I’ve started a new diet program, and I’m doing quite well, but a close friend keeps criticizing me. They say things like, ‘If you keep doing this, you’ll become diabetic; you’re starving yourself.’ At first, I thought it was out of good intentions, but it feels like they can’t stand my success. Have you experienced something like this? Am I misunderstanding something?
5 Answers
5I’ve experienced things like this; my close friend used to criticize the sport I was doing for a while. They would always try to bring me down by saying things like, ‘You’ll get muscle and it will look ugly.’ I think this stems from a bit of a power imbalance. Seeing your success might mean facing up to what they can’t achieve.
If I were you, I would have a heart-to-heart with my daughter. Ask her, 'Are you saying this because you’re curious about me, or is there something else
Honestly, I don’t think it’s right to blame your friend entirely here. Perhaps they’re really just concerned about your health. After all, there’s a risk if the diet isn’t followed properly. The part about them ‘not being able to handle your success’ might be a bit of an exaggeration.
Now, a proper diet program should be determined based on an individual’s health status. Especially if there is criticism like ‘you are starving yourself’, it may highlight the danger of calorie-free eating. It would be good to consult a dietitian and review the program again.
Let me add that I have already been to a dietitian and we created this program together. No matter how many times I explain this to my friend, she still says, ‘It can’t be like this, all dietitians are the same.’ I can’t tell if she just wants to protect me or if she enjoys criticizing.