Just for fun

What's the stupidest bit of weight loss advice you've been given by somebody who 'just doesn't understand'?

A few years ago a guy I knew told me I should learn to play chess because it would teach me the mental discipline I needed to lose weight.

He was an odd guy. He used the word discipline a lot in conversation - I never wanted to know why!

Anyway, I told him chess is the most boring game in creation and I'd rather watch paint dry. (Apologies to any avid chess players out there.)

My aunt told me one time "Why don't you just lose 30 pounds!"

Like, DUH! Why didn't I think of that?!?

I was told (after surgery) by a very overweight woman (eating a Chick-Fil-A sand which) that "protein makes you fat"...

"Real butter and heavy cream do not make you fat!" -- my mother, with contributions from all the diet specialists out there who have obviously not figured it out.....

"Protein makes you fat".....when it is breaded and deep fried.

I was told (after surgery) by a very overweight woman (eating a Chick-Fil-A sand which) that "protein makes you fat"...

Just for fun

What's the stupidest bit of weight loss advice you've been given by somebody who 'just doesn't understand'?

A few years ago a guy I knew told me I should learn to play chess because it would teach me the mental discipline I needed to lose weight.

He was an odd guy. He used the word discipline a lot in conversation - I never wanted to know why!

Anyway, I told him chess is the most boring game in creation and I'd rather watch paint dry. (Apologies to any avid chess players out there.)

FOTFL - Falling on the floor laughing!

Hey, my ex primary care doctor suggested that if i would just buy the right cookbooks I wouldn't need the sleeve. She is my EX PCP for a reason.

"The only reason most people are fat is because they drink soda" - my skinny friend said to me, someone who practically never drank soda (or my calories in general).

Just for fun

What's the stupidest bit of weight loss advice you've been given by somebody who 'just doesn't understand'?

A few years ago a guy I knew told me I should learn to play chess because it would teach me the mental discipline I needed to lose weight.

He was an odd guy. He used the word discipline a lot in conversation - I never wanted to know why!

Anyway, I told him chess is the most boring game in creation and I'd rather watch paint dry. (Apologies to any avid chess players out there.)

Oh dear God... I have a very vivid imagination and now I need brain bleach...

Someone once told me to soak cotton balls in orange juice and swallow them. That the cotton balls would taste yummy going down, sit in my stomach like fluffy food and keep me full forever and I would never be hungry and I would lose tons of weight, super fast! Yeah... Riiight!

Just drink more Water.

Really? I heard thins one a lot... and I am a water drinker, I drank about 128oz of water daily... before today that is (surgery day).

Hey, congratulations on your surgery @Writerjennifer. -- I notice that weight loss advice often begins with just, if you would just....

Well, if they would just.....shut up!

Good luck with your recovery and this beginning if a whole new chapter in your life!

@@The Icy One. Not sure who is creepier, chess guy or cotton ball advisor -- good grief!

Just drink more Water.

Really? I heard thins one a lot... and I am a water drinker, I drank about 128oz of water daily... before today that is (surgery day).

Years ago, a woman I worked with, told me to drink ice water because is increases your metabolism by your body warming it up. WTF?

Edited June 16, 201412 yr by mrsto

**By not eating processed food/carbs my diet is not healthy and I can't sustain a weight loss**

Oh ok, so when people used to farm and eat off the land that was a bad thing? So eating processed food/carbs is a good thing? This was coming from a personal trainer.

**Just lose the weight on your own**

Oh, ok, thanks for that advice, I couldn't figure that one out!

I know so many people who just don't eat at all and then criticize heavy people. I'd rather be overweight than anorexic.

Just for fun

What's the stupidest bit of weight loss advice you've been given by somebody who 'just doesn't understand'?

A few years ago a guy I knew told me I should learn to play chess because it would teach me the mental discipline I needed to lose weight.

He was an odd guy. He used the word discipline a lot in conversation - I never wanted to know why!

Anyway, I told him chess is the most boring game in creation and I'd rather watch paint dry. (Apologies to any avid chess players out there.)

Most of the stupid advise came from one fad or another, or radical eating modifications.

Your gentleman friend may have indeed been odd - I cannot vouch for that one way or another. However, I can see how someone might get that playing chess could possibly help you lose weight. Not curb your appetite or control cravings, but give you a practice of holding your impulses, and evaluating your move, and anticipating consequences. A bit of cognitive "UMPH!" in the weight loss battle - like a good scout, maybe.

Actually, it is in large part what most try to instill upon someone trying to make lifestyle changes for long term weight maintenance.

Hmmmm!!!! LOL!

Brush your teeth if you get hungry. Yeah that worked...not!

I've probably heard them all:)

The problem with the chess analogy is that it's comparing apples and oranges. The impulse to eat (and therefore the cravings) come from the brain stem or "primative" brain. Our cognitive abilities (logical/rational thought, knowledge, etc.) originate from our frontal lobe. This is information from my therapist, by the way. Which is why I could read every diet or self help book out there, know all the right things to do to be healthy and, yet, I didn't put it into action. Eating is necessary to sustain life and is associated with comfort, love, and survival. Chess - you can live without.

To me, this analogy is no more than saying "you don't have any discipline or self-control" which many people believe about overweight people. That is so far from the truth!

For people without food issues, eating disorders, etc., give that advice to "just stop eating", "just count calories" just... just.... Not everyone's brain is wired the same way. Not everyone can do this on their own. I know I "just" needed the surgery and a TON of therapy to lose this weight and those stupid advice-givers can "just" kiss my tush now!

Edited June 16, 201412 yr by Jen35