To wonder why people don't believe me about my weight loss?

[Filimou]

I have always been a bit of a chunky monkey but then, pregnancy and comfort eating with pnd tipped me over the edge. I was fat. I still am just not as fat.
I weighed myself last year and almost fainted. I knew I wasnt happy with my size/the way I looked but that was the kick in the ass I needed.
DS was beginning to eat 'proper' food and I wanted to be a good example for him.
It didnt happen overnight, but I changed the way I looked at food iyswim. I realised I dont need biscuits to make me feel better and I dont need fizzy drinks with my dinner (two of many crap examples). I have found I have more energy and so I cycle and do a couch to 5k.
Anyway, fast forward to now...I have lost 4 and a half stone (2 and a half to go...) and everyone wants to know how I did it. Silly thing is (and I know Im being silly), when I explain, no-one seems to believe me. Everyone thinks it must be ww or slimming world or juice plus or something.
If I do get them to believe me they seem disappointed. AIBU to just wish that ONE PERSON could see this was a big thing and say congrats or well done, rather than just seem disappointed.

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It was life changing for me to read.

Addictedtosugar, yes in some ways I would agree with that. I don't eat sugar anymore, I am eating less sugar. Likewise junk food.

But I just know tons of people on low carb diets some of whom eat as much as 2000-3000 calories a day and are losing weight. Personally following that woe I am eating 3-400 calories a day more than I Was on a low fat diet, which I followed for many years but I am losing more weight doing this. If it was as simple as eat less, the fact that I am eating more calories now means I should be losing less weight. But it's the opposite. Which is why I like to challenge the idea that eating less = weight loss. Actually it's eating less sugar/shit fats = weight loss.

Well done you fir doing it the sensible and only sustainable way! Eat less, move more.

I weighted myself a few months ago after having DD now 11 months. I was half a pound off 15 stones!! Anyway I've lost nearly 2 stones! Would like to lose another 3 or 4 even (would love to be size 10-12 again) just tell them you wanted to set a good example to your little one

Well done OP! I'm male, and this time last year I was within a spit of 20 stone.

16.13 this morning. I don't eat till I've been hungry for 2 hours and I cycle to work. If I have to drive, I park as far from reception as possible. Kebab is a once a month treat. Low carb is out because I have to move up to 4 tonnes by hand every day.

One teensy problemette: the new trousers have started to fall off.

Well done OP! I lost weight in a similar fashion. Just ate smaller amounts of reasonably healthy food and exercised more.
No need to join a slimming club, read any books, follow any specific diets or pay any 'specialists' to help me. I had no health problems or emotional 'demons' and therefore it was just a matter of taking responsibility for my own well being, rather than looking for excuses.
I wouldn't worry about other people's reactions. You know what you did, and it's up to everyone to find their own way.

Last August I cut sugar right down. I don't know what I weighed but for a naturally pear shaped person I was carrying far to much weight on my torso. My belly started swelling at my breast bone and I had rugby player shoulders.

The weight steadily fell off me and I dropped a dress size in 3 months (big 16 to 14). Anecdote is not evidence, I know, but not eating sugar did seem to reset my ability to recognise when I was full and the craving for sweet things soon went. I do think that sugar messes with your body's 'fullness' regulator and lets you go on eating when you don't need to.

As well as not eating sugary foods, giving up refined sugar also means you cannot have processed food. It calls for more cooking from scratch and heavy use of the freezer to ensure your own ready meals are, well, ready.

And , here's the clincher, I did intend to do more exercise (and will) but illness and back problems ruled that out so the weight I lost, and am still losing, was entirely down to cutting down sugar and the knock on effect that had on my diet in general. I eat loads more vegetables and, apart from skimmed milk, full fat everything.

Digrace I hear you. It is a nice problem to have in a way but I too have many 'regretted' clothes that are now too big for me. The charity shop will benefit.

I know I what you mean. It's as if people want you to give them some mirace answer to their weight issues that's going to solve all their problems and still allow them to eat whatever they want.

I was asked how I stay slim last week, and there's really nothing I could say except that I don't eat too much crap, and if I know I've put on a few pounds, which happens regularly, then I make sure I eat healthily for a few weeks until it's gone. The person who asked did seem very disappointed with this answer, especially when I also answered that I do very little excercise. It just made me feel awkward, and as if I was criticising her for the fact that she doesn't stop eating when she knows she's put on weight, but obviously I wasn't!

People are wierd.

I believe you.

Well done on your weight loss, that's a massive achievement!

Congratulations! You ought to be proud.

I have lost a very significant amount of weight the same way as you (more than 10 stone, it took about 3 years).

I've also kept it off - the biggest difference between the easy weight loss and the old fashioned way. No one wants to know the way to make it work long term is to change your life.

You ought to be very proud. Keep up the good work, and remember, you are worth the effort.

Well done, OP!

I lost 4 1/2 stone by going to the gym 5 times a week and sticking to a fairly strict diet - people don't want to hear that hard work as in exercise and watching what you eat is the only way for most of us
Sadly I have regained a stone mainly because I changed jobs to a more sedentary role and the longer hours and work stresses mean I struggle to make it to the gym more than 2-3 times a week
Very distressed that I had to buy new shorts eat for my imminent holiday as my 'thinner' wardrobe doesn't fit at moment
However as soon as I return I need to work really hard to get back to where I was, lose a bit more too - then the real challenge will be keeping it off!
Congratulations on your weight loss - ignore others - you did it for you and will feel so much better for it

too many people won't believe 'eat less move more' which is why so many are fat and why the peddlers of diets make so much money. Tell people that dieting is a waste of time and it is like telling them there is no Santa. They just will not listen.

well done on improving health!

just tell people you are too intelligent to diet.

I dont like "eat less, move more" when said in a patronising way as if it is really easy to do just because it is a simple concept. Running a marathon is as easy as "run at a moderate pace for 26 miles" but no one would think that makes it easy or that there is no advantage in talking to an experienced runner and getting training advice.

OP I rudely forgot to say well done! Feels great, doesn't it? That's your main reward.

Congrats OP I'm in the same boat lost 4.5 stone in the same way and get the same responses. I also get 'watched' a lot people watching what I'm eating and when!

Well done, OP. just tell people that you cut out all the crap and did exercise. They will go blank as 'they couldn't possibly do that' !!

thats really interesting lowcarb
As one who has never really counted calories, I couldn't actually tell you how many I eat on a typical day. But the things I'd cut would he high sugar and crisps etc with non natural fats, so I suspect it probably does the same thing.

Well done!
People don't like to hear that effort, sustained effort, I'd required.
I just told people "I kill myself at the gym" when they commented on my athletic shape.

is required

I think people like to think there is a silver bullet.

The sugar thing is interesting. I don't have sweet tooth, really, but yesterday was my child's birthday and I over catered. I ate loads and loads of sweets. A huge amount of calories, I should think. I felt yuk, but certainly not full. I then went on to eat a normal dinner.

Congratulations!!! Your way means that this weight is likely to stay off. Enjoy your new found energy and I bet you look fab!

Thanks for writing this today OP, my DH put new new batteries in our bathroom scales earlier and I hopped on. I have gained 2 stone and 8 pounds in the last year, gutted and going to start my new healthy living plan including exercise right now.

Well done and I believe you!

I think the disbelievers are all people who want it not to be true. And they fall into 2 camps:

1. don't want it to be simple so they have an excuse not to do it. They want to be able to say "I'd be able to lose the weight just weight just like Fili, but I can't afford the personal trainer/classes." or "I would love to be able to lose the weight, but I can't get childcare to go to the gym/weightwatchers classes" or "my knees are knackered and I can't do XYZ exercises" etc.

By making it simple, you are taking away their excuses not to do it.

group 2) know this is what you do to lose weight and just don't want to do it. They don't want to hear you should change your diet and give up eating crap because they like eating crap. So they'll ignore you, and only listen to the "magic beans!" sellers, and believe you can just follow so programme for a few weeks or take some supliment, get thin and then go back to eating crap with a new slim figure that will stay that way.

no one who is larger wants to hear that being fat or thin is their choice until they are ready to make the "thin" choice.

too many people won't believe 'eat less move more' which is why so many are fat and why the peddlers of diets make so much money. Tell people that dieting is a waste of time and it is like telling them there is no Santa. They just will not listen.

This ^^

Plus as others have said, they were probably disappointed that you didn't lose your weight due to some sort of 'quick fix' solution that you could share with them.

Congratulations OP and keep it up

Congratulations OP and other posters who have changed their lifestyle this way for long term health benefit. I get irritated by people who ask me how I could possibly be so slim at my age (I'm not that slim). If I say I don't diet they look at me in complete disbelief.

Wow!! Just logged back on, had no idea this thread would still be going.
Thankyou for all the congrats and well done to everyone thats also done it.
I can honestly say Ive not felt this good in years!