How do you mess with people?

[farflight]

When folks (non-family) come up to you and invariably ask "How'd you do it?" Do you give honest answers, or fire back with a little sarcasm? 

 

I prefer a mixture of both. If I'm comfortable with the people, I'll tend to make a joke, but if they seem genuinely interested, I'll tell the truth.

 

Some of my favorites:

I just organize my CD collection every Tuesday

I walk around with my mouth open

I sleep with my head at the foot of the bed

I only poo on weekends

 

 

Although, sometimes I do get perverse pleasure in seeing hope fade when I tell them that I started eating less and moving more for the past 5-6 years. I guess they all want the BS answers to be the true answers.

 

What do you all do with people that ask "How you did it?"

[Diadhuit]

When folks (non-family) come up to you and invariably ask "How'd you do it?" Do you give honest answers, or fire back with a little sarcasm? 
 
I prefer a mixture of both. If I'm comfortable with the people, I'll tend to make a joke, but if they seem genuinely interested, I'll tell the truth.
 
Some of my favorites:
I just organize my CD collection every Tuesday
I walk around with my mouth open
I sleep with my head at the foot of the bed
I only poo on weekends
 
 
Although, sometimes I do get perverse pleasure in seeing hope fade when I tell them that I started eating less and moving more for the past 5-6 years. I guess they all want the BS answers to be the true answers.
 
What do you all do with people that ask "How you did it?"

I have a simple true answer: I am happy. This is because I am a stress eater, so I fill myself up when sad, stressed etc.
That is my go-to true and BS answer
People just get very confused by that!

[calanthrophy]

"I placed a small amount of mayonnaise in my navel every morning."

[Laoch]

well, since I haven't lost a bunch of weight I just say, "  I can't stop eating. I eat because I'm unhappy, and I'm unhappy because I eat. It's a vicious cycle. Now, if you'll excuse me, there's someone I'd like to get in touch with and forgive. Myself."

 

 

.

[Diadhuit]

well, since I haven't lost a bunch of weight I just say, "  I can't stop eating. I eat because I'm unhappy, and I'm unhappy because I eat. It's a vicious cycle. Now, if you'll excuse me, there's someone I'd like to get in touch with and forgive. Myself."
 
 
.

Oh, Gosh! I definitely know the feeling! And I know how difficult is when people tell you what to do about it. Not trying to say it would work for you, but for me it was a change in an completely unrelated aspect of my life. That made me happier and I didn't eat as much, making me lose weight without noticing O_o

[Raincloak]

Trying to remember if anyone's asked me that.  I've never been fat, so no one's asked me how I lost weight, but I've been asked how I got my good looking arms.  I just truthfully say: pushups and pullups.

 

I don't think sarcasm is called for unless you get the "yeah but," as in "yeah but I can't do that cause xyz."  Haven't gotten that in a while.  (Except from Mom, but I'm not going to be rude to dear old Mom.  Besides, I ain't her doctor, for all I know maybe she really does have bad shoulders.)

 

Have gotten the social sales pitch, as in "you should try this thing I was doing." I don't have a great comeback for that one.  I try to be politely noncommittal because I didn't ask and don't really care what they're doing, but they obviously feel compelled to tell me anyway.  (One of my coworkers, a nice elderly lady, often wants to rave to me about artificial sweeteners.  I despise them all, yes even that one, so I just kind of murmur "sounds great" and try to move on... not sure what else to do, really.)

[Rostov]

On 21/11/2017 at 2:47 PM, farflight said:

When folks (non-family) come up to you and invariably ask "How'd you do it?" Do you give honest answers, or fire back with a little sarcasm? 

 

I prefer a mixture of both. If I'm comfortable with the people, I'll tend to make a joke, but if they seem genuinely interested, I'll tell the truth.

 

Some of my favorites:

I just organize my CD collection every Tuesday

I walk around with my mouth open

I sleep with my head at the foot of the bed

I only poo on weekends

 

 

Although, sometimes I do get perverse pleasure in seeing hope fade when I tell them that I started eating less and moving more for the past 5-6 years. I guess they all want the BS answers to be the true answers.

 

What do you all do with people that ask "How you did it?"

 

• Tapeworm
• This one amazing trick that doctors don't want you to know
• Oh... are you mistaking me for my twin?
• No, I'm actually just *further away*

In terms of honest answers, I prefer to describe it as "eating smarter" rather than "eating less". Definitely moving more, though...

 

 

[Diadhuit]

Trying to remember if anyone's asked me that.  I've never been fat, so no one's asked me how I lost weight, but I've been asked how I got my good looking arms.  I just truthfully say: pushups and pullups.
 
I don't think sarcasm is called for unless you get the "yeah but," as in "yeah but I can't do that cause xyz."  Haven't gotten that in a while.  (Except from Mom, but I'm not going to be rude to dear old Mom.  Besides, I ain't her doctor, for all I know maybe she really does have bad shoulders.)
 
Have gotten the social sales pitch, as in "you should try this thing I was doing." I don't have a great comeback for that one.  I try to be politely noncommittal because I didn't ask and don't really care what they're doing, but they obviously feel compelled to tell me anyway.  (One of my coworkers, a nice elderly lady, often wants to rave to me about artificial sweeteners.  I despise them all, yes even that one, so I just kind of murmur "sounds great" and try to move on... not sure what else to do, really.)

I am so guilty of that, but I do it more to keep the conversation going rather than really suggesting something.
And if someone tells me something I don't want to try, I reply: I don't believe in it (e.g. I don't believe in artificiat sweetener, I don't believe in being vegan, I don't believe in air conditioning) and people are so puzzled that will be speechless or ask you what you mean and you can move the conversation toward what belive means... I'm evil

[Machete]

I just hate myself enough.

 

NSFW language:

 

[Diadhuit]

I just hate myself enough.
 
NSFW language:
 

the video is not available in my country, quick summary?

[Karma Krishok]

On 22/11/2017 at 4:06 PM, Diadhuit said:

On 22/11/2017 at 3:29 AM, Laoch said:

well, since I haven't lost a bunch of weight I just say, "  I can't stop eating. I eat because I'm unhappy, and I'm unhappy because I eat. It's a vicious cycle. Now, if you'll excuse me, there's someone I'd like to get in touch with and forgive. Myself."
 
 
.

Oh, Gosh! I definitely know the feeling! And I know how difficult is when people tell you what to do about it. Not trying to say it would work for you, but for me it was a change in an completely unrelated aspect of my life. That made me happier and I didn't eat as much, making me lose weight without noticing O_o

 

Second this. If I lost a kg for every time someone has given me advice one what to do without even bothering about the context, I'd be non-existent. Mental balance / happiness is the key for me too. I think I spent most of my time in the last two years getting that right, and now it's given me the space to become more healthy on my own terms.

 

Taking a few notes from this thread on how to respond next time though ;-).

[farflight]

On 11/26/2017 at 8:26 AM, Diadhuit said:

the video is not available in my country, quick summary?

Just gave a listen.

 

Differences between "fat" and "thin" people, comic talks as to why "fat" people are better people: fat people don't do shit you've gotta run away from...we're never going to rob a bank!

 

So far, I think the mayo in the navel is my personal favorite answer.

[Scaly Freak]

On 11/22/2017 at 10:37 PM, Raincloak said:

Have gotten the social sales pitch, as in "you should try this thing I was doing." I don't have a great comeback for that one. 

 

Make a point of studying their body from head to feet and then back up again (in a non-creepy way if you can), and look very thoughtful. Then shake your head and say, "Thanks, but I think I'll stick to something that works."

 

This come-back is not advisable if the person is someone you ever have to interact with again.

[Wobbegong]

"How'd you do it?!" 
"With a corset. Instant two-sizes-smaller machine, and it forces me to stand up straight too." 

 

"Oh, you should try what I'm doing!" 

"Oh no. I'm sure I'd be uncomfortable if I were as attractive as you." (Must say with a straight face and as sincerely as possible. This is a super-effective response because most people who say that just want to be recognized for their efforts and will feel reassured.) 
 

If the person is actually a friend and cares about you, presumably you want to talk to them and can have a conversation about what they're doing, why, and if it might be right for you. 

[Mrs.Nomar]

If I didn't like them, I used to pull the Sarah Silverman, "thanks, I just had a baby" (which was much funnier to me before I was married because I live in a fairly conservative area).  If they asked about the baby I said I gave him to a gay couple in Africa to adopt.  It didn't really go over well much of the time, but their shocked horror usually gave me enough time to smile, wave and escape.  

[ladymorella]

I have only lost 20 lbs so far and so have only got a couple passing interest comments. I usually respond with a half truth. "I eat more food, due to food sensitives I wasn't eating enough and I think it screwed things up." Which is probablly a big part of it, but I have had health issues for a while progressively getting more problematic in the last 4 and 2 years. I don't really feel like explaining the issues and have only told a handful of people. One of those handful of people asked and I gave her an honest answer about the health issues starting to clear making activity easier and details on my eating plan which is a macro based plan, thus a lot of work.

 

In some ways it makes it a little easier to tell the truth and say I am a macro diet as 90-99% of people have zero interest in that much work. I have oversimplied it and said I worked on eating more meat and vegetables. Which is true as until I just went on keto recently that was all I was eating. 

[Guest]

I don't. 

 

When people come to inquire about the how to's and what'd you do's I tell it like it is. Even when I get asked to train with someone who'd like to elarn the ropes I'm honest they'll be experiencing pain and sweat they haven't known before, and iff they thought the training was rough, holy cow will they wish me dead when we do stretching afterwards. 

 

Honesty tends to build a firmer bond, being sarcastic is better left to motivated arrogance and ignorant behaviour patterns - which is counterproductive. 

[OptimusPrime69]

If people ask me how I do it.

 

I tell them its because I don't accept weakness.

 

I don't accept mediocrity. 

 

I don't accept the status quo. 

 

And because I believe. 

 

I believe that I can be strong. That I can be great. 

 

And so can they.