How to and not to support me on my diet.
"Ooh, Khristian, you look different. What changed?"
"I don't know... I mean is it 'good' different or like, 'bad'?"
"No, no. It's good."
"I cut my hair a few weeks ago. That must be it."
"Yeah. That must be it... wait - you've lost weight, haven't you?"
"Some. I guess. I don't really talk about it. I just -- "
"--How'd you do it?"
"Ummm... I just don't eat. Actually, I can't eat solids."
"What?"
"I'm on a liquid diet. I can only eat shakes. See, here's the --"
"Khristian, that's not the way to lose weight. You're crazy. I'm concerned about this. How long has it been?"
"About nine weeks now. I have three to go."
"Nine weeks without food?!"
"I eat teh shakes."
"Khristian, your body needs nutrients. You're starving yourself. That's no way to lose weight. You're smart, you should know that. Can't yu find a better way of losing weight?"
And on and on and on. I love (read: hate) how people all of a sudden become diet and execrise and health experts when I talk to them about my diet plan. People instantly leap to judgements and make claims about my ability to make good choices and my character. I think that's what I hate the most. People just assume without the facts that I've lost my mind or that I'm stupid and that I'm gambling with my health instead of listening to me.
What I'd like to hear from my "so-called" friends is:
"An all liquid diet? That sounds skethy. There's so many weird fad diets. Tell me more about the one you're following."
"Well thanks for asking. I have increased my physical activity and I have begun a physician-assisted weight management plan which consists of daily meal replacement shakes, group classes led by a nutrionist, and weekly weigh-ins with periodic blood tests. So, yes, there are a lot of fad diets out there. That's why it was important to me to work closely with a doctor. I have no reason not to trust him."
"Right, and you've clearly gotten results. You look good."
"Well thank you. I appreciate that."
"Do you have a specific goal weight or something?"
"Well, I kind of set kind of short-term goals. Like first, I wanted to just fit into the clothes I have now because I had gained some weight and I wasn't happy with the way my clothes fit. Since I've reached that goal, my goal now is to lose inches off my waist. I'd like to wear a size 36 pants."
"Wow, that sounds reasonable and practical, Khristian. I wish you continued success."
"Well, to be honest, I appreciate your words of encouragement because this all-shake part of the weight loss plan will only last another four weeks."
"Four weeks? Whew! I can't believe you even lasted this long."
"Ha, ha. Yeah. But anyway, as I said, I'll be back on solid foods in a month or so and I won't have the doctor meetings and the blood tests. I'm n ot sure if I want to keep going to the classes, even though I can if I want. My point is, I'm gonna need my friends' help if I really want to make lasting lifestyle changes. You know? Knowing that I have people here to help me celebrate my progress and give me encouragement, I can stay happy. I mean, it fals on me to make the right choices but it always helps to have good understanding people around me too."
"I don't know... I mean is it 'good' different or like, 'bad'?"
"No, no. It's good."
"I cut my hair a few weeks ago. That must be it."
"Yeah. That must be it... wait - you've lost weight, haven't you?"
"Some. I guess. I don't really talk about it. I just -- "
"--How'd you do it?"
"Ummm... I just don't eat. Actually, I can't eat solids."
"What?"
"I'm on a liquid diet. I can only eat shakes. See, here's the --"
"Khristian, that's not the way to lose weight. You're crazy. I'm concerned about this. How long has it been?"
"About nine weeks now. I have three to go."
"Nine weeks without food?!"
"I eat teh shakes."
"Khristian, your body needs nutrients. You're starving yourself. That's no way to lose weight. You're smart, you should know that. Can't yu find a better way of losing weight?"
And on and on and on. I love (read: hate) how people all of a sudden become diet and execrise and health experts when I talk to them about my diet plan. People instantly leap to judgements and make claims about my ability to make good choices and my character. I think that's what I hate the most. People just assume without the facts that I've lost my mind or that I'm stupid and that I'm gambling with my health instead of listening to me.
What I'd like to hear from my "so-called" friends is:
"An all liquid diet? That sounds skethy. There's so many weird fad diets. Tell me more about the one you're following."
"Well thanks for asking. I have increased my physical activity and I have begun a physician-assisted weight management plan which consists of daily meal replacement shakes, group classes led by a nutrionist, and weekly weigh-ins with periodic blood tests. So, yes, there are a lot of fad diets out there. That's why it was important to me to work closely with a doctor. I have no reason not to trust him."
"Right, and you've clearly gotten results. You look good."
"Well thank you. I appreciate that."
"Do you have a specific goal weight or something?"
"Well, I kind of set kind of short-term goals. Like first, I wanted to just fit into the clothes I have now because I had gained some weight and I wasn't happy with the way my clothes fit. Since I've reached that goal, my goal now is to lose inches off my waist. I'd like to wear a size 36 pants."
"Wow, that sounds reasonable and practical, Khristian. I wish you continued success."
"Well, to be honest, I appreciate your words of encouragement because this all-shake part of the weight loss plan will only last another four weeks."
"Four weeks? Whew! I can't believe you even lasted this long."
"Ha, ha. Yeah. But anyway, as I said, I'll be back on solid foods in a month or so and I won't have the doctor meetings and the blood tests. I'm n ot sure if I want to keep going to the classes, even though I can if I want. My point is, I'm gonna need my friends' help if I really want to make lasting lifestyle changes. You know? Knowing that I have people here to help me celebrate my progress and give me encouragement, I can stay happy. I mean, it fals on me to make the right choices but it always helps to have good understanding people around me too."