count calories to lose weight. You don't have to eat special foods. You just need to eat a little bit less.6 -
She invited me over for dinner tonight. She said she made boneless/skinless chicken breast, brown rice and steamed broccoli "just for you!" Ummm.... OK. But I hope to hell you don't think I've eaten like that every day for the last 2 1/2 years. I prefer chicken thighs with extra crispy skin, white rice pilaf and broccoli with a little butter or cheese sauce.
*Gag* Please tell me she added spices/seasonings at least? I'm all for healthy food, but I hate it when people equate healthy food with bland food.14 -
That sounds like my husband. He runs, won't lift. Won't weigh and measure food. We don't cook much because I work two jobs but have great markets that prepare healthy food. Instead he comes home with a huge cheeseburger from their grill when I send him for Parmesan crusted tilapia and green beans almondine. Plus he eats a lot of candy corn and at least one beer a day and then complains about his beer gut.
I've gained and lost, gained and now an losing again but I'm not complaining because I quit weighing and measuring. That's on me, but he won't even give it a try, then he'd have to be accountable.2 -
Bry_Lander wrote: »The other day I had the same early January conversation in our workplace gym locker room with the same person, regarding the same topic, for probably the third time in the last 5 years.
Him: “Hey, what do you do to stay in shape?”
Me: “It is mostly through my diet, I try to eat a set amount of calories and a minimal amount of protein each day”.
Him: Blank stare. “I don’t see how I can do that every day, I don’t have the time.” (As if I am just some free-spirit who is unburdened by a full time job, kids, etc.).
Me: “It doesn’t really take that long once you get used to it, you can probably do it in 15 minutes a day”
Silence.
Apparently it is too much of a bother to track calories, so this guy just goes on year after year working out consistently every week and never sees any changes. I don’t understand how he can have the discipline to regularly go to the gym and exercise but not to attempt to get his diet under control. The gym is full of them. I have a feeling we will have the same brief, awkward conversation in January 2018 or 2019, lol…
Sadly, there is nothing we can do to convince others that's what it takes.
Yep. I feel sorry for the people who keep posting that they need motivation for that reason... it can only come from oneself.
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Love the thread title, OP.
One friend was the MC at the wake of another friend a few years ago. They were best buds. There were short funny talks about the deceased and the one friend introduced all the speakers and told funny vignettes in between. One thing she said was they had tried, for years and years, everything under the sun to lose weight ... except diet and exercise. Maybe you had to know them, but I thought that was REALLY funny. And probably true for a lot of folks!8 -
Yeah I find people get real salty with me when my answer to, "How did you lose all the weight?!" isn't something they can purchase.9
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what most people want is a quick fix. it's not quick fix at all. you need to put in the work to do it.3
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Rachel0778 wrote: »She invited me over for dinner tonight. She said she made boneless/skinless chicken breast, brown rice and steamed broccoli "just for you!" Ummm.... OK. But I hope to hell you don't think I've eaten like that every day for the last 2 1/2 years. I prefer chicken thighs with extra crispy skin, white rice pilaf and broccoli with a little butter or cheese sauce.
*Gag* Please tell me she added spices/seasonings at least? I'm all for healthy food, but I hate it when people equate healthy food with bland food.
If there was a knob of butter on the broccoli and the chicken was baked in a soy/honey/garlic dressing this would be just fine (the brown rice could do with some variation in texture, maybe some veg thrown in?)
But yeah. I've never eaten anything that dull.2
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