So many uninformed people...

[fit1]

On a day-to-day basis, I come across so many people that seem to be misinformed...and it's really aggrivating when you try to correct them and they are determined to believe the wrong way, no matter what you say...I hear soo many people who say that their DOCTOR says to lose weight, eat less, keep it below 2000 calories (no matter the size of the person)...or "dinner makes you fat"...seriously, I just had a guy tell me that that's what his doctor said...because you don't get any exercise after dinner, don't eat dinner to lose weight!!! I don't get it...it's just real frustrating to hear people tell me this as advice to lose weight...telling me i eat too much, blah, blah, blah....hey buddy, "KISS IT"....

 

[Raina]

I know what you mean. I always heard it was bad to eat before bed too. Now I know that's BS. As for a 200 calorie diet, where the hell did they come up with 2000? I'm 5'7 and I try to stay between 13-1600. (higher on lift days with more carbs, slightly lower on cardio days, low carb). I think 2000 wouldn't be an appropriate diet for me at this point in time.

One of my coworks is 5'2 190. She recently saw a nutritionist who told her to eat 2000 calories or less, avoid meat and sugar, and to eat mostly breat, pasta, and veggies. 3 meals a day. I'm sorry but if I did that diet, and I'm a lot taller, I'd get fat. It makes me sad to know that people are so misinformed. People at work now treat me like a freak for bringing so much food with me every day. Why didn't they fuss when I'd have a cup of ice for lunch?? I'm obviously eating WAY more and I'm getting smaller as a result. I have more energy and generally feel better.

I think a lot of people are lost as to how many calories to consume and they're really lost as to what food to eat to maintain muscle and drop bf.

 

[Gladiola]

Ooooh, I am SOOO with ya on this one!

http://boards.elitefitness.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=97861&highlight=patience

And doesn't it seem that the more clueless a person is, often the more totally convinced they are that they know the truth... nevermind they have no clue the origin of these dumb beliefs they hold.

Makes it much harder for me that I am SUPPOSED to help educate these ppl and I HAVE to be nice.
But I do think I'm gonna use this AWESOME line from Wyst next time I hear, "I want to tone & firm & lose fat & flab, but not gain any muscle."
You should tell her to sleep outside in the winter. Freezing solid is about the only way to firm up fat, lol.

 

[Sassy69]

In general I think the medical community is not up on its preventative nutrition education. I went to a general practitioner wanting to get a full blood work up because i had recently gained some weight that wasn't going away. Somewhere in the conversation all he heard was "fat chick wants to lose weight fast " - I wanted to use this guy to get a recommendation for a dietician or an endocrinologist or something. What I got was a prescript for phentermine. <crumple up and toss>

I also think that people are so confused by "traditional myths" (see the "myth" stickie at the top), the media, listening to other people who appear to be informed, and falling to frustration in trying to find quick solutions, when they can't even "see" the problem. I.e. want to lose weight fast, but can't workout because I dont' have time - hardly have enough time to cruise thru the McDonald's drive thru for lunch & dinner....

The hardest part is to get people to give up their beliefs about what "fat" is - my mom "I stick to the low-fat & non-fat brands" --- yea but what makes them "nonfat" ... LOTS of sugar... and btw, some FATS are good! People literally go into denial when you try to suggest the correct way based on biology and kinesiology.

 

[FitFossil]

So many uninformed people...

Yes, there are! Some want to learn, and I enjoy sharing what I can with them. Others just want to challenge you on every point. I find this annoying and do my best to avoid getting trapped with such people, as they have nothing to show for all the so-called knowledge they're eager to smother you with. They can talk the talk but not walk the walk.

Most amusing are the men who have less muscle than I do (and I'm not even that muscular - even for a WOMAN!) who say I must be using steriods (which I haven't). It doesn't even occur to them that training hard and a clean diet can actually do something, because they've never tried it themselves.

I think many people who don't work out enjoy subscribing to the myth that one must take AS to have a good body. They think this lets them off the hook for not even trying. Then they go around saying about anyone who looks better that they "must be on something". Quite right, food and exercise ARE powerful drugs indeed!

 

[sheez_ripped]

AMEN! TO THIS THREAD!

Since I cleaned up my diet....i've lost about 9% bodyfat and 20 lbs fat altogether.....and i am so much more leaner and defined now....not to mention the fact i'm lifting consistently with a trainer....and doing cardio in am on empty stomach....so have made a metamorphosis in the last 3 months....but all i hear from the guys in the gym...is u're muscles are so much bigger! what r u on! (granted I did use a little Winny during that time....but have done it before without these results).....and they refuse to listen when i tell them i've just dropped fat....so u can see the muscle now.....they do huge amts of AS, eat like crap, no cardio, no leg workouts, and wonder why they never change their bodies! GEEZ!!

 

[muskles]

my b/f told me a story about a couple of he guys he knew... they were skinny and wanted to get buff... so they got hooked up with some juice. now they NEVER EVEN WENT to the gym, and thought the juice would do all the work. they ended up putting on lots of weight... water and fat after their cycle, they lost it all and went back to their skinny ole selves... plus baggy skin... ah people

 

[Fatback]

Well, you know the real problem is people want to subscribe to the "get something for nothing" mindset, and no matter how many times it's proven to NEVER, EVER work, they still insist on searching for the holy grail. Someone came to me in the gym today to say, when they worked out their chest, it hurt later and they didn't like that, so should they lessen the weight? Of course, I thought well it should hurt if your goal is to challenge the muscle and make some changes, however, if your goal is simply to continue to look as you do now, then by all means use no weight at all!

Even my mom, who is a nurse is constantly jumping from this diet to that, and complaining when she gains weight. The conversation always goes something like this, "I don't eat that much" , "Mom, that's the problem" However, cabbage diet here she comes.

Oh, well what you gonna do, live well and prosper!