Use the word "calories" and everybody loses their minds
Replies
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I just remembered something!
I remember having the TV on in the background very early one morning and one of those entertainment news type shows was on and they were talking to celebrities about how they manage their weight. Kate Hudson said she used MFP.
We could all just say we're using some Hollywood diet tip we picked up!
ETA: I remember Kate saying she maintains on 1800 calories and logs and knows as long as she sticks to that, she's good.19 -
I generally try my hardest not to even mention it to people, but if I'm asked, I won't lie. But when I talk about how I'm just trying to watch the amount of calories I take in, people get a glazed look. It's funny. People keep offering me food and I just say "I've got to fit into this dress for x event," and generally they will leave me alone once they think it's just for vanity. If it's for my health, everyone gets uber concerned and want to make sure I'm not going to extremes.6
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Counting calories hits people where it hurts. There is no free lunch so to speak. People want a diet that allows no limitations on something and are willing to cut out a lot of things for autobahn eating. As long as you can eat as much as you want of something, then it’s doable. I think that is why dieting tends to be so frustrating. Portion sizes don’t change as much as the types of foods on the plate and to lose/keep weight off, portions and calories matter. If you never make that adjustment, you don’t learn moderation. And in the end, lack of moderation is what we need to fix.10
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I often forget how far I've come in the 3 years maintaining weight since I lost 80lb.
At home and at work people have slowly got used to me not eating every single thing I'm offered due to sometimes not having enough calories left in my daily/weekly limit.
I sometimes forget how so many people freak out when you mention the word "calories" as if they think you mean starvation and debilitating OCD and spending 5 hours a day scribbling figures in a bookkeeping ledger.
Have you encountered that reaction too?
Yep.
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I have had this conversation exactly fifty billion times:
me: I lost 100 pounds.
them: Wow, really? But you're so small!
me: Yes, I was very obese for my height.
them: That's amazing! How did you do it?
me: I tracked all of my food and stayed within my calorie goal.
them: You didn't go low carb?
me: No. You don't have to worry about carbs. Weight loss is about making sure you eat fewer calories than you burn.
them: But you're a runner. That had something to do with it.
me: Not really. Running just means I get to eat back my exercise calories.
them: It's because you're vegetarian.
me: I was an obese vegetarian for about ten years. That didn't have anything to do with it.
them: But you bake cookies all the time! And you have chocolate in your office!
me: Yes, I fit sweets into my plan for the day, and I give away most of the things I bake.
them: ...so how many carbs do you eat?24 -
"Calorie counting is super unhealthy, you have to lose weight by doing 'X'" - with X being some new fad diet that is actually unhealthy.
Somebody in real life told me "you have to shock your body" to lose weight. I said "well I tried dressing like a clown and jumping out at the mirror, but it didn't work." That was the end of that conversation.38 -
Nope. Of course, I don't bring it up until I'm asked (e.g., "Wow, you look great! Do you mind my asking how you lost the weight?"), and even then I would keep the response short and general (e.g., "I just kept track of my calories to be sure I wasn't eating too much and started walking a little more"), not talking about weighing food and logging and using MFP unless they ask for more details.
I never once have had anybody freak out.2 -
NorthCascades wrote: »"Calorie counting is super unhealthy, you have to lose weight by doing 'X'" - with X being some new fad diet that is actually unhealthy.
Somebody in real life told me "you have to shock your body" to lose weight. I said "well I tried dressing like a clown and jumping out at the mirror, but it didn't work." That was the end of that conversation.
It's comments like this that really make me miss the awesome button! I feel like "like" isn't strong enough and "hug" is creepy.14 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »I just remembered something!
I remember having the TV on in the background very early one morning and one of those entertainment news type shows was on and they were talking to celebrities about how they manage their weight. Kate Hudson said she used MFP.
We could all just say we're using some Hollywood diet tip we picked up!
ETA: I remember Kate saying she maintains on 1800 calories and logs and knows as long as she sticks to that, she's good.
Yes! Now the WW group at my office won't look at me like I'm crazy for saying I just watch my calories, and try to walk more.4 -
Calories are apparently the devil, but people have no issue saying, "OMG, do you know how much fat (or carbs or sugar or sodium or whatever else they think is the key to success) is in what you're eating!?!?"3
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Lol actually no. Most people I ever discuss weight loss or weight management with is aware of calories, not that they all count them. But for me to say something like "this donut probably has like 300 calories!" is not unusual and doesn't spark outrage. My coworker just says "why don't you go look that up and let me know" But I don't typically say things like "no I don't think I will eat that, I have already eaten too many calories today"
I just say "no thanks" 1 -
I generally just tell people that I'm eating less and exercising more. A few people know I use MFP to track everything, but only because they've expressed an interest in how I've lost weight. It's clearly working , so no-one questions it.
Right now, I can decline chocolate, cake and biscuits on offer in the office because "I've given them up for Lent". No-one bats an eyelid at that. After Easter, I'll have "got used to not eating them and don't really fancy anything sweet". Hopefully I can keep that up for quite a while.4 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »I just remembered something!
I remember having the TV on in the background very early one morning and one of those entertainment news type shows was on and they were talking to celebrities about how they manage their weight. Kate Hudson said she used MFP.
We could all just say we're using some Hollywood diet tip we picked up!
ETA: I remember Kate saying she maintains on 1800 calories and logs and knows as long as she sticks to that, she's good.
Yes! Now the WW group at my office won't look at me like I'm crazy for saying I just watch my calories, and try to walk more.
Hahaha, yep, people will change their mind and want to do it if a Hollywood star does it.
But we're all obsessive if we are doing it otherwise.2 -
I often forget how far I've come in the 3 years maintaining weight since I lost 80lb.
At home and at work people have slowly got used to me not eating every single thing I'm offered due to sometimes not having enough calories left in my daily/weekly limit.
I sometimes forget how so many people freak out when you mention the word "calories" as if they think you mean starvation and debilitating OCD and spending 5 hours a day scribbling figures in a bookkeeping ledger.
Have you encountered that reaction too?
Very much so. I confuse those "who know better" with the word "kilojoules" and if they know how to convert them into calories. That shuts them up in no time... Or I tell them that I have converted my healthier meal plan into kilojoules, because now "I can eat 4 times more and still lose weight!" Easy, isn't it?5 -
I go to a monthly meeting where we have potluck before our meeting. I usually make a dish that I can also enjoy. My best friend who knows how I've lost weight gets her feelings hurt when I don't have some of what she brought. Last time she brought a pasta dish heavy with cream sauce. I tasted it & said it was good but didn't have any. After all this time I don't know why she doesn't understand. If I had a bite of this & bite of that i'm sure i'd gain weight. My husband is always offering me bites. Other than them, I don't talk about calories to anyone (unless they ask how I lost weight) I don't want the comments
if i had a heavy dish of pasta and cream even a small bite, I feel sick and bloated afterwards. It's not even a weight issue for me, its just how horrendous I feel, even though dish is delicious, its not worth the discomfort afterwards.5 -
There is some sort of stigma around it, at least it does here. Back in the mid 90s when there was a big boom of anorexia among teens (Eastern Europe), a lot of "professionals" kept explaining how those teens get obsessed with counting calories, so they end up ill, but the fun fact is that they never really explained how many (few) calories they were counting... So, when I mention to the older generation that I'm counting calories I always get those worried looks and "be careful that's how you get anorexia"...
As for the younger generation... They want the magic pill. And counting calories requires some sort of commitment and making it a habit. But I guess this is valid for all diets... The difference is that the fad diets just give you a predefined menu for a couple of weeks and you think that this is all it takes. You lose weight during those two weeks (because they usually cut A LOT of calories, but shush don't tell them) and then regain it in two more weeks after they are off the fad diet because they haven't got the habit of eating within reason.
I do get some comments when I mention I'm counting calories, usually people starting to argue with me that I can't eat THAT because I'm on a diet, but when I tell them I've fit it in my daily allowance they look at me like "uhuh that's why you are fat because you keep on eating THAT"... Like last night I went to the cinema and had popcorn, listening to about 10-minute speech about how I shouldn't eat that because you gain weight from popcorn. 1. No. 2. I had left a lot of calories left in my day to allow myself a small cup. But the "lecturer" didn't want to listen, ended up with a "if you eat it, you'd gain weight from it"... (and btw this morning I woke up almost a pound less than yesterday).
I'm having more trouble with the people who hear some new magical method, understand maybe 50% of it and then start preaching about it. Like IF - I've had people who were saying they were doing IF and they were eating anything they wanted within X hours. And by anything I mean way over their TDEE, and then were complaining about not losing weight... Or someone on "keto" who drinks tons of alcohol because "it's keto".. Er. No. Well, yeah, you can have alcohol on Keto, but not 5-6+ drinks per night out, or always something with lunch... Or that one friend who had a "very good fitness instructor" design her a diet and workout plan. That instructor put her on about 1000 calories diet, and the workout plan he had included was easily burning 500+ calories. So yes, she lost a lot and quickly (who wouldn't if they eat only 500 calories per day for months and months), but... that's no way of living... Though when I commented about it being quite unhealthy to do such low cal intake for so long she would snap and say "what do you know? he is one of the best instructors!"...
So, yeah. People want it easy. And counting calories is not easy when you are starting - you'd need a few weeks to get used to it, to build your own database of foods, recipes and meals, but after that it takes literally 10 seconds per meal.
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My gym buddy hasn't lost much weight since we have been working out 5x a week and asked what I do with myself. I said our eating habits are different and I track every calorie that I eat. Her response was, "I shouldn't have to do that and I don't have time for it" now when she comments or ask, I simply say it's about the calories and keep it moving.7
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GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »I just remembered something!
I remember having the TV on in the background very early one morning and one of those entertainment news type shows was on and they were talking to celebrities about how they manage their weight. Kate Hudson said she used MFP.
We could all just say we're using some Hollywood diet tip we picked up!
ETA: I remember Kate saying she maintains on 1800 calories and logs and knows as long as she sticks to that, she's good.
What if some of the forum regulars are actually celebs trolling the rest of us!!!???11 -
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I guess you're right. And guess a lot of things in our everyday lives have been designed to make everything easier than it used to be, so we are getting more and more used to having easy solutions to hard problems.
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There is some sort of stigma around it, at least it does here. Back in the mid 90s when there was a big boom of anorexia among teens (Eastern Europe), a lot of "professionals" kept explaining how those teens get obsessed with counting calories, so they end up ill, but the fun fact is that they never really explained how many (few) calories they were counting... So, when I mention to the older generation that I'm counting calories I always get those worried looks and "be careful that's how you get anorexia"...
As for the younger generation... They want the magic pill. And counting calories requires some sort of commitment and making it a habit. But I guess this is valid for all diets... The difference is that the fad diets just give you a predefined menu for a couple of weeks and you think that this is all it takes. You lose weight during those two weeks (because they usually cut A LOT of calories, but shush don't tell them) and then regain it in two more weeks after they are off the fad diet because they haven't got the habit of eating within reason.
I do get some comments when I mention I'm counting calories, usually people starting to argue with me that I can't eat THAT because I'm on a diet, but when I tell them I've fit it in my daily allowance they look at me like "uhuh that's why you are fat because you keep on eating THAT"... Like last night I went to the cinema and had popcorn, listening to about 10-minute speech about how I shouldn't eat that because you gain weight from popcorn. 1. No. 2. I had left a lot of calories left in my day to allow myself a small cup. But the "lecturer" didn't want to listen, ended up with a "if you eat it, you'd gain weight from it"... (and btw this morning I woke up almost a pound less than yesterday).
I'm having more trouble with the people who hear some new magical method, understand maybe 50% of it and then start preaching about it. Like IF - I've had people who were saying they were doing IF and they were eating anything they wanted within X hours. And by anything I mean way over their TDEE, and then were complaining about not losing weight... Or someone on "keto" who drinks tons of alcohol because "it's keto".. Er. No. Well, yeah, you can have alcohol on Keto, but not 5-6+ drinks per night out, or always something with lunch... Or that one friend who had a "very good fitness instructor" design her a diet and workout plan. That instructor put her on about 1000 calories diet, and the workout plan he had included was easily burning 500+ calories. So yes, she lost a lot and quickly (who wouldn't if they eat only 500 calories per day for months and months), but... that's no way of living... Though when I commented about it being quite unhealthy to do such low cal intake for so long she would snap and say "what do you know? he is one of the best instructors!"...
So, yeah. People want it easy. And counting calories is not easy when you are starting - you'd need a few weeks to get used to it, to build your own database of foods, recipes and meals, but after that it takes literally 10 seconds per meal.
One reason people want a magic pill is that our perception of food has changed so drastically over the past hundred years that it's utility as nutrition is secondary to providing comfort, dulling emotional pain, alleviating boredom and socializing. A "magic pill" would allow you to continue to use food as a crutch, where logging your meals and objectively understanding the volume of calories and macros you are consuming forces you to look at food as fuel and to be more objective with eating habits.
As far as all of this time that logging allegedly takes -my observation is that most people put their plate in front of them, put their phone down next to the plate, and multi-task eating and playing with their phone. 2-3 minutes of that time can be utilized for entering the meal on MFP 😉7 -
I find it super interesting how so many people are quick to judge anyone who is “on a diet”. I feel it actually comes from a place of jealousy and embarassment on their part. They have to belittle you for taking care of your body because it makes them uncomfortable that they don’t take care of themselves. It’s all a big projection of how they truly feel about themselves. Keep on keeping on with what is right for yourself and your body and screw everyone else. 🏋️♀️🙌6
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I have learned many times over not to divulge too much information to people, friends, co-workers, etc. There is always that one person or group, who feels the need to poo-poo your strategy. I've had people insert their opinions in a not so helpful way. We don't need negativity when we are all trying to find a way that works best for us. The less they know, the less stressful it is for you. That is not to say you shouldn't share your journey with anyone, just be careful. I know from experience, it takes only one person to derail me and then I am right back at ground zero.3
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The best conversation killer I’ve found is mentioning that the first thing I did was stop drinking. I never get asked what the second thing was. 😂18
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The best conversation killer I’ve found is mentioning that the first thing I did was stop drinking. I never get asked what the second thing was. 😂
@Johnd2000, what was the second thing?
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I've been using MFP nearly 4 years. A few years ago a workmate got me to help her set up MFP, but she didn't even enter one item after that. But now she always checks the calorie count on the packaged foods she has, even though she doesn't log things. It takes some people a while to come to grips with.
I think I confused a few people last week in the freezer section of the supermarket. Some men were having a conversation about how expensive the [Halo top generic brand] icecream was for its size, and were saying, "Who would buy that?", and I reached and got some, and said that "I would, because it's got 5 times less calories" than a regular tub of icecream near it. They were like, "Huh, it's got less fat?"
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I don't think anyone outside of my family has ever asked how I lost weight. Those who I've met since generally will sigh and smile at my smaller or different choices and acknowledge that they ought to be doing the same.
As for my family, I have a thick skin and can take their good-natured mocking of my food scale. 3 -
nope but then again I don't say no I can't becasue I don't have enough calories....doesn't seem to be a point to that statement.
I usually just say no thanks...if asked why I tell them why...not hungry, don't feel like it, doesn't look good etc.
I say no because I don't want it not because I can't eat it and using that word "can't" indicates an issue...
You can eat anything and then work it off if you so choose or don't work it off....and give up something else later.
I2
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