Back when I had an advice column I helped one woman talk to her mother about this stuff. It may help you if you end up gaining:
Dear Dr. Feeder--
My name is Amanda. Last year I began university, and because of this had to move away from home onto campus.
One thing I had promised myself to do when I moved out of home was to gain weight.
Since moving onto Campus I have just let myself go completely, and as a result gained 50lbs.
However, this summer I will be visiting my mother back home whom is very into healthy eating, and so forth.
Let me say right now that I am not loosing any weight whatsoever for her, nor do I intend to stop.
But, I do not know what to say to her to avoid her from being too upset.
What can I say to prevent her from being too angry?
Dear Amanda--
You may not be able to keep her from being angry. Settle for keeping her from nagging you to death. Try:
1. If she gets angry, DON'T get angry yourself.
2. If she asks why you gained, say it's because you like to eat and don't mind the extra weight.,
3. If she asks you why you don't diet, say you've tried diets and have found you're happier eating what you want.
4. If she makes a comment about your weight that is not in the form of a question, don't respond.
5. If she says something mean, say "Now you're just being mean."
And remember the NEVERs:
NEVER apologize for your gain;
NEVER apologize for your size;
NEVER apologize for your appetite.
NEVER promise to lose weight unless you really want to.
If she tries to get you to eat healthy food (fruit & vegetables, etc.) go ahead and eat it. It will make her feel better. You can still eat your favorite goodies as well.
If she won't shut up about it, say 'look, I know you're just saying all this because you love me and you want what's best for me, and I appreciate that, but it's my decision and you need to respect that.
Let me know how it goes!
Dear Dr. Feeder--
Sorry for the long reply period, I only flew in a couple of days ago. As you can imagine, it wasn't great at all. But surprisingly I didn't feel down about it whatsoever! When I first gave my mother a hug, she put her hand on my stomach and patted and squeezed it, constantly glancing down at it. It was horribly awkward. For some reason I expected that would be it. Later that night she gave me a brief "discussion" about my weight and asked me if anything was wrong and so forth. I explained to her exactly what you suggested, that I was happy the way I was and didn't feel the need to diet. Amazingly though, that was it!
Thankfully, she hasn't said anything else yet about my weight which I'm very pleased with. Thank-you so much for your help - the food here is quite healthy, so for that reason I'm looking forward to returning home where I can eat what I like.
Again, thank-you so much for the wonderful advice.
3 years
It's not my thing, but I'm curious why people would want to do it. A little help? I won't judge.
3 years
No hard data but: it seems to me that those who have trouble stopping are usually the same people who regularly stuff themselves to the absolute maximum, too full to take a deep breath. I mean, you can do that occasionally, but if you do it once a week or more you're apt to go out of control.
Can anyone confirm or deny this?
3 years
AskDrFeeder:
If you're not going to gain as much as you want there's no point in gaining at all.
(Just spit-balling here--comments welcome)
hopeless fatty:
So… if I can’t fully commit, I shouldn’t do it at all? It’s so hard… I’ve had my eye on some 50” pants for a while now, but… I don’t think I can even take those first steps. 😔
There’s so much to consider:
- my faith (this is a totally selfish decision, but I seek to be selfless - this would make me less effective in my service to others)
- relationships (i don’t want to be alone, and i also want to be a good partner to a potential spouse and a good parent to any potential children - what if this led me to miss out on all of those things?)
- mobility (i like roller coasters and theme parks - i still want to be able to do that)
What I'm saying is that when you weigh all those other factors in (as you should) maybe you DON'T want to gain at all.
3 years
milkshakeandfries:
Disagree. I could gain a hundred pounds and still want to gain more but choose to maintain that level and a certain level of fitness because I value my mobility and my partner's flexibility more. I don't think that makes me less of a feedee
AskDrFeeder:
I would argue that even if you choose to STOP gaining at some point you've still gained what you want. Gaining what you want doesn't mean gaining without limit, it means gaining until you don't want to gain anymore. For whatever reason.
milkshakeandfries:
Again I have to disagree. Say I want to be 500 pounds; that's my goal weight. But for any reason I have to stop gaining, maybe significantly before then, 350, for instance.
What you're saying here is I shouldn't bother gaining to 350 if I'm not going to go all in and gain to 500.
Why do you ask for people's opinions if you're just going to tell them that they're wrong when they disagree?
I said people should gain what they want, not that they can't change what they want.
3 years
AskDrFeeder:
If you're not going to gain as much as you want there's no point in gaining at all.
(Just spit-balling here--comments welcome)
hopeless fatty:
So… if I can’t fully commit, I shouldn’t do it at all? It’s so hard… I’ve had my eye on some 50” pants for a while now, but… I don’t think I can even take those first steps. 😔
There’s so much to consider:
- my faith (this is a totally selfish decision, but I seek to be selfless - this would make me less effective in my service to others)
- relationships (i don’t want to be alone, and i also want to be a good partner to a potential spouse and a good parent to any potential children - what if this led me to miss out on all of those things?)
- mobility (i like roller coasters and theme parks - i still want to be able to do that)
You just have to gain what you want, not MORE than you want.
3 years
milkshakeandfries:
Disagree. I could gain a hundred pounds and still want to gain more but choose to maintain that level and a certain level of fitness because I value my mobility and my partner's flexibility more. I don't think that makes me less of a feedee
I would argue that even if you choose to STOP gaining at some point you've still gained what you want. Gaining what you want doesn't mean gaining without limit, it means gaining until you don't want to gain anymore. For whatever reason.
3 years
If you're not going to gain as much as you want there's no point in gaining at all.
(Just spit-balling here--comments welcome)
3 years