When someone’s brand new to the Code Red Lifestyle, they often start out doing one of two things when it comes to sharing their decision with the people around them.
Some people tell everyone they know, talk about it all the time, and post about it on social media all the time.
Then there are people who don’t tell a soul. Or maybe they tell one or two close friends or family members, or their spouse.
People who keep quiet do it because they’re scared of failing…or, to be more exact, because of all those past failures, they’re scared of what the people around them might say if they learn they’re trying to lose weight “again.”
Odds are, they’ve got enough naysaying going on in their own head, between low self-esteem and baggage from past failed weight loss attempts, and feel like they can’t handle any bull crap from naysayers.
One person taking the “silent route” asked me just this month, “Cristy, when I go to social events like potlucks, how do I avoid talking about my food choices, or why I’m just drinking water instead of eating?”
The #1 thing you need to do is own that you’re taking your life back.
People are perceptive, and if you’re cowering and ashamed that you’re “trying to lose weight…again,” people will pick up on it, and it’ll affect how they react if your food choices do come up.
The same is true if you’ve owned that you’re taking your life back. They’ll sense how empowered you feel. It might even inspire them!
I know people make ignorant comments about this lifestyle. It happens to 99.9% of my Rebels at some point, so you’re definitely not alone.
Another thing I tell my Rebels to do is not bring it up with people who aren’t Rebels.
It’s one thing if they notice your results and ask.
But if you’re not ready to talk about it, don’t. If you’re at that potluck and choosing not to eat, and someone’s glancing curiously at you, ignore it. Don’t feel obligated to explain why you’re not eating. You don’t owe anyone an explanation.
If someone does bring it up, or innocently offers you food, tell them you’ve got plans later and you’re saving your appetite for that. Or that you’re still stuffed from whatever your previous meal was.
If they get persistent, good eye contact along with a smile and polite but firm “No thank you” gets the job done.
Your past failures, and the ignorant (and sometimes hurtful) opinions of naysayers, don’t get to determine whether you succeed on the Code Red Lifestyle.
Don’t give them more power over you than they actually have. YOU decide how much – or how little – that is.
Connect with other Rebels, and people in your life who DO support you. Their belief in you can help you learn to believe in yourself.
And when that happens, some bigmouth at a potluck won’t scare you anymore, ’cause your amazing results on the Code Red Lifestyle are speaking for themselves!