with Karen Magill
I try to maintain a certain weight (145-150) and any time I see myself inching over 150, I tighten my belt…pun intended.
After having lost about 25 pounds many years ago, I don’t want to have to put myself through that again. I figure it’s easier to lose a few pounds than try to lose 25…or more.
Marching band diet
I take pride in the fact that my typical weight now is just 10 pounds over my high school weight. I was 135 in high school, but that was with drilling every dang day in marching band.
Currently, some of my friends and acquaintances are trying to undermine my resolve. I’m nearly at the point where I’m considering avoiding certain social situations just so I don’t have to face these saboteurs.
Karen Magill has heard these comments –
- Its what’s on the inside that counts
- You aren’t that heavy
- Enjoy life, eat that ____________
- You’re over fifty, you are supposed to be heavier
- You can’t look like you did when you were in your twenties
- I worked so hard to make….
- You only live once
These are all sabotages (whether you realize it or not) to whatever us dieters are turning down at the time. If a person hears this a few times a day, the resolve starts to crack.
My advice
- If a friend tells you she is dieting, don’t wave a plate of brownies under her nose.
- If a friend tells you she is cutting back, don’t say “oh, just one won’t hurt you” or other dismissals.
- If a friend tells you she is trying to lose a few, don’t suggest the everything-fried buffet for lunch.
- And for the love of all that is holy, can somebody please bring a fruit tray to work once in a while?
Support the dieting friend. Offer alternatives, like the nice place with the salad bar. Don’t wave cake, brownies, cookies, or donuts under her nose. Have a healthy recipe exchange. Offer to take a walk at break time. Don’t taunt or tease your dieting friend!
I live alone, so this problem I don’t have – if someone in your live-in family says he/she is cutting back, support them. Agree to keep the junk food out of the house. Support him or her in their choices and try new, healthier foods. And hey, you might lose a few yourself.
Here are some links I found helpful about saboteurs.
From WebMD https://www.webmd.com/diet/obesity/features/how-to-deal-with-diet-saboteurs#1
From Spark People http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=371
From U. S. News
https://health.usnews.com/wellness/food/articles/2017-02-15/how-to-foil-diet-saboteurs
From Prevention
https://www.prevention.com/weight-loss/weight-loss-tips/weight-loss-sabotage-friends-and-family
Have YOU been a saboteur?
Karen R. Sanderson 
Good post! So many valid points.
Thanks, Karen. And thanks also for your participation! I appreciate you.
Just as I would never offer alcohol to a recovering alcoholic, I make sure when I’m doing any entertaining that I have fruit or a vegetarian dish or something which can be eaten without guilt by anyone who is there. One of my favorite menus for a holiday party is a soup and bread party. Vegetarian soups are easy to make, most any soup can be made lowfat, and if I know there’s someone intolerant of gluten I have a couple of recipes for gluten-free bread or muffins that will please most anybody. It isn’t that hard…and folks always seem to appreciate it.
Excellent ideas, Esther! I love the soup idea.
Wow, what an important post at an important time of year. Having battled weight most of my life, I really identify with these sabotage techniques, even thought I know the good intentions behind them. I don’t think I’ve been a diet saboteur, but this article will make me even more sensitive — and when I have a choice of what to bring to a group gathering, I’ll try to bring the fruits and veggies! Thanks, Karen.
Thanks, E. Since I’ve struggled with this issue, I think I can be more sensitive to other types of struggles, like Esther said about the alcohol. I prefer alcohol free parties only because you just don’t know what demons others are fighting. It’s going to be huge struggle the next couple of weeks because end of semester goodies are every darn day!
Took me a while to get over here, but I agree with every appetizing thing you say here. I also always watch what I eat; not to say I’m ms perfect in the sweets department. If I’m good during the regular meal (salads, fish, chicken. lots of veggies) I allow myself something sweet every day. But I find it amazing to see the offerings at the home of others, and at parties, and WORSE, at the office. When I was in my 20s and 30s I worked at a small publishing company in which the owners thought they were being SO nice to their employees: if anyone had a birthday, the owners ordered a special birthday cake from an amazing local baker. Coconut cream, chocolate, orange, vanilla, with different frostings. And guess what? There was a birthday almost every week. I gained weight until I realized I’d just have to ignore the employee’s break room – forever. ;-0
The office is the worst for me, too. How about a fruit plate, right? I’ve avoided numerous social situations over the last few months for this very reason.
Hey Karen! I love this post, and congrats on your weight maintenance!! I am working on a project about diet sabotage.. I wonder if you would be willing to talk to me a bit about it? Let me know!
Yes. You can contact me at karenrsanderson AT midco dot NET and we can go from there. Please put something in the ‘subject’ that draws my attention, as I usually delete emails when I don’t recognize the sender.
Thanks Karen! I have just sent you an email!