What advice to give to wannabe losers?

I have gotten to that stage where I have lost such a significant amount of weight (70 lbs) that people are starting to call me an "inspiration" (I mean even in real life). That's great, it feels really good that people find me inspiring and that that gives them a little boost to lose weight themselves.

BUT.

I know it's a bit petty for me to complain about this, but I have to say I find it really annoying when these people ask me for tips, then look at me like I am an alien when I briefly describe how I am making healthier choices and keeping track of everything on a speadsheet to help me learn portion control and stay on track. They come to me and seem to want my help, I do what I can but the truth is, everyone has their own journey and nothing I say is going to be some magic solution. And then, to make it more annoying, these people are coming to me for comraderie or something, you know the misery loves company thing..."Oh this is just so HARD isn't it?!" and I feel obligated to smile and nod but frankly I just don't get it. NO it's not hard. I've committed to my plan and sticking to it is easy because that's how I have designed it. On the weekend, one of my "converts" was at a meal with me and when some tempation was offered, he looked over at me, guilty-like, and said "well I think we should BOTH have some, we deserve it" or some such thing. Bah. I ignored it. I had already decided to have some as I had plenty of room in my calories yet, while he had already had pre-breakfast snacks of pumpkin pie and whipped cream and carrot cake, so don't include me in your little self-deluding of what "we" deserve.

I know it just sounds like bitching....but I really do wonder what to say to these people. I can see them making the same kinds of mistakes I used to, and it's frustrating. I can't plan their meals for them....I can't make them see that it's about a lifelong commitment, not doing some DIET that you can't wait to get off of. What do I say? What do you say??

EDITED for grammar

I think that some tough love is in order.  First, don't agree with anythign simply out of pity.  Be honest with them, say "for everyone, it is different", etc.

But don't mislead. And don't let them feel "okay" because you indulge in something you've saved room for!  It may be annoying, especially because many people don't want to hear the truth, but be firm, stick to what you know to be true, and maybe mention that you indeed count calories, and that maybe the should as well.

Good luck!

Wanna hear something F'ed up?

I was at my cousin's house a few weeks ago.  Her BITCH sister in law is about 75 lbs over weight.  She insisted on my showing her my stomach to prove to her that I didnt have the lapband or gastric bypass scars.....

SHe said no way could i have lost 100 lbs in just under a year, "ALL BY MYSELF"

GRRR some people!

~H~

I try not to get involved in any sort of expectation of what people will or will not do...

I won't tell them what's necessary to do. I simply grab a pen, and write down http://caloriecount.about.com/. Then I say "There's great tools and support there when you are ready."

Makes life a heck of a lot easier for me.

I have a customer that, every time I see her, tells me the latest fad diet she's doing to lose a recurring 20lbs.  (Boiled eggs was the last one... 'burp')   I think I did once ask if she wouldn't rather stop yo-yo-ing and just stay at a healthy weight with something less faddy but it was brushed off as being pie in the sky.

I live my life the way I want to and, call me hard-hearted, but I don't care about other people very much.   They can eat & drink what they like, smoke, do drugs, punish themselves with weird detoxes and fad diets.   Nothing to do with me.  If they ask for weight-loss advice my stock answer is 'eat less, exercise more'. 

Isn't it funny that people have this weird faith in crazy fad diets or supplements or programs, but the really practical, common-sense solution is brushed off as pie in the sky!!

haley_2008, sometimes people suck. I think if someone said that to me I'd want to punch them in the face (but since I am a pacifist I'd likely just get really snotty with them lol)...but I guess she felt that if you can do it, she should be able to too, and since she does not feel capable of it, you must have had surgical help. Makes perfect sense

I agree.

A lot of people though just want to hear an easy answer, like as if oh yeah, I drank water instead of soda once so I lost it all.

The people that have lost a lot of weight know that its not easy, it's not going to work with a fad diet, and knowing what to do is easy, but doing it may not be.

You could just tell them you wrap yourself in plastic wrap.