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MyFitnessPal Community

HOW did you lose the weight??? Do you get asked that all the time?

Pastaprincess1978

Does anyone else often get asked how they lost weight? It continues to surprise me how curious people are about how I lost weight - it's as if they are expecting some neat and easy answer apart from eating less food!

Replies

KelGen02

I get a that a lot... OMG what did you do? you look great. Then you simply tell them you decided to get healthier by moving a little more and eating a little less and they seem disappointed?? Then the people at work who want to lose weight but do nothing about it are the ones watching everything you do. Eating a piece of fruit and I get the "you know what they say about eating fruit because of the sugar" or having tuna for lunch over mixed greens for the second time that week and get the "you know what they say about eating too much tuna". Or my favorite, "c'mon one little slice of cake isn't going to kill you" as they roll theirs eyes at you because you passed on the cake that one time because you planned in your calories for a couple glasses of wine on date night with your hubby?? I've learned to no longer engage in these types of conversations anymore. Most people don't care to put in the work they are just looking for that "magic" diet/pill.

Jadub729

I get asked this question on how I quit smoking, ummm I just didn't light another cigarette.

kchuch77

We are so bombarded with fad diets & fear mongering that its hard to believe losing weight is as simple as eating whatever you want, but just eating less of it. I myself have fallen for said hype... & this is why I am here trying to lose 70 lbs lol

Ghostofachance

kballsocc wrote: »

I eat more protein and fiber. I eat more food more often.

The second statement is usually counterintuitive for many people but for a bag of jimmy john bbq potato chips ~300 calories (one of my favorites) I can eat

2.5 oz of blackberries, 1 fage 6oz yogurt, 100g raddishes+ hoisen sauce, 1 medium apple, 5.5 oz of v8 juice and have 50 calories left over to put towards my evening chocolate/wine. I will have eaten alot more volume wise of food, and eaten 17g more protein,10g more fiber than the measly potato chip snack.

People always want to know about carbs and they are mostly an afterthought.

This^^^^

People don't believe that I can eat as much as I do, either. I have eaten salads that were positively huge, loaded with fresh vegetables and dressed with a vinegar and a splash of oil, which come in at less calories than someone's deli sandwich. I really don't think that people make the connection that you can be "full" without consuming an enormous number of calories.

MsMaeFlowers

I like to say I eat less food. Then they talk about how they couldn't possibly give up XYZ, like pizza. And I'll comment "oh yeah, I couldn't either. Just had pizza last night but I only had 3 pieces and a couple breadsticks." And then walk away.

elisa123gal

I was asked for the first time yesterday. So, I was happy someone noticed,it was a woman I have not seen in months. My thought is that it is a natural question..but one that would get tiring. I told her.. i started eating healthy. Not glamorous but true. She seemed like she expected to hear more.

rianneonamission

It’s odd isn’t it, hearing those cogs whirring away when you tell them it’s just eating less (through calorie counting) and moving more.

It’s taken me a year to comfortably lose just over 20lbs. It’s been slow, there have been some minor setbacks (I’m looking at you December), but I’ve been in control of those set backs.

People don’t want to work for it. They want to wake up and be slim.

They are shocked when I say I eat 1800-2300 calories a day, depending on how active I am, and that they still see me eat things like chocolate and other “bad” foods.

Why yes, life is too *kitten* short to stop enjoying the good things. I can be kind to my body whilst enjoying life. It’s not hard, it just takes some effort.

mlauster

I’ve lost 118 pounds and have about 50 more to go, but for some reason people are just noticing now, or are just asking how I’ve lost it now. And are shocked when I tell them I cut calories and log everything that goes into my mouth. They really do expect a fad diet or magical pills.

The truth is though, I liked it better when people didn’t notice. I feel like my eating habits are under a microscope when out in a social setting now. People can be so judgmental!

motivatedmartha

mlauster wrote: »

I’ve lost 118 pounds and have about 50 more to go, but for some reason people are just noticing now, or are just asking how I’ve lost it now. And are shocked when I tell them I cut calories and log everything that goes into my mouth. They really do expect a fad diet or magical pills.

The truth is though, I liked it better when people didn’t notice. I feel like my eating habits are under a microscope when out in a social setting now. People can be so judgmental!

You are the one who lost 118lbs - let them judge

. You are awsome! Mind you - if people witness you eating normally, just not excessively and see your weight loss perhaps you will give others hope of controlling their weight without gimmicks.

Davidaw86

I don't mind it when people ask me how I did it. It gives me the internal satisfaction that I'm actually doing it, I'm making myself healthier and it's paying off. The question I can't stand getting is, "Are you still losing weight?" And when I answer affirmatively I get a look as if I'm being unhealthy/vain by continuing to lose weight.

concordancia

It strikes me as something people say to formerly obese people. Just like some people think that fat people will be flattered if you say "Did you lose weight?" even if they have actually gained weight.

garystrickland357

Davidaw86 wrote: »

The question I can't stand getting is, "Are you still losing weight?" And when I answer affirmatively I get a look as if I'm being unhealthy/vain by continuing to lose weight.

Do some of those folks then tell you "You don't need to lose any more weight." It's a bit annoying when they feel they have the right to say something like that.

Davidaw86

garystrickland357 wrote: »

Do some of those folks then tell you "You don't need to lose any more weight." It's a bit annoying when they feel they have the right to say something like that.

All the time, lol. It's really annoying.

Fitnessmom82

Pastaprincess1978 wrote: »

Does anyone else often get asked how they lost weight? It continues to surprise me how curious people are about how I lost weight - it's as if they are expecting some neat and easy answer apart from eating less food!

All the time. Sometimes by the same person. They are waiting for me to spill "the real secret". I've found that the majority of people asking me how are not impressed when I tell them. Most will say it's too much work ect...some of them say "so simple, yet I never thought of it as just math". Some accuse me of lying haha!

concordancia

I am known in my neighborhood, but don't really have friends. I figure if people start asking, I will just deny the whole thing.

At the yacht club, where people actually know me, not just my face, a few people noticed the first time I passed a part of my meal to my partner or passed on the rolls. Hopefully, they won't have to ask. As long as my jeans don't fall off while teaching dance class tomorrow night.

motivatedmartha

concordancia wrote: »

I am known in my neighborhood, but don't really have friends. I figure if people start asking, I will just deny the whole thing.

At the yacht club, where people actually know me, not just my face, a few people noticed the first time I passed a part of my meal to my partner or passed on the rolls. Hopefully, they won't have to ask. As long as my jeans don't fall off while teaching dance class tomorrow night.

It's odd really. When I first lost a chunk of my excess people did comment (it took 30lbs before people noticed) but I gained a little back and no-one has commented on my subsequent loss. I do however get a comment if I am eating with people - usually to try and get me to make a similar meal choice to theirs. Last week I passed up on Burger and fries or crispy belly pork because I actually wanted and preferred to have an interesting salad from the menu. The comment was 'Oh you can't go out for a meal and not have what you want!' I was having what I wanted! You would think I had directly criticised their choices or was commenting on their weight - even though both ladies are reasonably trim.

krael65

I just tell them: math

soufauxgirl

Its not so much them asking me how i lost weight its more what their physical reaction was to it.

For example I have four work colleagues who started losing weight once i had lost quite a bit. One did restrictive eating, lost a lot but has since left so not sure if she maintained or not. Another went on a crash diet lost 10kg then put it all back on and then some rather quickly. The other two got WLS one has regained and the other had the op just recently.

Not one of them asked how i did it and sucessfully maintained too. If only they knew how simple calorie counting and daily walking has helped me, but each to their own.

Pastaprincess1978

I just got an email from someone at work asking HOW I lost weight! I basically just said eat less and know what you're eating in terms of calories....sigh!

fmps5

Math is my answer as well... they usually stop because no one likes talking about math, lol

bikecheryl

garystrickland357 wrote: »

Davidaw86 wrote: »

The question I can't stand getting is, "Are you still losing weight?" And when I answer affirmatively I get a look as if I'm being unhealthy/vain by continuing to lose weight.

Do some of those folks then tell you "You don't need to lose any more weight." It's a bit annoying when they feel they have the right to say something like that.

I don't find it annoying because most people can't properly gauge a person's weight. They just remember the visual of me heavier and what they see now.

Yes.... I've lost 111 lbs..... but I was 288 lbs !!! That means I'm still 177 lbs.... and I'm 5'4".

If they had never seen me and we had the conversation about weight and I said I wanted to lose 20 lbs I bet no one would blink.

lol.... it's all about perspective I think.

Cora0477

My husband just got back from a few weeks of travel. After he lightheartedly complained that my butt was smaller and he missed the little love handles he used to grab he asked, “No, seriously, what’s your secret?”

Ghostofachance

I like the "it's math" answer - I'm probably going to start using it since it's more succinct than what I usually tell people. When someone asks, I tell them the following information

1) I measure everything I eat/drink
2) I have an understanding of how many calories I can eat each day and lose weight
3) I make choices that allow me to eat well without going over my calorie range
4) I don't deny myself foods I like, I just find a way to make them fit into my meal plan
5) I participate in some form of exercise daily (even on "rest" days)
6) I try to get an adequate amount of sleep

Everyone is different, but these guidelines work well for me. Most of the people who ask are genuinely interested in knowing my plan, rather than simply trying to find a quick fix. I'm not at my goal yet, but even at my lowest weight in the past, I never had anyone tell me I was too thin or needed to stop.

work_on_it

Pastaprincess1978 wrote: »

Does anyone else often get asked how they lost weight? It continues to surprise me how curious people are about how I lost weight - it's as if they are expecting some neat and easy answer apart from eating less food!

Someone came up to one day and put a very empathetic hand on my shoulder and asked how the office could help... help what i asked?

Aren't you sick... everyone can see it... that's how you lost so much weight.

steveko89

I did have a former teacher ask if I was sick when I got really lean at the end of freshman year of college. Access to the campus gym + walking to classes + stretching my dining hall dollars to the end of the semester did have me down to pretty visible abs when I'd been 25+lbs overweight through most of high school.

My favorite incredulous reaction, though not necessarily related to weight loss, is still from my mother. I was still living at home at the time and picked up some dumbbells and protein powder(I think it was MuscleMilk) to do P90X and she freaked out thinking I was trying steroids. Good times.

JennG122

I get told that I need to stop losing weight from people at work. My goal is to lose another 30 pounds, this would be considered a "healthy weight" for my height. I try not to pay attention to them because they clearly have no idea what they're talking about.

euronorris

Just as annoying, is when you have a treat and you get "I thought you were on a diet?!". Yes mate, I am, but if the calories fit and I want a damn cupcake (made and brought in by a colleague on rare occasions) occasionally, I'll have one. One cupcake won't make me fat, just as one salad won't make me skinny. Mind your own food choices, and stop trying to police mine, thank you very much!

quzy07

I get asked all the time! And yes, I did have a supporting system. But even with the support of nutritional cleansing (which I would never go without even after losing 100 pounds), it takes discipline, exercise and yes, calorie/macro counting with MyFitnessPal! I coach others in the weight-wellness industry and always recommend MFP! We can't expect results without actually paying attention to what we are doing! Even with the best support!

quzy07

garystrickland357 wrote: »

Davidaw86 wrote: »

The question I can't stand getting is, "Are you still losing weight?" And when I answer affirmatively I get a look as if I'm being unhealthy/vain by continuing to lose weight.

Do some of those folks then tell you "You don't need to lose any more weight." It's a bit annoying when they feel they have the right to say something like that.

You know, not only is it annoying. Don't you think it is disrespectful? When I was 245 pounds nobody would dare say to me, "don't you think you should lose some weight?" Now I am 145 pounds I get told "don't you think you shouldn't lose more weight?" How is that any different?

quzy07

JennG122 wrote: »

I get told that I need to stop losing weight from people at work. My goal is to lose another 30 pounds, this would be considered a "healthy weight" for my height. I try not to pay attention to them because they clearly have no idea what they're talking about.

And Jenn, it's about your own journey to health so who are they to judge or critique that!? I think there is something a little warped with that thinking: we can politely refuse to comment on a large lady's physique, but have no filter when it comes to little ladies!