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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to absolutely detest faddy diets & quick fixes?

171 replies

PetPeeveBonanza · 16/03/2010 12:17

I am sure I am going to get flamed for this, but I can hide safely behind my namechange

It is my absolute biggest pet peeve, people who go on faddy diets that are bad for their health, and another is people who say they 'cant' give up chocolate/cake/takeaways.

As somebody with a variety of severe allergies/food intolerances, and health problems resulting from this - it bugs me no end when people put their health at risk volunatarily doing diets like atkins and the cambridge diet.

It goes against all medical advice, and is just a stupid lazy thing to do. Voluntarily putting yourself into ketosis? Do you people have no respect for your bodies? I reached ketosis through illness and was hospitalised and had to be put on a drip as it got so bad. It makes me sick that people are glad when they reach this, as if they are achieving something.

Maybe it is a quick fix, but it won't work in the long run, and you are putting your health at risk...for what? You need carbs, just be sensible. How hard is it just to eat a sensible balanced diet? Toast for breakfast is not going to stop you losing weight, nor is a jacket potato with a healthy filling...if you are serious about losing weight do it the right way and don't deprive your body of anything it needs! Yes, it may take longer, but at least you won't look washed out, thinning hair and low on energy.

There is so much choice out there for a healthy balanced diet, that you will be able to stick to! And I wish every day that I had that much choice of food to eat. And if you really really want to lose weight and be healthy, it is possible, just stop eating crap! Remember that food is meant to be there for nutrition, to keep your body working in the right way. Take care of your body, don't abuse it!

OP posts:
gingernutlover · 16/03/2010 19:03

obscene ... sickening ... disgusting

cheers, well all I know is that I am now a much happier, healthier person.

I can now maintain a healthy wieght having spent years battling with my depression and overeating (I didnt choose to be that way btw, just as your did not choose your allergies - both are a type of illness)

you came on here to ask is you were being unreasonable. I would go as far as that but I would say you are being a little shortsighted and unsympathetic considering your own problems with wieght (albeit the other way)

gingernutlover · 16/03/2010 19:04

wouldn't go as far as that ... ooops

Kaloki · 16/03/2010 19:05

Also I understand the frustration with people cutting out carbs, as my family have a history of Coeliacs, and I've got a 50/50 chance of developing it. So live in fear of the dietary restrictions. So I know that partly adds to my hatred of fad diets, although my main problem is that they are marketed at the expense of people's health and add to self esteem issues - plus they fuel eating disorders. (Control becomes addictive, as does the sensation of feeling hungry)

But I overeat. And I do so for many reasons, partly the threat of Coeliacs.

And then I feel bad and I starve. It's awful and I know it's unhealthy. It isn't as easy as just knowing what is good for you.

Kaloki · 16/03/2010 19:07

petpeeve - if you want to talk more privately I'm happy to explain why it is difficult, obviously I'm not too keen on bearing my deepest (and most fucked up) emotions on a public forum.

PetPeeveBonanza · 16/03/2010 19:08

Well you can say it's harsh, that's fine but I'm afraid it's my opinion...it's easy to be a little overweight, and there is nothing necessarily wrong with that if the person in question is happy. But to be obese, I'm sorry I just don't understand how you get to be that size and then moan about how hard it is for you. Overeating is not an illness, it's a choice. And when you think that people are dying from not eating enough, people putting their health at risk from eating too much does disgust me I'm afraid. And it is not the same as my condition, i have no choice over what I can eat...literally not a choice as it would hospitalise me and cause me long term damage. You have the choice not to be obese, just put the fork down!

OP posts:
JeremyVile · 16/03/2010 19:11

If you dont understand that for some people their weight/food problems stem from emotional issues then you'll be forever banging your head against a brick wall saying "but its simple, all you need to do is XY&Z..."

There are many self-destructive habits and behaviours which have very clear solutions. But that doesn't make it easy for the person who has come to depend on those habits.

Its not lack of knowledge that is the problem for lots of people but that they are entrenched in damaging patterns.

And I think of you've never been there or cannot imagine what it is like to be dependant on food in this way then its a bit weird to think you have the answers.

I have never been much of a drinker and cant realte to the issues around alcoholism but I realise that if I were to spout off about alcoholics needing to Just Stop Drinking (which of course would solve the problem)I'd look a bit of a pompous prick.

Kaloki · 16/03/2010 19:11

"Overeating is not an illness, it's a choice."

Yes and no. Would you say the same to a self harmer?

PetPeeveBonanza · 16/03/2010 19:12

Kaloki I do understand it is difficult, honestly I do, but my problem is with people saying how difficult it is, and letting it escalate until they are a weight which is a threat to their lives, and then taking a very unhealthy approach to 'fixing' it, it just screams laziness and self pity to me. I would commend anybody who realised they had a problem, and took the healthy approach to fixing it.

OP posts:
JeremyVile · 16/03/2010 19:12

Oh I couldn't have chosen a better post to follow!

Kaloki · 16/03/2010 19:13

"I would commend anybody who realised they had a problem, and took the healthy approach to fixing it."

Me too, but it's a slippery slope, and very difficult to get out of it.

Tortington · 16/03/2010 19:16

"just put the fork down! "

if i was of a mind to, iw ould love to start a thread
OI FAT PEOPLE, JUST PUT THE FORK DOWN YOU GREEDY TWATS.

astounding, absolutley astounding. i;m afraid your viewpoint disgusts me. the ignorance embedded in your views is outstanding.
shame on you.

PetPeeveBonanza · 16/03/2010 19:18

I think that self harming is something different but I do see what you mean, however I feel that it takes a long time to become so overweight to the point of being 'addicted' to food, and I believe there would be several periods where the person would feel strong enough to tackle it. However, if people are obese that is not the problem, it is the choice they make to fix it.

OP posts:
PetPeeveBonanza · 16/03/2010 19:20

Well of course it astounds you Custardo. Just as your view astounds me.

Yes that comment may be a little harsh, but I stand by everything else I say.

OP posts:
piscesmoon · 16/03/2010 19:20

There is no point in the quick fix. You have to change your eating habits, cut down on fat, but you just need a balanced diet, smaller portions and more exercise.

Kaloki · 16/03/2010 19:20

Seriously petpeeve if you want to chat about this properly, I'm kaloki[at]live.com on MSN messenger

JeremyVile · 16/03/2010 19:20

But you just dismissed someone who did tackle their weight problem because it was not done in the way you deemed correct.

Tortington · 16/03/2010 19:21

you said in your 19.08 post that over eating disgusts you, and now you say that being obese isn't the problem - but its the solution they implement?

make you mind up

Kaloki · 16/03/2010 19:21

"and I believe there would be several periods where the person would feel strong enough to tackle it. "

I believed that too. Didn't work out that way though

Tortington · 16/03/2010 19:22

What is my view petpeeved? why it is astounding?

JeremyVile · 16/03/2010 19:22

So you're pissed off with peole getting fat and you're pissed off with them for not losing weight and you're pissed off if they lose weight in a certain way...?

You're pretty vexed by all this, aren't you?

Tortington · 16/03/2010 19:24
Smile
inzidoodle · 16/03/2010 19:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PetPeeveBonanza · 16/03/2010 19:26

Over eating does disgust me in the long term, but that is not the point of this thread. My present issue is with short cuts and quiz fixes.

OP posts:
Oblomov · 16/03/2010 19:27

Agree with Jeremy Vile. I was all with Op. But having seen last comment, I agree with pompous prick.
You have no idea what makes someone obese. My dh eats alot less than me. but fundamentally the same diet. and get his is big. i have no hang ups about food. as far as i know.
I have given great thought as to whether dh does. but i really don't think he does.
but we are clearly doing something wrong for him to be big and for me to eat the same as him. plus more fruit, grapes, brie and crackers, chocolate biscuits etc etc - whatever i want, i eat. and still not gain weight.
so we have been watching portion sizes more and cutting back on stuff for the last year. and exercising more. and he is losing weight, slowly, healthily.

but i have to say it is still a mystery to me.
and its stupid ignorant people like Op who don't help.
not every fat person eats 15 sausage rolls and 5 doughnuts before 10am, you know !!

Kaloki · 16/03/2010 19:28

"I think that self harming is something different but I do see what you mean"

For me it's one and the same. Absolutely.