"Do you want a donut"?

Anyone else on here getting damn well fed up with people in your circle trying to sabotage you while you're trying to lose weight? I'm 45, and my mother is 66. We live together, and she knows I plan and track my food. The other day we went to the store for plants, but she went off to get a candy bar. On the way out of he store she asks "do you want half of this donut"? I said "No". On the way home, she started telling me about what she was eating this week. I told her that I had planned out my meals, and at what time I was going to eat them every day. She then says "Don't forget I have a jar of peanut butter in the cabinet". So, I say " I just said I have my meals planned out", and she tells me "I know, I just don't care", and then laughs. Today, I passed her in the hallway eating a pack of Hostess donettes, and she says " Do you want a donut"? I said "No, I don't want a donut!" She just continues on into her room laughing at me. I could have popped her in the mouth! Damn sabateur
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Replies

  • cardiacmommy
    cardiacmommy Posts: 52 Member
    I would change my phrasing to "I don't eat donuts" and take out the word want. Try offering her healthy foods like an apple
  • ryenday
    ryenday Posts: 1,540 Member
    I have been so grateful that I never liked donuts. Fried sweets/breads/pastries stuff things never tasted good to me. Since they are so often the shared ‘bring food to the office’ choice, I count myself lucky.

    People who keep offering me some potato chips, on the other hand, would probably really bother me. Lol. That just doesn’t happen tho.
  • vallary14
    vallary14 Posts: 215 Member
    No, imo they aren’t worth the calories. I had a manager that would bring donuts into work for the team because I guess he wanted to reward us. I would say every time I don’t want a donut, I want guacamole!
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    I don't really think that's sabotage. Would it be possible for you to have separate households? I truly think that would help everything the most. In some cultures I realize it's the norm, but generally speaking...adult women trying to share the same nest can be psychological chaos for all parties involved.
  • chandraminick
    chandraminick Posts: 452 Member
    It is sabotage when you tell someone that you already have your food planned out as well as the times that you plant to eat. Then they suggest some irrelevant food, and you say "I just said that I already have my meals planned out", and they say " I heard you, I just didn't care", and you say "well, I don't care about your peanut butter", and they just laugh and keep trying to give you junk.
  • Sesquy
    Sesquy Posts: 58 Member
    Household members ordered pizza and offered me some fully knowing my limitations for keto. I was a bit unhappy, especially because I really miss pizza.

    But I declined and stuck to my pre-planned dinner. Progress is not worth slipping up to me.
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    Popping candy amuses me more than it should. It just makes me happy. Yesterday my sister surprised me with pop rocks ice cream. She didn't even ask, she just handed it to me. I felt loved. She cared about me enough to notice such a small detail as how I react to certain foods and to think of me when she saw something with popping candy. I had the calories for it so I ate it, but if I didn't, I would have thanked her and put it in the freezer.

    A couple of days ago my mom was eating chocolate wafers and asked me if I wanted some. I said no, I don't have the calories for that today. She said: I discovered this new brand and it's amazing with milk. I felt loved. She cared about me enough to want me to experience a pleasant feeling she was experiencing.

    About 2 weeks ago, I explicitly made it clear to my family that I was having a low calorie day and would not be joining them for lunch. They called me to the table for lunch asking if I was sure I didn't want to eat lunch that day. I thanked them and said, no, I'm still sticking to my plan today. I felt loved because they didn't like the thought of me being uncomfortable.

    You can butt heads and be over dramatic and defensive over the smallest things people do, but when you stop over-analyzing both parties are happier for it.

    P.S: I would have laughed too if someone had such an extreme reaction to a normal common courtesy question.

    AM I think what you are describing above are examples of normal and healthy expression of love when you give something to a loved one you'll know they'll enjoy as a treat.

    I love to buy my daughter an ice cream for the smile it'll put on her face or feed my dog a frankfurter to watch look of pure devotion. However, I also know that when I offer my brother a bacon sandwich, which he adored before his girlfriend made him become a vegan, I'm doing it for pure devilment and to wind him up. The same way we both have been since we were pouring sand down the back of each others shorts in the sandbox as toddlers.

    OP It sounds to me that although you still live with your Mother you have a somewhat difficult relationship with her. (I do too as it happen, mine not yours, but as we live in different countries it's easier LOL). Reading between the lines it feels like you are short handing a whole series of things into this example.

    I would suggest you just ignore her just be firm and polite. She's trying to get a reaction from you so don't rise to it. Some people can get oddly jealous when you've made positive changes to your life and they haven't.

    Good Luck.

    I can see how that is different. I have zero reading comprehension after I wake up. I read OP as separate instances, not as a single conversation.
  • Stockholm_Andy
    Stockholm_Andy Posts: 803 Member
    Popping candy amuses me more than it should. It just makes me happy. Yesterday my sister surprised me with pop rocks ice cream. She didn't even ask, she just handed it to me. I felt loved. She cared about me enough to notice such a small detail as how I react to certain foods and to think of me when she saw something with popping candy. I had the calories for it so I ate it, but if I didn't, I would have thanked her and put it in the freezer.

    A couple of days ago my mom was eating chocolate wafers and asked me if I wanted some. I said no, I don't have the calories for that today. She said: I discovered this new brand and it's amazing with milk. I felt loved. She cared about me enough to want me to experience a pleasant feeling she was experiencing.

    About 2 weeks ago, I explicitly made it clear to my family that I was having a low calorie day and would not be joining them for lunch. They called me to the table for lunch asking if I was sure I didn't want to eat lunch that day. I thanked them and said, no, I'm still sticking to my plan today. I felt loved because they didn't like the thought of me being uncomfortable.

    You can butt heads and be over dramatic and defensive over the smallest things people do, but when you stop over-analyzing both parties are happier for it.

    P.S: I would have laughed too if someone had such an extreme reaction to a normal common courtesy question.

    AM I think what you are describing above are examples of normal and healthy expression of love when you give something to a loved one you'll know they'll enjoy as a treat.

    I love to buy my daughter an ice cream for the smile it'll put on her face or feed my dog a frankfurter to watch look of pure devotion. However, I also know that when I offer my brother a bacon sandwich, which he adored before his girlfriend made him become a vegan, I'm doing it for pure devilment and to wind him up. The same way we both have been since we were pouring sand down the back of each others shorts in the sandbox as toddlers.

    OP It sounds to me that although you still live with your Mother you have a somewhat difficult relationship with her. (I do too as it happen, mine not yours, but as we live in different countries it's easier LOL). Reading between the lines it feels like you are short handing a whole series of things into this example.

    I would suggest you just ignore her just be firm and polite. She's trying to get a reaction from you so don't rise to it. Some people can get oddly jealous when you've made positive changes to your life and they haven't.

    Good Luck.

    I can see how that is different. I have zero reading comprehension after I wake up. I read OP as separate instances, not as a single conversation.

    To be fair it could just as easily be me reading it wrongly. Or perhaps you are more likely to see the good in people and I'm a mean old cynic LOL
  • Fursian
    Fursian Posts: 548 Member
    Hi chandraminick

    I'm not sure what kind of relationship you have with your mother, but I suspect that this isn't and isolated case, and that there is many others. If so, I can understand your reactions.

    Stick to your plans. You already have the "No" part down, that is really all you can do, that and not discussing your dietary lifestyle with her anymore.

    Wishing you all the best!
  • Deviette
    Deviette Posts: 978 Member
    I get the feeling that there's many more incidences that this is an example of the situation.

    Sometimes it feels that the world wants you to fail. 90% of the time it's the way we see it, 10% of the time it's other people. For example: She may have thought she was being helpful with the peanut better, some people use it in healthy snacks. She may have been letting you know there was some there. Alternatively, she may have been trying to say "don't eat my peanut butter". Offering half a doughnut could have been more the fact that she didn't want to eat it all, rather than trying to make you eat more. Sometimes it's not the way we see things.

    I would also remind you that it may seems obvious to us that we're tracking and planning our foods, but unless you keep reminding others, they really don't know, or they just don't care. At the end of the day, other people are not as excited as you are about your weightloss than you are. And although some people are amused by diets in general, that's a state on themselves, and not on you.

    You're doing well on the Nos, but may I suggest some different way of saying no: "Thanks, but I'm not hungry", "No thanks, I don't want to ruin my appetite for dinner", "I don't really feel like 'X' right now". I know they don't sound much different, but if you make it less about your diet, and more about how you feel, I find that other people respect that a lot more.
  • MaggieGirl135
    MaggieGirl135 Posts: 1,026 Member
    OP, It sounds like you have a difficult relationship with your mom and have for sometime. I agree with the others that you are able to say no and maintain that boundary well. It seems like you are really struggling with this. You may wish to work with a therapist to come to acceptance (not approval) with the relationship that you have with your mother. Working to change your thoughts on your relationship with your mother may reduce your distress. Just a thought.
  • my5favmendbsk
    my5favmendbsk Posts: 3 Member
    The fact that's she's laughing right afterwards tells you she's doing it on purpose, she just wants to see your reaction. I think the suggestion of taking it and throwing it away is a good idea....then maybe she won't offer it again if she knows it's going to waste. Before my weight loss, my mom's favorite saying is "oh its not going to kill you to have a ____". and I tell her, having all of that is what got me to the weight I was. I've lost about 50lbs and she has now respected my decisions and doesn't try to give me things she knows I can't eat.
  • tulips_and_tea
    tulips_and_tea Posts: 5,741 Member
    It is sabotage when you tell someone that you already have your food planned out as well as the times that you plant to eat. Then they suggest some irrelevant food, and you say "I just said that I already have my meals planned out", and they say " I heard you, I just didn't care", and you say "well, I don't care about your peanut butter", and they just laugh and keep trying to give you junk.

    I agree with others who have said this seems to be a difficult relationship already, but as for the bold above, that's just plain rude. That's the part that bothers me. Clearly, this is a personal relationship and we don't know what else goes on, but OP, just disengage emotionally. Giving a reaction reinforces the rude behavior so just ignore and don't let it take up space in your head.
  • OhMsDiva
    OhMsDiva Posts: 1,073 Member
    The funny thing is my family is the exact opposite. They will ask me if I can eat a certain type of food or what kind of food can I have. I think it is funny, because they know I do not have diet restrictions, but I know it is out of love.
  • iowalinda
    iowalinda Posts: 357 Member
    Yes, I would read your mother's behavior as trying to sabotage your efforts. It is sad that some people, for whatever reason, do not want to see others succeed. Keep saying "no". If she keeps pushing, do as another poster said and take the offered item and throw it in the trash right in front of her. Maybe she will get tired of seeing the money she spent on the junk being thrown away. Wishing you all the best.
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    edited May 2018
    Even with the context above, I'm more inclined to think that it may not be malicious. Many people don't like change. If you and your mom used to eat a certain way, and now things are different, it may be making her uncomfortable and she's trying to regain the familiar. Some people keep that discomfort to themselves (like I would if my family changed their diet to something I don't enjoy) but others just don't have the right filters for that.

    Adding fuel to the fire by creating conflict may not be the best approach - that's why I completely disagree with actions like throwing the doughnut in the trash. It would extend the time it takes for her to get used to your current food choices and make your relationship even worse. I would just continue saying no calmly without making a big deal out of it until this adjustment period passes.

    I don't know your mom or the kind of relationship you have, so there may be more to it, but I know from experience that reminding myself that other people have an inner world too has helped me defuse several situations that could have resulted in unneeded tension that would have made me and them uncomfortable. This is especially true since you share a living space. You can't control her actions, but you can control yours.
  • Klmom123
    Klmom123 Posts: 91 Member
    I understand what you’re saying. People have to get that a mother daughter relationship is complicated. So while this may seem harmless it cuts deep because she should support you. Unfortunately that’s not always the case. Just keep your chin up. Respond with no thanks, I don’t eat donuts anymore. Or no thanks I’m full. Even if it’s through gritted teeth. Don’t let on that it gets to you!