Explain

geminigemz90
geminigemz90 Posts: 305 Member
edited November 23 in Health and Weight Loss
Do you have to explain to people why you are counting calories. I mean it’s none of there business.
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Replies

  • neldabg
    neldabg Posts: 1,452 Member
    Nope. You're right; it's nobody's business. I can't recall ever explaining my why in great detail.
  • Maxxitt
    Maxxitt Posts: 1,281 Member
    Not only don't you have to explain why you are counting calories, you don't have to tell them anything. Just live your life :)
  • cathipa
    cathipa Posts: 2,991 Member
    If you were doing weight watchers would it be more socially acceptable? Seriously you do you. Ignore everyone else especially if what you are doing is working.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,269 Member
    Don't even tell them, if possible. Just do what you want and need to do, quietly and unobtrusively. It's your business only. Questions? Answer briefly, change the subject. Don't let it be a topic of conversation.
  • spiffychick85
    spiffychick85 Posts: 311 Member
    You don't owe anyone an explanation, but I understand people will question (they mean well in my case). I have co-workers who question my eating habits...I just explain that I'm losing the last 10lbs and leave it at that...do I owe them that explanation? No...but it makes it easier on me to explain it that way and move on :)
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    At home, hubby knows of course because he sees me using the food scale.
  • PaulaWallaDingDong
    PaulaWallaDingDong Posts: 4,641 Member
    I've never discussed it with anyone unless they ask about my weight loss first, except in the very beginning when I was visibly excited to have fun sized Butterfingers on my desk at work and got some funny looks. They didn't seem to care beyond that.

    Otherwise, I don't see the point in talking about it at all.
  • bpetrosky
    bpetrosky Posts: 3,911 Member
    You only have to explain it if you are asked about it when you are on the witness stand in a courtroom under oath.

  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    edited November 2017
    geminigemz90 wrote: »
    Do you have to explain to people why you are counting calories. I mean it’s none of there business.

    No. I don't have to explain anything about weight loss to anyone. I don't bring up the subject of weight. I don't tell people I am trying to lose weight, dieting, how much I weigh.

    If you don't want to talk about it then don't. If you do talk about it you open yourself up to questions, advice and comments.
  • jennifer_417
    jennifer_417 Posts: 12,344 Member
    Of course not.
  • xvolution
    xvolution Posts: 721 Member
    The only people I eat around already know why I count calories, so nobody really asks about it.
  • remoore23
    remoore23 Posts: 63 Member
    No, you obviously don't have to explain to anyone. However, I would ask who the person who is questioning you is and why they are mentioning it. If it's someone who cares about you and is curious about, or even concerned about, your sudden change in eating habits, you might consider explaining it to them so that they don't have to worry about it even though it really is none of their business. Of course, just smiling and saying, "It's just something I like doing," is also acceptable.
  • remoore23
    remoore23 Posts: 63 Member
    To directly answer your question, no one has asked me why I count calories. Personally, I think if they were polite I might not mind answering, but of course, there is no reason you have to.
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    edited November 2017
    No one ever has asked me 'how are you losing weight?' or 'what tools or apps are you using to lose weight?'. That said, my goals are not anyone business really.

    To this day, my own children and the rest of my family don't know I am counting calories. Way to hard for those that have no weight to lose to grasp the whole counting and tracking calories thing.
  • TrishSeren
    TrishSeren Posts: 587 Member
    People ask, especially at work because I have scales. They think I'm mad but I don't care, it works for me.
  • happyauntie2015
    happyauntie2015 Posts: 282 Member
    Only if you choose to explain.
  • LAWoman72
    LAWoman72 Posts: 2,846 Member
    edited November 2017
    I don't usually get asked this question. It's not a mystery why people count calories. Usually it is to either gain or lose weight. I'd feel like an idiot asking someone why s/he was counting calories. And if the person were already lean I would assume s/he is counting calories in order to maintain. This isn't a secret or anything - people have counted calories for decades. If someone asked me why I was watching what I ate and counting the calories, I think I would just stare for a moment, then go on eating. But nobody would. Because duh.
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,242 Member
    How do they even know you're counting calories unless you told them?
  • HellYeahItsKriss
    HellYeahItsKriss Posts: 906 Member
    Alatariel75 wrote: »
    How do they even know you're counting calories unless you told them?

    You got sucked in again didn't you? Lol
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,242 Member
    HellYeahItsKriss wrote: »
    Alatariel75 wrote: »
    How do they even know you're counting calories unless you told them?

    You got sucked in again didn't you? Lol

    I just can't not...
  • Stationagentjules
    Stationagentjules Posts: 57 Member
    I find that people are very curious about my food scale use. It's as if no one has ever seen one before. I don't mind usually.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Stationagentjules wrote: »
    I find that people are very curious about my food scale use. It's as if no one has ever seen one before. I don't mind usually.

    I hadn't seen one until I worked for a baker.

    I recently watched an episode of the British Baking Show - Masterclass and was struck by how constantly they used their scales and said grams grams grams. If more people watched this show, the use of a scale in the US would be normalized.
    https://www.netflix.com/title/80165085
    http://www.pbs.org/food/features/great-british-baking-show-season-masterclass/
  • vingogly
    vingogly Posts: 1,785 Member
    geminigemz90 wrote: »
    Do you have to explain to people why you are counting calories. I mean it’s none of there business.

    Didn't you get your Calorie Counter's Contract when you started? It explains everything you have to do when you count calories. Oh, wait -- it doesn't exist. :D
  • Moxie42
    Moxie42 Posts: 1,400 Member
    I never bring it up, and definitely don't feel like I need to explain myself. However, if a friend or family member notices me logging my food and ask about it, I just say "I just like to keep track of what I'm eating." Usually they just go "hm" and that's the end of it. If they ask "oh, are you trying to lose weight?" or "You count calories?" I just casually shrug and say "It also helps me figure out if I seem to have reactions to certain foods- if my allergies start going off and whatnot." Again, I always get either a non-response or something like "hey, that's a good idea. I should think about doing something like that." I personally choose not to make it a banned subject but I do respond in a way that takes the focus off the weight and calorie-counting aspect of it.

    On the other hand, if someone notices I've lost weight and asks how I'm doing it I say "I just track what I eat so I know I'm not eating too much or too little. It's kinda nice because I can eat whatever I want without overdoing it." Again, none of their business, but personally, I've seen so many friends struggle with fad diets or binge-starve cycles, and family members swearing that pasta causes weight gain no matter what, that if I can open up ONE person's mind about how simple (not easy, but simple) weight loss can be, I feel good about it. I never mention it or suggest it to people but if they ask how I'm doing it, I don't mind sharing.
  • ekim2016
    ekim2016 Posts: 1,199 Member
    I have had them ask HOW I am losing weight... so if they are sincere, I give them a brief summary of how CICO works. Most just say wow or something like that.
  • jaci66
    jaci66 Posts: 139 Member
    geminigemz90 wrote: »
    Do you have to explain to people why you are counting calories. I mean it’s none of there business.

    You don't have to. You can be an *kitten* about it OR you can make it an opportunity to maybe help someone else with weight loss. Maybe they're just curious.

    I always tell them if they ask. But, I don't offer the information. I mean, seriously. You're an adult, I assume. Make an adult decision about it.
  • LAWoman72
    LAWoman72 Posts: 2,846 Member
    edited November 2017
    ekim2016 wrote: »
    I have had them ask HOW I am losing weight... so if they are sincere, I give them a brief summary of how CICO works. Most just say wow or something like that.

    I have had people ask. I answered, "Diet and exercise." This has never been met with any surprise. I did have one person sigh, "I was hoping there was some new secret out there," and we both laughed.

    I have never once had to explain to a single person that when I lowered calories under what I was expending, weight loss happened. Middle schoolers know this.

    I am surprised at the amount of people I have seen on threads on MFP saying they have literally had to explain this.
  • Moxie42
    Moxie42 Posts: 1,400 Member
    LAWoman72 wrote: »
    ekim2016 wrote: »
    I have had them ask HOW I am losing weight... so if they are sincere, I give them a brief summary of how CICO works. Most just say wow or something like that.

    I have had people ask. I answered, "Diet and exercise." This has never been met with any surprise. I did have one person sigh, "I was hoping there was some new secret out there," and we both laughed.

    I have never once had to explain to a single person that when I lowered calories under what I was expending, weight loss happened. Middle schoolers know this.

    I am surprised at the amount of people I have seen on threads on MFP saying they have literally had to explain this.

    At one point I had lost almost 30 lbs. My friend asked how I did it and refused to believe my explanation that I was just counting calories and walking. She continued to send me article after article about raspberry keytones and magical green tea, even though she herself was trying those gimmicks and wondering why she wasn't losing weight.
  • LAWoman72
    LAWoman72 Posts: 2,846 Member
    edited November 2017
    Moxie42 wrote: »
    LAWoman72 wrote: »
    ekim2016 wrote: »
    I have had them ask HOW I am losing weight... so if they are sincere, I give them a brief summary of how CICO works. Most just say wow or something like that.

    I have had people ask. I answered, "Diet and exercise." This has never been met with any surprise. I did have one person sigh, "I was hoping there was some new secret out there," and we both laughed.

    I have never once had to explain to a single person that when I lowered calories under what I was expending, weight loss happened. Middle schoolers know this.

    I am surprised at the amount of people I have seen on threads on MFP saying they have literally had to explain this.

    At one point I had lost almost 30 lbs. My friend asked how I did it and refused to believe my explanation that I was just counting calories and walking. She continued to send me article after article about raspberry keytones and magical green tea, even though she herself was trying those gimmicks and wondering why she wasn't losing weight.

    That is crazy.

    I don't know what to say...I feel sorry for anyone who is accosted constantly by people who apparently have never heard of calorie counting, something that was already old news when I started doing it in the late 70s.

    Don't even know what to say about this; I suppose I would just bin the emails like I do when my FIL sends me political memes.
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