Family reactions

**Lyssie** · July 26, 2007, 05:36 AM

Re: Family reactions

I've gotten everything from people telling me I'm going to kill myself eating like this, to I'd better stop losing before I look anorexic, to 100% supportive.

**kellyf48** · July 26, 2007, 06:14 AM

Re: Family reactions

Before the same happened to me my mom was positive i was on drugs!!

**Jace** · July 26, 2007, 06:18 AM

Re: Family reactions

I quickly found there was a kind of a cost to losing weight when it came to my relationships with people.

Both my ex-best friend and my father (who are both in the morbidly obese category) have been unsupportive. Jealousy and envy are destructive forces. My ex-friend kept trying to sabotage my weight loss attempts and has never had anything but calumnies and condemnations for my new look. My father is so jealous that he purposely takes every little illness I experience and blames it on Atkins. He constantly preaches to me how the body needs sugar and white flour to survive and even the low blood pressure that I inherited from my mothers side of the family is a direct result of my way of eating (not to mention the fact that my grandmother, mother and brother all have low blood pressure and have never been on anything close to Atkins). He and I have never had a good relationship though so it's not something that really bothers me. It hurt losing my best friend though because she didn't feel comfortable around me anymore because of my weight loss.

Other than that, the rest of my friends and family were all very excited for me (though sometimes their showering me with compliments went a little overboard and got embarassing). I'm at the point now where I'd rather not talk about it with my family as they have changed gears and are telling me to stop losing weight even though I've told them a hundred times I'm at goal and have stopped. Every visit I'll hear "you need to stop losing weight" at least once.

~Far la bella figura!

**apple** · July 26, 2007, 06:30 AM

Re: Family reactions

Sounds like you had a awesome visit with your family...jealousy and love from mom and all.

My hubby and girls tell me the truth, brutal from the girls because they've been taught to never sugar coat anything, and lately it's been all good.

**owl48** · July 26, 2007, 06:52 AM

Re: Family reactions

Lyssie...I have to tell you, you have one of the most amazing before and after photos I've seen! What a tremendous amount of work you've done!

I quickly found there was a kind of a cost to losing weight when it came to my relationships with people.

Its sad that there are so many who do not what to see the people in their lives experience any changes....even positive ones!

My hubby and girls tell me the truth, brutal from the girls because they've been taught to never sugar coat anything, and lately it's been all good.

My best friend (who has been very supportive) and I have a running joke about people who speak in code or say one thing but mean another.
She'll turn to me (or I to her) and say "I don't think that means what you think it means".
We find the opportunity to use it at LEAST once a day.

**Discolemonade** · July 26, 2007, 07:39 AM

Re: Family reactions

I've experienced the negative jealousy and the positive reactions also, but I must say I am awaiting a big one. We have a family reunion coming up in November and the last time I saw any of these people I was well over 245 lbs. Even at 171 right now they would be floored but I'm going for 100 lbs lost, 145 baby. I want the questions, BRING IT ON. So many of my family members have opted for the gastric bypass. I'm going to be the strong one in my opinion, because I did it myself.

Oh yeah, hey OWL48, WOW! You look like a totally different person!! Good goin'!!

**ValidRouge** · July 26, 2007, 07:48 AM

Re: Family reactions

Mostly my friends and family are supportive of ME...but what is absolutely FRUSTRATING to me is that inevitably EVERY conversation turns into why THEY can't (Note: can't not won't) "do Atkins" and they proceed to tell me of every binge they've had...which is usally one or two a WEEK!! AAAAGGGHHHH!!!! I'm absolutely so sick of hearing how they can't stick to it, they had to have bread, sugar, blah blah blah blah. And it's NOT ME bringing it up!!!

I want to scream "SHUT UP!" but I just smile and say "hmmmmmm" because I just don't know what to say anymore.

Everyone at my work is absolutely supportive and complimentary. Although there are many people who are ill-informed about Atkins. I just politely smile and tell them that I've added all food groups back to my diet except for sugar and white flour. At that, most of them think that I've "gone off" Atkins and "just eat healthy" Then I tell them, "see, that's the shame of it all. That's what Atkins IS. It's truly unfortunate that the majority of people think the Atkins diet is the two-week induction (the most restrictive phase). That restrictive phase is only supposed to be for two weeks and then you are supposed to add the food groups back" That usually shuts the naysayers up.

**Jaded** · July 26, 2007, 08:04 AM

Re: Family reactions

It's hard for me to judge people's reactions these days... the first time I lost weight I actually sometimes was offended by people telling me i looked so much better, b/c I still had a ways to go. I kept thinking "are they just saying i looked REALLY bad before?"

My two aunts (who live on my street and see me often) tell me nearly EVERY time I see them "Are you losing weight? You look like it"... which is nice, but sometimes I havent lost an ounce, or had even gone up a few thats to my first love, M&Ms. So who knows!

We all (aunts, uncles, me and one cousin) did Fatkins in 2003 and two have recently gone back to it (well, them to Fatkins, and me to the real plan now), but I havent mentioned that I have - I think I've fully converted back after a short stint on south beach - b/c my mom is completely unable to realize that i am not just eating cheese and steaks, even when she watches me eating veggies every day... call it atkins and the veggies turn into globs of lard in her minds eye. I've decided its not worth it to really explain it...

Hopefuly they'll be telling me I've lost weight soon and mean it!

**ValidRouge** · July 26, 2007, 08:07 AM

Re: Family reactions

Originally posted by Jaded

completely unable to realize that i am not just eating cheese and steaks, even when she watches me eating veggies every day... call it atkins and the veggies turn into globs of lard in her minds eye. I've decided its not worth it to really explain it...

I know what you mean....what's up with that????

**Jaded** · July 26, 2007, 08:19 AM

Re: Family reactions

Originally posted by ValidRouge

I know what you mean....what's up with that????

I don't know! I think people get the impression that "fat people" like to eat fatty things and since you can eat fat on atkins its not a "real" diet and everything must be fat. Imagine... secret atkins broccoli that actually is just green fat shaped like broccoli...

At least I know I'm losing weight in a healthy way

**Discolemonade** · July 26, 2007, 08:22 AM

Re: Family reactions

It will all come out in the end. You'll be healthy and slim and they'll be in awe. Let it roll.

**owl48** · July 26, 2007, 02:07 PM

Re: Family reactions

I've experienced the negative jealousy and the positive reactions also, but I must say I am awaiting a big one. We have a family reunion coming up in November and the last time I saw any of these people I was well over 245 lbs. Even at 171 right now they would be floored but I'm going for 100 lbs lost, 145 baby. I want the questions, BRING IT ON. So many of my family members have opted for the gastric bypass. I'm going to be the strong one in my opinion, because I did it myself.

Oh yeah, hey OWL48, WOW! You look like a totally different person!! Good goin'!!

I wish you could video your reunion so we could see the reactions.....seeing you 100lbs lighter will put them in shock!!

I probably won't see much family until Thanksgiving...I'll have to come prepared as they wave potatoes and stuffing under my nose!

**kellyf48** · July 26, 2007, 02:42 PM

Re: Family reactions

I know what u mean valid. I have sooooo many people say i couldnt just eat meat all the time. I used 2 try to explain now i just roll my eyes!

**Sherri** · July 26, 2007, 07:41 PM

Re: Family reactions

Hello Greg,Yes it's interesting how different people react to ones success of weightloss. Bless your mom, she must of been really concerned for you, being pushed to tears with joy and scolding you to not gain it back. You have a great Mom, she loves you much! Your sisters reaction is typical for women, we all know men lose quicker than us gals,right! LOL Now your brothers response I feel was a silent scream for help. He may want your help but may be to proud to ask? Are you two close? Maybe talking with him to see if he would be interested in doing what you're doing. I, myself have gotten a mix bag of reactions to my success. There's people I've known all my life, avoid me and People I've never met, walk right up to me and start a conversation with me. Something that never happened when I was heavy. Like the tables turned so to speak. Wierd. When I was so heavy it was as though I was a ghost. Lost all my weight and I'm noticed. Pissed me off at first, but I got over it real quick.LOL You, by the way, are doing fantastic! Keep it up Greg, it only gets better! Sincerely, Sherri

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