How can I get my family off my back about my weight loss?!


Question: How can I get my family off my back about my weight loss?
Hey there. So here's a little background info. I'm a 5'7" 20 year old female. Back in June 2010 I was 197 pounds and was sick of being overweight. I would pig out on basically whatever I wanted and it showed. So I decided to start eating healthier and exercising. I didn't really tell my family much about it because I didn't want to admit to them that I was unhappy with the way I looked. Anyways, I started working out consistently ever since and have be eating a reduced calorie diet with lots of lean meat, fruits, veggies, water etc. I'm not starving myself, I just eat a reasonable amount of food now compared to how I would gorge myself before. I currently weight 149 pounds (and am thrilled) but I'm running into a problem. My parents ( who I still live with as I commute to University) are convinced I'm like underweight and skin and bones now. They comment all the time about how I don't eat enough and how I shouldn't lose anymore weight. We fight about it on a weekly basis. I promise you I eat enough (about 1500 calories per day of healthy food) but they don't see that because I eat numerous small meals and snacks through out the day. I bought myself a new pair of pants (size 6) because my other pants didn't fit and my parents threw a fit (mind you, they are both quite overweight and lead very sedentary lifestyles). My goal eventually is to be down to about 130 pounds and to be very toned. I have explained to them on numerous occasions that my weight loss has been a result of just eating healthier and exercising, but I guess they have it imprinted into their mind that the only way to lose weight is by starving yourself, therefore I must be doing that. I don't know. Am I being unreasonable here? I've been trying to do everything the healthy and right way to get down to my desired look but it's really tough with my parents breathing down my neck. How can I get them to support my new healthy lifestyle?

Answers:

First of all, congratulations on losing the weight. That's really something to be proud of. Secondly, you are being perfectly reasonable. Unfortunately, it is difficult to change a paradigm once it has been so rigidly been set in, such as in your parents' case. It sounds like you've already done everything you could to try and change your parents' minds. You could take the ***** route and start ragging on them about how unhealthy they are. Or you could take the high road and continue to do the best you can to ignore them, perhaps using them as motivation to continue to live healthily.



According to the BMI Calculator you are at a healthy weight for your height.



OMG this is exactly how my parents are! I have got my weight down low to where I wanted it to be and they sent me to rehab to get my weight back up because they thought I was starving myself too and now they constantly watch over me and make sure I eat enough and I am 20 years old too. It is annoying I am trying to figure out what to do as well. I guess just tell them you are at a healthy range which you seem to be and it makes you feel better about yourself and gives you more energy now that you have been exercising. I guess just sit down with them and talk about it and tell them you just want to have a healthy life style and if that you will never go below an unhealthy range which your doctor would tell you what it is or you can look at a bmi chart



Omg what is there problem, you were obese (slightly) before, and now your bmi is 23, almost overweight, 130lbs is like the PERFECT weight for you, just let them know your fine, though you have lost so much weight they feel like its too much too soon, but big people can lose more when they put their minds too it, so just try to go she a dietican with your parents to show them that its healthy what your doing. Also if you are 18+ you are an ADULT and you are responsible for how you look after your body, so they can't stop you from being healthy! Good Luck! :)



You need to ignore them. You losing weight is a reflection on them - if you can do it, why can't they. It may make them feel lazy/ashamed whatever but thats not your problem.

You can't change how they feel or what they say. I would just nod and smile when it comes up but dont make it into a conversation (unless of course its to ask for help or tips.) Hopefully they will soon realise you wont engage on the topic.



Bring your doctor into it. Have them make an appointment with your family doctor and get a check-up. Ask the doctor to back you up and let them know that you are now a healthy weight and that 130 is also a healthy weight for 5'7" (but not much lower weight!) They may be concerned that you are bulimic or anorexic. They may also be concerned if you lost the weight quickly. By bringing the doctor into it, you're reassuring them that you value their opinion and are really wanting to be healthy, not just skinny. And having the doctor as backup will help you be able to tell them to stop sabotaging you.

Congrats on your weightloss!




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