Refusing Sweets

1.2k rep

AlumniIndio, CA

A lot of us here are food addicts. I am one of them. I've been doing well at cutting back on sweets and haven't touched the constantly full candy bowl at work in weeks. However, with the holidays over and my new game plan for fat loss and a healthier lifestyle, I'm going to be cutting out all candy, cookies, cakes, pies, etc. My concern is how to get this across to others around me. I look like a small person, but I carry my excess weight in places that aren't obvious to others so I'm constantly getting comments like "You don't need to diet" or "Just eat a piece, its just one". What they don't realize is that not only am I trying to be healthier and decrease my body fat but that it takes so much will power already to say no. How do you deal with and/or explain this to others? They don't seem to accept a simple "no thanks" and keep pressing the food or making a big deal out of my refusal.

31k rep

MemberPort Washington, WI

I have the same issue. Now that I have lost my excess weight, I get some comments on my eating habits- and most are not nice, like "oh yeah, you don't want this, you don't eat, that's why you are so skinny." Frankly I am sick and tired of the "you must not eat" comments. I did tell someone once- "I eat 6 times a day, I just don't eat rubbish." Which was of course a little bit of an insult towards them, but honestly that person deserved it.

I really don't feel that I need to justify how I eat and exercise to many people- my mom has expressed some concerns on my "skinniness." and I think she is the only one with legitimate concerns and therefor she is the only person I have given a real breakdown of my numbers to. I was too skinny and borderline anorexic in high school- so I understand why she is worried. I told her how much I weigh and my body fat percentage, and my future goals for fitness, etc. and I have told her that I eat about 1800-2000 calories each day. It set her mind at ease and now she has stopped saying anything. She was totally surprised that I weigh 155 pounds and wear a size 4 at 5'7 But I think it set her mind at ease to know that I am thin because I have a TON of muscle not because I am starving myself.

So, I guess what I am saying, is I don't think you need to explain yourself to many people. Maybe just the people that you feel might have legitimate concerns like close friends and close family members.

I have pretty much knocked out sugar from my intake as well, and I actually did a "no sugar" challenge online with a group of like- minded people. When I was offered cookies, cakes, candy, etc. all through the month, I told people- no thanks I am doing a "no sugar challenge from December 1-23" I got some strange looks, but I just would say "and I feel amazing!" and that would stop the offers. I actually started getting some questions and a friend who jumped into the challenge with me.

Congrats on resisting that big bowl of candy at work. I don't know if I have that kind of willpower, I have to keep it out of my sight.

Sarah

6.2k rep

MemberBrownstown Township, MI

Forget telling people anything that uses the word “weight”. Throw the word “Doctor” in the sentence and watch people back off.

“Thank you, it looks delicious, but I’ve talked to my doctor and he feels I should watch my sugar intake”. (You can also substitute “sugar intake” with “lipid intake” or with “cholesterol” if you are begging off something that isn’t sweet).

If fudging the truth with the doctor comment bothers you, then either discuss sugar, fat and cholesterol intake with your doctor the next time you see him so that you can truthfully say you “talked to your doctor”. (What doctor won't tell you to watch your sugar, fat and cholesterol?)
Or you can drop the word “doctor” and just use one of the following statements . . .

“Thank you, it looks delicious, but eating sweet things raises my blood sugar”
“Thank you, it looks delicious, but eating simple carbohydrates raises my blood sugar”
“Thank you, it looks delicious, but I’m watching my cholesterol intake”
“Thank you, it looks delicious, but I’m watching my lipid intake”

All of those sentences are completely true. Sweet things and simple carbohydrates raise everyone’s blood sugar and anyone who is trying to be healthy will be watching their cholesterol or their lipid (fat) intake. But to most people, it sounds like a medical issue instead of a lifestyle choice.

0 rep

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5.3k rep

MemberRed Lion, PA

Amanda, I feel your pain. I get the same thing. I used to let people get to me that way & then would end up gaining weight. I was basing my goals on other people's opinion instead of on my own. I started to realize one of the reasons people did this was because they are having a hard time knowing what a fit person looks like. There are so many people today that are overweight that we start to accept that as the norm. So when someone is fit & within a normal body weight for their height & frame, people tend to think they are too skinny. Also another aspect is that if you aren't eating the junk & others are, it kind of makes them focus on you to take the pressure off of themselves. If you are eating junk, they can justify it in their own diets.
Since I have had this realization, I have been able to say to people thank you for your opinion, but my goal is my goal & I am sticking to it. I have had to say to one very persistent person that when she loses weight she will be allowed to set her own goal, but until then I am in control of my own goal. I think she got the message.

2.2k rep

MemberPort Angeles, WA

I always liked asking, "You wouldn't insist an alcoholic take 'just one little drink' would you? Sugar is my alcohol."

62 rep

MemberWatertown, SD

I tell people that eating too much sugar in a day makes my teeth hurt, and it does. But people usually leave me alone about sweets after that. The talking to doctor idea is a good one too, I may have to try that.