Techniques That Weight Loss Saboteurs Use - does any of this sound familiar?

Salma - posted on 02/02/2009 ( 3 moms have responded )

SABOTEUR TECHNIQUE 1 : Concerns About Your Health



TYPICAL STATEMENTS THEY MAKE :

"You're wasting away"

"Are you sure you aren't losing weight too quickly"

"Is that diet really good for you?"

"You used to love your food, now you seem to have gone off it"

"It's good to have some fat on you for times when you're not very well"



HOW TO BEAT THEM :

Tell them you are eating healthily and losing weight at a safe, sensible rate. You still enjoy food, but you also enjoy feeling in control of what you eat. And as for being ill, because your diet has improved so dramatically, you're much less likely to fall ill in the first place!



SABOTEUR TECHNIQUE 2 : Foisting Food on You



TYPICAL STATEMENTS THEY MAKE :

"There's one doughnut left, go on have it"

"It's Sandra's birthday - she'll be upset if you don't have a piece of cake"

"A second helping won't hurt, surely"

"I've bought you a box of chocolates to cheer you up"



HOW TO BEAT THEM :

Explain that you're not hungry and don't want anything else to eat. If pushed into a corner, infer that you might indulge later on. Just make sure 'later' never comes! No one will ever notice.



SABOTEUR TECHNIQUE 3 : Lack of Understanding



TYPICAL STATEMENTS THEY MAKE :

"You don't need to lose weight - you look fine to me"



HOW TO BEAT THEM :

Tell them that you do, in fact, need to lose weight - not only for health reasons, but also because it will make you feel happier and more confident. Who can argue with that?



SABOTEUR TECHNIQUE 4 : Confusing Food with Love



TYPICAL STATEMENTS THEY MAKE :

"You used to come to dinner every week - you don't love me anymore"

"We always used to have lunch together - now you seem to prefer the gym to me"

"I miss the old you"



HOW TO BEAT THEM :

Explain that you still love them and enjoy spending time with them. Suggest that you replace activities that involve eating for exercise, for example, going for a swim and sauna or a walk in the park.



SABOTEUR TECHNIQUE 5 : Being negative about Diets



TYPICAL STATEMENTS THEY MAKE :

"I'm really proud of you even though you know that 95% of diets don't work"

"My friend lost weight but piled it all back on in a few weeks"



HOW TO BEAT THEM :

Nod sympathetically but simply use negative comments like these to strengthen your resolve to succeed.



SABOTEUR TECHNIQUE 6 : Making You Feel Bad about Yourself



TYPICAL STATEMENTS THEY MAKE :

"You don't seem to be as funny since you lost weight!"

"You looked better or I preferred you when you were more cuddly"



HOW TO BEAT THEM :

Tell them you're still the same person, except now you're healthier, fitter, happier and more confident. If they can't get to grips with that, it might be time to break away.



SABOTEUR TECHNIQUE 7 : Acting Insulted



TYPICAL STATEMENTS THEY MAKE :

"You don't like my carbonara anymore"

"You're too good for my chocolate cake now"



HOW TO BEAT THEM :

Explain there's nothing personal involved. You still love pasta and chocolate cake. It's just that your health is the main priority at the moment. Suggest that perhaps the next time you get together you help out by bringing along a dish.



SABOTEUR TECHNIQUE 8 : Making You Feel Left Out



TYPICAL STATEMENTS THEY MAKE :

"You can't eat Italian on your diet so there's not point in you coming to dinner with us"

"There's no point in getting you any chocolate - you're on a diet"



HOW TO BEAT THEM :

Explain there's no reason why you can't go out for dinner (after all you're confident enough to know what to choose from the menu) or eat chocolate. And if that doesn't work, ditch them. With friends like that, who needs enemies?