My best friend doesnt believe in CICO
laurenebargar
Posts: 3,081 Member
So the title says it all. My best friend doesn't believe in CICO. I only told them recently that I started losing weight ( I told them once I was 15 lbs down) we went for a hike the other day, and then were walking back to their house, we stopped for ice cream. I had a ton of calories left so I got a flavor I actually wanted rather than just frozen yogurt. She was shocked and told me i'd never lose weight if im eating ice cream, and that our hike didnt count as exercise because we weren't in a gym (we burned over 1000 calories according to my fitbit!) I explained to her what MFP is all about it, and CICO and she said I was "getting obsessive" with calories I need to stop focusing on that, and eat only healthy foods and go to the gym for an hour every day, dont pay attention to calories. Im shocked that she would have such a strong opinion on it, shes a science major so I assumed something simple like CICO would make sense to her, you need to burn more calories than your body is taking in. Finally I explained I could eat one scoop of ice cream every day, even if thats all I ate, and I was in calorie deficit I would lose weight, she simply just said no you would gain weight and be terribly unhealthy. I agree you wouldnt be healthy, but you would still lose weight. That was it, she said after she didnt want to talk about it anymore. What do you guys think? I know CICO works, its been working for me, and so many other people on MFP. Why do people think CICO wont work??
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Replies
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People believe all sorts of drivel because popular media, diet gurus, and science reporting is dreadful.
Also, CICO isn't really sexy and is hard to monetize.74 -
Groaaaaan. Some people are just stuck in their ways and refuse to face the facts.
That's why I only discuss my eating habits with my fiance. Everyone has an opinion on the "right way" to lose weight and I don't care to hear it.
You could print off pages and pages of science behind CICO and sadly, your friend would probably still not believe you. So just don't bother trying to change her opinion - it's not worth it. She can google it herself if she ends up doubting herself.
If she comments on your "unhealthy" diet, just roll your eyes and change the subject. Tell her you don't really want to talk about it. That's all you can really do.31 -
They get brain washed by the people trying to sell things.
I agree with her that you should stop talking about it.13 -
Because it makes too much sense and people would rather believe you don't get results without suffering and deprivation?
MY SW was 254 and I'm just under halfway to goal (60.6 lbs lost as of yesterday) and I got there making room for indulgences in controlled amounts. Bluntly? You're right; your friend is wrong. And what will she say in a few months when you won't have to tell anyone you're losing anymore, because it'll be obvious to one and all?22 -
Because weightloss can't be that simple. You have to suffer and deprive yourself. Didn't you know you have to be miserable to lose weight?
People have trouble understanding that weightloss can be simple if you ignore the weightloss industry and gimmicks. We have been told that to loss weight we should eat like rabbits and go to the gym for hours every week and it's hard to let go of that.27 -
People that reach the point of outright refusing to discuss a subject are usually not operating from a rational point of view.20
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laurenebargar wrote: »Why do people think CICO wont work??
Well it may not have been written with weight loss in mind, this is a good book that may help.
https://www.amazon.ca/People-Believe-Weird-Things-Pseudoscience/dp/0805070893/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496070849&sr=8-1&keywords=why+people+believe+weird+things
I think some folks border on the religious when it comes to weight loss beliefs.15 -
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, if she feels strongly (even if she is wrong) just leave it there, if she makes comments about what you're eating, tell her you don't want to discuss it with her, you're doing what works for you. You know it works and that's all that matters.22
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Tacklewasher wrote: »laurenebargar wrote: »Why do people think CICO wont work??
Well it may not have been written with weight loss in mind, this is a good book that may help.
https://www.amazon.ca/People-Believe-Weird-Things-Pseudoscience/dp/0805070893/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496070849&sr=8-1&keywords=why+people+believe+weird+things
I think some folks border on the religious when it comes to weight loss beliefs.
There's a book for that too!
https://www.amazon.com/Diet-Cults-Surprising-Fallacy-Nutrition/dp/1605988294/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496071072&sr=8-1&keywords=diet+cults+matt+fitzgerald
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yes thanks everyone! I agree, I am not the type or person who will sit there arguing until im blue in the face, I just said okay and enjoyed the ice cream! The whole thing just seemed so odd to me. She has always been skinny, she can eat whatever she wants and doesn't normally exercise, we lived together for awhile and worked together so I know she wasn't working out or eating well. But its just strange she was so against CICO5
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Bummer for those people. Honestly, Thinking that you have to eat "perfectly" all day every day and never miss a day at the gym must add a ton of unnecessary stress and headache to the equation15
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One of my friends on Facebook recently asked how she can lose some weight, and I suggested MFP and counting her calories. The next comment 30 second later was literally "Don't count calories!! That doesn't work! Just eat healthier". My response to that was, "I gained 30 lbs on healthy foods. You can overeat on anything. And when you're first starting to lose weight, you really need to know how many calories you're actually taking in because not everyone knows what 1200 or 1500 calories looks and feels like if they're not counting. You may be surprised." Her response...."whatever. Calorie counting is dumb". lol *sigh*28
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How much weight do you have to lose? If it's some huge number, make sure to tell her when you get to goal and say "CICO isn't a thing, though, right?"21
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I know I went through a bit of that strange way of thinking myself. There's this idea that gets pushed around that you can only eat 'healthy' food and have to exercise in certain ways. When I tried to get healthier in the past, I practically starved myself and thought there was so many foods I'd never be allowed to eat. I had to make those mistakes and learn.
My dad is still one of those people. While I enjoy my occasional ice cream or other treats at home, I can't eat them around him or he starts screaming how I can't lose weight or I've 'destroyed my diet.' There's not much you can do about it.
Of course, CICO has worked for me. I have a lot of issues that makes weight loss more difficult, but I've lost 31lbs so far - and I still eat what I like. The best part is, this is a lifestyle change that is manageable. If I thought I could never have a bite of cake again, then that would just be depressing. I couldn't stick to it. For me, it's good to know I can still have a piece of cake every now and again because I'm in control.13 -
This is how I used to be on an extreme level. I was eating nothing but tuna and salad and water, never actually ENJOYING my food. And usually just starving all the time. Worked out 7 days a week, 2 hours or until I puked. And yes, that's not an exaggeration. I literally would not leave the gym until I was in absolute pain. To the point I have tore muscles cause of it.
Felt I could never have that one candy bar, or maybe that one slice of pizza. Got to the point that I began to fear eating.
Long story short, I failed. Again. And here I am now, trying a different approach. Keep doing you. Cause it's ALL about you. She can have her opinions, but you know you better than anyone else. If it's working, then keep going. People are going to think they are right for whatever reason. It's good that you didn't try to make an issue out of it and ENJOYED that ice cream.
Good luck on your continued journey!24 -
laurenebargar wrote: »Why do people think CICO wont work??
I think it's a form of superstition. But who knows.1 -
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Next time just say "Facts don't care if you believe in them."46
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What I find weird is that she thinks hiking isn't exercise and you can only exercise in a gym.40
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tinkerbellang83 wrote: »Everyone is entitled to their opinion, if she feels strongly (even if she is wrong) just leave it there, if she makes comments about what you're eating, tell her you don't want to discuss it with her, you're doing what works for you. You know it works and that's all that matters.
Yeah but you don't get to have an opinion about a science fact.
Also OP, I like how she went from hearing about it for the first time to telling you that you are "getting obsessed." Projecting much?17 -
CICO is the ONLY thing that works. It's not about the low carbs, IF, Paleo, etc.... It is all about expending more calories than you burn. You are right on track - keep it up! Although, if you are eating back calories that Fitbit says you burned you could gain weight. In my experience FibBit is sooooo far from accurate you don't want to trust it (it's almost as bad as MFP in that regard).1
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I just laugh at the idea that people assume that frozen yogurt is healthier than ice cream.36
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What I find weird is that she thinks hiking isn't exercise and you can only exercise in a gym.
This. ^^^
I guess it's because they consider gym exercise as 'purposeful' whereas hiking is 'just walking around.' <insert eye-rolly here.>
What is amusing, though, is one hour of just walking around burns *way* more calories than the same hour spent in a gym lifting weights, getting all sweaty and feeling self-righteous.
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OP I feel for you. When you talk to supposedly intelligent people and they shoot you down in an illogical fashion, it's surprising. If she's thin, then her lifestyle works for her. Healthy is being bandied about--it's the new fad word right now. Healthy + CICO is best, but without CICO you're just spining your wheels. Keep up the good work.4
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laurenebargar wrote: »So the title says it all. My best friend doesn't believe in CICO. I only told them recently that I started losing weight ( I told them once I was 15 lbs down) we went for a hike the other day, and then were walking back to their house, we stopped for ice cream. I had a ton of calories left so I got a flavor I actually wanted rather than just frozen yogurt. She was shocked and told me i'd never lose weight if im eating ice cream, and that our hike didnt count as exercise because we weren't in a gym (we burned over 1000 calories according to my fitbit!) I explained to her what MFP is all about it, and CICO and she said I was "getting obsessive" with calories I need to stop focusing on that, and eat only healthy foods and go to the gym for an hour every day, dont pay attention to calories. Im shocked that she would have such a strong opinion on it, shes a science major so I assumed something simple like CICO would make sense to her, you need to burn more calories than your body is taking in. Finally I explained I could eat one scoop of ice cream every day, even if thats all I ate, and I was in calorie deficit I would lose weight, she simply just said no you would gain weight and be terribly unhealthy. I agree you wouldnt be healthy, but you would still lose weight. That was it, she said after she didnt want to talk about it anymore. What do you guys think? I know CICO works, its been working for me, and so many other people on MFP. Why do people think CICO wont work??
Two things i recommend:
1) Ask her if she were wrong, how would she know? (She's a science major; she should be able to answer that question easily).
2) Prove it to her.10 -
Because if it was really that easy anyone could do it and then people would lose all the excuses as to why they can't lose weight. So the only real way to lose weight is something so difficult and complicated they can't possibly do it.
This is why I try to never talk to people about weight loss. It is rarely a productive conversation. You know you're correct - don't worry about her beliefs.15 -
I just laugh at the idea that people assume that frozen yogurt is healthier than ice cream.
My aunt says she hasn't eaten ice cream in months and doesnt know why she can't lose weight. I asked what about the pint of ice cream you eat every night she goes "thats not ice cream thats just yogurt, frozen yogurt"!
*facepalm*27 -
I just laugh at the idea that people assume that frozen yogurt is healthier than ice cream.
My sister has a friend who says she makes smoothies with yogurt for her super healthy breakfast. Asked what kind of yogurt, she replied "frozen yogurt." Guuuuuuuurl that's a milkshake. You're having milkshakes for breakfast.58 -
Silentpadna wrote: »laurenebargar wrote: »So the title says it all. My best friend doesn't believe in CICO. I only told them recently that I started losing weight ( I told them once I was 15 lbs down) we went for a hike the other day, and then were walking back to their house, we stopped for ice cream. I had a ton of calories left so I got a flavor I actually wanted rather than just frozen yogurt. She was shocked and told me i'd never lose weight if im eating ice cream, and that our hike didnt count as exercise because we weren't in a gym (we burned over 1000 calories according to my fitbit!) I explained to her what MFP is all about it, and CICO and she said I was "getting obsessive" with calories I need to stop focusing on that, and eat only healthy foods and go to the gym for an hour every day, dont pay attention to calories. Im shocked that she would have such a strong opinion on it, shes a science major so I assumed something simple like CICO would make sense to her, you need to burn more calories than your body is taking in. Finally I explained I could eat one scoop of ice cream every day, even if thats all I ate, and I was in calorie deficit I would lose weight, she simply just said no you would gain weight and be terribly unhealthy. I agree you wouldnt be healthy, but you would still lose weight. That was it, she said after she didnt want to talk about it anymore. What do you guys think? I know CICO works, its been working for me, and so many other people on MFP. Why do people think CICO wont work??
Two things i recommend:
1) Ask her if she were wrong, how would she know? (She's a science major; she should be able to answer that question easily).
2) Prove it to her.
3) Get a new best friend.
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