Do you tell everyone when you are on a diet?

JamesMD84
JamesMD84 Posts: 26 Member
edited November 20 in Health and Weight Loss
Had a hard day today which involved a work lunch as I haven't really told anyone I'm on a diet. I didn't want to tell them so just ate a normal lunch and going to try and have a really good dinner.

I'm a big guy (300lbs) so they all probably think I should be on a diet anyway but for some reason I can't tell them.

So back to my question, do you tell everyone or just try and do the best you can in social situations?
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Replies

  • boulank
    boulank Posts: 51 Member
    SuzySunshine99 wrote: »
    Never. Because:
    A. You don't want a bunch of advice from random people about what you should/should not be doing.
    B. No one cares.

    Yep this^^^
    Once I started losing I got asked what I was doing. Much easier to not have to explain yourself to everyone.
  • Colt1835
    Colt1835 Posts: 447 Member
    I tell people like my family, people I eat with often, and my friends with health and fitness interests. I don't really care to talk about it with anyone else. I actually don't care to talk about it with most of the people I listed either, but they would figure it out and talk about it with my anyway.
  • DX2JX2
    DX2JX2 Posts: 1,921 Member
    Not usually. It's more fun to watch people try to figure out why I look different after a couple of months.

    At work functions where I'm limited in my food choices, I'll just make the best choice I can and then guesstimate a reasonable portion to leave behind. If you don't want to call attention to yourself with a 'diet' order, then you can just order normally and leave behind leftovers. If anybody asks (though nobody will) just tell them that you aren't that hungry.
  • Gallowmere1984
    Gallowmere1984 Posts: 6,626 Member
    I don't tell anyone, but my co-workers notice. I cut hard, so my energy levels tend to fall off, and I shrink like an old woman when fully glycogen depleted.
  • Meelisv
    Meelisv Posts: 235 Member
    Well, firstly, it became obvious once i lost my first 10 kg or so.
    Secondly, at work it is also clear, since i prepare my meals and take them with me instead of going out to eat. I'm not only one who does that there, but still people come around and are nosy :smile:

    But for James:
    I also started out at around 300 lbs. After a while i developed extra thick skin regarding all kinds of comments, opinions and "educated guesses" Of course, it has been some time, but by now i don't give a flying f*** about what people at work think of how and what i eat or how i manage my health and happiness :smiley:
    It takes time, and can be daunting, but it's quite a good feeling at the end.
  • lalepepper
    lalepepper Posts: 447 Member
    I only bring it up if someone asks. Otherwise my eating habits are my business and I don't need unsolicited feedback about why my eating pattern supposedly doesn't work, because it does! I do share about my weight loss with friends and family on social media because the support helps.
  • kristen8000
    kristen8000 Posts: 747 Member
    I talk about it with my BF and family, but never to others. Because I don't need people's comments, complaints, judgements. I also don't need someone asking me "Oh, I need to lose weight, you wanna be my exercise/diet buddy? I need support". I feel everyone should have enough "gumtion" to do this themselves. If you are looking for a buddy, you aren't really ready and are grasping at excuses.

    And really no one cares.
  • Penthesilea514
    Penthesilea514 Posts: 1,189 Member
    Not really- some people have figured it out along the way as it is more noticeable, but I don't generally go out of my way to volunteer information. Any conversation that does happen is kept somewhat short- I am not interested in talking to someone about their restrictive dieting, I prefer to let my results speak for themselves.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    I don't tell them and I don't change how I eat just to pretend I'm not.
  • MommaGem2017
    MommaGem2017 Posts: 405 Member
    Immediate family and close friends - yes. Everyone else... no.
  • noirelb
    noirelb Posts: 216 Member
    Some of my friends know since it came up in a conversation when we were hiking and my lunch friends know because people bring desserts and I do not take a piece lol. Once I explain, I don't have anyone telling me what to do or not do but then again, they are not crazy dieters at all. They are mostly all not obese or not super thin and most of them bike to work.
    I wouldn't randomly tell everyone if it doesn't come up but I think your coworkers would support you if in the end it's difficult to stay on your diet due to the meals you have with them.
  • sparklyglitterbomb
    sparklyglitterbomb Posts: 458 Member
    I rarely mention it (though now people ask since the change is very noticeable.) so when i would go out, i would pick something on the healthier side or if it was a "share apps" kind of thing I would only take a little of what was ordered. My main focus was to eat less - never a full restaurant portion.. or if I did, then I'd eat less later that day and the next day.

    and I am with the other posters who just don't want to hear all the BS about what works best. Yeah, I got that part covered for me. lol :)

  • eyer0ll
    eyer0ll Posts: 313 Member
    Good god, no -- for all the reasons listed above, and more.
  • magster4isu
    magster4isu Posts: 632 Member
    I'm picky about who I tell. I think I know who will support me and who will sabatage my efforts. I didn't tell anyone at work, I just got really good at saying "no, thank you" when the treats came in.
  • RedSierra
    RedSierra Posts: 253 Member
    JamesMD84 wrote: »
    Had a hard day today which involved a work lunch as I haven't really told anyone I'm on a diet. I didn't want to tell them so just ate a normal lunch and going to try and have a really good dinner.

    I'm a big guy (300lbs) so they all probably think I should be on a diet anyway but for some reason I can't tell them.

    So back to my question, do you tell everyone or just try and do the best you can in social situations?

    I'm in maintenance now, but when I was losing weight I didn't tell people mainly for one reason -- I knew I would get all kinds of "advice" I didn't need or want, or comments saying I didn't need to lose any more weight (yes, I did, I was obese).

    The only social issue: I did cut some food out for medical reasons. In those situations, I would say "I'm good" if someone was pushing food on me. That, or "I have a health problem" and leave it at that and change the subject.

    You mentioned normal. My diet changes were lifestyle changes and had to become the new normal for me.
  • emcclure013
    emcclure013 Posts: 231 Member
    I've been dieting about 3 weeks now and I'm just telling my coworkers, "I'm trying to be good today!" when they comment on my healthy lunches. If they ask, I'll tell them, but I'm not going into any amount of detail.

    I share everything with my husband, but he's the only one besides my MFP friends who know how hard I've been working. :)
  • tinkerbellang83
    tinkerbellang83 Posts: 9,142 Member
    I didn't really tell anyone to start with, but as the weight loss became apparent if people have asked I have told them, I don't post on my normal social media about it, I have a separate instagram account for food, fitness and inspiration and I use MFP and my blog website as my outlet for everything weight loss and fitness related. I shared my blog to facebook after my first 6 months, when I hit my first major milestone. I plan around my social activities so I don't have to work my life around my weight loss, if I am going out on a weekend, I will eat a light brunch and do an extra workout to make room for a few drinks and a meal or I will bank a few calories during the week.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited August 2017
    JamesMD84 wrote: »
    Had a hard day today which involved a work lunch as I haven't really told anyone I'm on a diet. I didn't want to tell them so just ate a normal lunch and going to try and have a really good dinner.

    I'm a big guy (300lbs) so they all probably think I should be on a diet anyway but for some reason I can't tell them.

    So back to my question, do you tell everyone or just try and do the best you can in social situations?

    Mind you, this was years ago now, but when I was dieting and social situations like this came up, I did tell them but I qualified that it was for medical reasons (which was true) and that if I didn't get certain things under control I was going to have to be put on various prescriptions and I didn't want that. That stopped the whole c'mon...just have a piece of the cake kind of stuff...

    I still attended special work things and people noticed that I was eating differently, and they noticed I had lost some weight so there really wasn't any point in denying it when asked, though I didn't go around announcing it.
  • MegaMooseEsq
    MegaMooseEsq Posts: 3,118 Member
    I'll tell people I'm eating healthier if they ask, but I'm not sure it's really noticeable most of the time, since I haven't really changed how I eat that much, and I'm losing pretty gradually. I would never say the D word, though. The last unsolicited weight loss tip I got from a coworker was to watch the sugary drinks (while pointing at the unsweetened ice tea that's basically all I drink at work besides water). Thanks...
  • ILivSD
    ILivSD Posts: 11 Member
    Hi James, I do agree with both sides of this topic. Alas there's a lot of extreme zealots on both sides of every subject and I have encountered both. Its funny how there are Politics in Dieting....but what few will tell you is that everyone is different and what works Great for you may not for others. The biggest secret so to speak is how to keep the weight off just look at all the contestants on The Biggest Looser and how many have rebounded. You goal is to find what works for you to maintain a healthy life style that you can stick with. Be it Vegetarian, Atkins or the bubble Gum diet what have you....I have relapsed various times and each time kicking my self saying "you did this to your self, you can get back to being healthy and happy though not mutually exclusive. I think a middle of the road approach is best and true "Your just trying to eat healthier to be healthier" most people will understand and go with it. I have been 300lbs before and know where your coming from.
    Its a slow road but you will get there....find an Diet and Exercise you enjoy and stick with it....!
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