My parents, they don't understand...

They don't know what it takes to lose weight and keep it off. I know its not easy for everyone, its hard for most people. But my Dad and Step-Mom wont even listen to me. They think I'm nuts. They rolled their eyes at me once because I wouldn't eat something that contained 7 grams of Transfat (Oh my god!)
I couldn't find a "Rants and Raves" section on the forum. I thought there atleast used to be one. But anyway, I need to vent. I am not professinally trained in nutrition or fitness, but I've been working out my whole life and eating right for most of it. I began a certified personal trainer program but was unable to finish.
My parents are the complete opposite of me. They are what I like to call the typical failed dieters. I've seen them try and lose weight more times than I can count. Always looking for a magical way to lose weight easily.
They started yet another diet recently and are currently obese and would like to be overweight. I'm grateful that they have set realistic goals, but they drive me nuts. Especially this last Saturday, I tried talking to my father about being successful with his goals, tequniques I use when craving bad foods (especially with this Halloween that went by, first year ever, not one peice of candy consumed ) ways to get motivated on "lazy days". He kept dismissing my words and saying things like "Yeah, ok. Easy for you, Skinny." He thinks its easy for me because I'm "skinny already". I can almost guarantee that if I did not live this lifestyle and instead ate nasty "empty calorie" crap and lived sedentary, I would be sporting a pair of love handles or perhaps a second ass and I would always feel like crap. I know because in seventh grade before I got in shape, I had love handles, I was twelve! I tried telling them both that lifting is very important, they don't wanna here it. My step-mother especially, she is one who believes women that lift will look like Chyna from the WWE.
I did live with them for quite a few years in which they have witnessed me go about a regular weight lifting and cardio routine. They've constantly seen me turn down potato chip after potato chip and cake and things like that (ok maybe not every peice of cake ). Do they seriously believe that I have gotten to where I am by luck and not hard work and discipline? It makes me want to rant and rave when they look at me and say I have it "made". Are you kidding me?
I just want them to be healthy. They want to be healthy, but I think they're looking for the easy way (which we all know, does not exist!) I love them and would like them to be around for as long as possible.

Sorry you have to go through that and that they're not being supportive. I've been very lucky in that my parents have gone out of their way to support my weight loss...mainly because they've been picking on me for being overweight my whole life, which is a whole other set of problems.

It's great that they want to make a change...that's the first step. But there's nothing you can do but be a good role model and continue doing what you're doing. It gets hard when people keep putting temptations in your face, but stay strong!

I was reading an article the other day about how folks are so cruel to obese people, calling them names and discriminating against them and whatnot. Read something about a lady getting beat up on a subway because she took up two seats. It made me thing about my own reactions and how I feel about obese people...and it boils down to fear and anger. The fear is because I know I could end up that way if I don't watch myself very, very carefully, and the anger is because I work REALLY F'ING HARD to be in the shape that I'm in, which isn't really all that great, but it makes me feel like obese folks are just lazy. If they decided to put in the effort that I do, they wouldn't be so big and unhealthy. Is that fair? No. But it's honest, I guess. And I'm just sharing that because you might be feeling some of the same things.... My dad is overweight, and there's nothing I can do to help him at this point since I've tried about everything. Getting him to lay off his nightly 6-pack of beer would be a big step, but I can't ask for miracles.

Anyway, keep your chin up, keep doing what you know is right for you, and hopefully your parents will come around. I hope you have the chance to cook meals for them (if you live away from them, invite them over for dinner sometime, and make sure to include a healthy dessert so they can see they can still eat delicious sweets that are healthy!) and invite them on walks and outdoor activities. That's about all I can offer in terms of advice....

Gals, until someone hits "rock bottom" they aint gonna change so why nag? Change your tactics, you love them, so stop beating your head agin the wall and develop some better moves to manipulate them into your way of thinking. You both show great leadership, and its not going un-noticed by your parents, but you cant push them. I always say its easier to get my cows to follow me than it is to try to push them where they don't wanna go. People aint much different, you just have to know when to beep the horn. Someone's gonna need a bypass or god forbid have a heart attack, or they will look in the mirror one day, or something will "click", then they will look to you for leadership, then you have them. Keep working hard on yourselfs, then others around you will follow

Oh man, I've seen the rock bottom, and not on the food side. Yeah it sucks. I actually tried to bribe her with a $2,000 Tiffany bracelet. Can you imagine?

The point is, change has to be yours, and yours alone. I think we all know that. It sounds like Jill's issue isn't getting them to change, it's getting them to be supportive of her own change and her own lifestyle. Yeah, I've been there too. My dad teases me when we go out to eat, and I opt for a burger. Hey, sometimes you just need a burger! "What? No, that's not on the program you can't eat that. You don't eat fries" blah blah. Yeah, I do. I love french fries. I will stab a man for a good fry. (I don't get them often, so I tend to get emotional...). It hurts and upsets me. Like I don't deserve to have a burger on occassion (I had one last night actually, and felt pretty gnarley afterward. Ugh). He is also quite rude when I exchange the fries my food comes with for green beans or broccoli (I love plain steamed broccoli. Don't know why...) He goes completely batty. Because he isn't suppossed to eat fries. But if I get them he can snatch 'em off my plate. It comes to the same thing, but that isn't how he sees it. What makes it worse, I think, is his "I'm 65 damn years old. I'm gonna die anyway, may as well enjoy it." He's all I have. I don't want him to die. And I really hate it when he talks about it. I know he's just... ya know... talking, but I'd still rather he took care of himself and lived forever. That' s not asking much... (:

It is hard to be around people like that sometimes, but you just have to buck up and deal as best as you can. My dad can get downright snitty with me sometimes. Breathe deeply and smile.

Good luck!

Two things.

1. You need to make them understand that they can't use poor logic and stupid reasoning to be lazy about their efforts. All this weights make you look like a steroid user and you're thin it's easy for you crap won't wash.

You need to tell them straight it isn't easy, it's not like some people say, it's not a myth, or a load of contradicitions, it's a lifestyle that many can sustain, without feeling second rate or losing the ability to do it.

Unless they really understand they'll never get it.

2. You need to realise it won't happen overnight and that there has to be a certain level of stepping back, and letting them react to what is neeeded.