Do you tire of helping people who don't want to change?

[Rick-g]

As I read about people who say they have tried LC and say they have stuck to the plan and yet lose little or no weight for months......I don't get it. I want to give them a shake not a pat on the back, if you want to be obese-be obese! I have a friend who councils people and he has many times told me of the "energy waster" that keep him from helping those who really want to change. I am I just having a bad day or do you see this too? Sorry about the negative vipes.

[curly_bun]

Over all, I think a sympathetic view toward other people is best, because many are dealing with multiple problems. Some are crippled emotionally and can really do nothing about it. It will take time for others to learn how to drop bad habits and learn new behavior. We all come from different backgrounds and have differing circumstances. It will be easier for some than others. Remember the golden rule, to treat others as we want to be treated. We all will be sick and dying one day. So it's better to have a merciful viewpoint, IMHO.

That being said, if someone really doesn't want my help learning to make low carb work, that is their right to chose another way. I don't want to bang my head against a wall by repeatedly trying to talk them into doing something that they don't want to do.

The truth is, I have dear friends and family who are diabetics and SHOULD be eating low-carb, but they turn their nose up at it, and try to sabotage me also. They have a perfect right to make their own decisions, and I am determined to continue eating low carb. We remain pleasant relationships because I refuse to get upset over it.

I may be one of those people whom you distain, because I have been on low carb for almost 5 years, and yet I have only lost 40 pounds, and have 60 more to lose. It would be very difficult for me if I felt that anyone judged me mistakenly as not being successful. Every day I struggle, and I am faithful to the low carb way of eating. My limited success is due to other health problems and I need more time to continue to do better. Being judged by other people is very unpleasant.

However, I know what you mean about some people do not want to be helped. That is ok, it must not be the right time for them. They know best about that. You have the right to choose to be around them or not. They will do quite well probably.

[bigflopman]

I don't push my lifestyle on anyone in any way. If people ask how I lost weight or what I eat, I tell them. If they ask me about church, I tell them. If an opportunity arises for me to mention either, I do.. but I don't push either on anyone because I despise people trying to push something on me. I believe that LC is a lifestyle change and not everyone is willing to accept that and are looking for another "diet" that they can follow to lose weight and then plan on changing their eating style later. I don't push LC on these folks because they'll end up having a bad experience (some for the second time) and then they will be the ones "bad mouthing" LC and end up doing more damage than good. I encourage folks to eat healthier and find a diet that works not only for their bodies but also for their lifestyle. Baby steps... I started this journey out of necessity whereas some people just want to lose weight.

[Rick-g]

Originally Posted by bigflopman

I don't push my lifestyle on anyone in any way. If people ask how I lost weight or what I eat, I tell them. If they ask me about church, I tell them. If an opportunity arises for me to mention either, I do.. but I don't push either on anyone because I despise people trying to push something on me. I believe that LC is a lifestyle change and not everyone is willing to accept that and are looking for another "diet" that they can follow to lose weight and then plan on changing their eating style later. I don't push LC on these folks because they'll end up having a bad experience (some for the second time) and then they will be the ones "bad mouthing" LC and end up doing more damage than good. I encourage folks to eat healthier and find a diet that works not only for their bodies but also for their lifestyle. Baby steps... I started this journey out of necessity whereas some people just want to lose weight.

Yup... I think its just a bad day! I'm usually more tolerant of others and their choices, good or bad. Thanks

[Lurchy]

Originally Posted by Rick-g

As I read about people who say they have tried LC and say they have stuck to the plan and yet lose little or no weight for months......I don't get it. I want to give them a shake not a pat on the back, if you want to be obese-be obese! I have a friend who councils people and he has many times told me of the "energy waster" that keep him from helping those who really want to change. I am I just having a bad day or do you see this too? Sorry about the negative vipes.

I know it's hard when you believe that you've found the magic ticket in eating low carb. You want to shout from the rooftops and help those that you care about. Sadly, not everyone is at the point that they are ready to hear you.

You have done an awesome job in losing and maintaining. You are a living example that this woe works. Keep doing what you're doing for you.

[LoveMontana]

After all of these years of being on low carb and seeing so many fail, fall off or what ever, I gave up trying to help.
If someone asks how I stay thin, I tell them what I eat and leave it at that.

[Indychick829]

Originally Posted by Lurchy

I know it's hard when you believe that you've found the magic ticket in eating low carb. You want to shout from the rooftops and help those that you care about. Sadly, not everyone is at the point that they are ready to hear you.

THIS is exactly why it frustrates me. HOWEVER - I know that I can't change anyone BUT me.

Thing is, too - I've listened to SO many podcasts this year (3 different ones) and there's a lot of research out there about how - and i HATE to say this, because I believe in personal responsibility - but how being fat may not be "your fault"...

There's SO many things people don't know about their own bodies - or yes, admittedly refuse to want to find out and would rather be naive and blame mcdonalds, lol - but there really are a TON of reasons why people honestly, truly CAN'T lose weight even though they "try"...

I myself was there. in 2007 - before I found out I was insulin resistant, I tried for MONTHS to lose weight again on weight watchers (which I had success on in 2003/4 - lost 60 pounds from 220 - 160) but I found myself back up at 197. No matter how many points I counted or days I spent in the gym - I literally couldn't lose one OUNCE! I finally found a doc who understood and she did blood tests and diagnosed me as Insulin Resistant. And SHE was the one who told me to try atkins. Course I didn't listen to her for a year and a half (can I go back and kick my own @$$? lol) - but once I realized THAT was what my issue was, the weight started flying off when I went low-carb.

So in all honesty - it COULD be and more than likely IS something wrong with them that they just don't know about.

BUT again, I understand being frustrated with those that really aren't trying.

[Blood Sugar 101]

Originally Posted by Rick-g

As I read about people who say they have tried LC and say they have stuck to the plan and yet lose little or no weight for months......I don't get it. I want to give them a shake not a pat on the back, if you want to be obese-be obese! I have a friend who councils people and he has many times told me of the "energy waster" that keep him from helping those who really want to change. I am I just having a bad day or do you see this too? Sorry about the negative vipes.

LC doesn't work for everyone.

If people have severe cases of PCOS, for example, it won't work. Dr. Bernstein the diabetes doctor who pioneered the low carb diet is frank about this in his book. He's also frank about how the diet doesn't produce weight loss in some people with other metabolic problems.

If the diet worked well for you, be grateful. But if someone tells you they worked hard at it and it didn't work for the, give them the respect of believing them.

I have a friend with diabetes who has eaten very low carb for over 13 years who tells me the only diet she ever lost weight on was a low fat diet. She is as strict on her diet as a person can be.

I personally stalled out for 2.5 years eating low carb doing what Atkins and Protein Power tell you to do. I only started losing when I cut down dramatically on calories as well as carbs.

People would often tell me I must not understand how to do the diet because otherwise I would be losing, it would not help at all.

We all have different things wrong with our metabolisms and may need different approaches to solve them.

[chiody]

As well as LCing has been a lifesaver of sorts for me, I'm aware this is not for everyone by far. Matter of fact, for as long as I can remember since being diagnosed and post meds (after a couple months 20 yrs. ago), my friends who are diabetic and their immediate family members "dismiss" my extraordinary results with the simple explanation, "Well NO ONE can ride as much as you do." I've always thought to myself in silence and refused to sway their opinions wondering just what one is willing to do to live a normal lifespan, without the complications of diabetes?

Be that as it may, from what I've discerned, there are a number of diabetics here on these forums with non diabetic BS/A1C's, normal BP, great Cholesterol screening, etc. who DO NOT exercise!!!! This mere fact has given me hope and ammunition to dispense in the future. There may be a day when I can't exercise anymore and I know the light is still on at the end of the tunnel....thanks Low Carb Friends!!!!