WTF is wrong with people?!

Ok, normally I would relinquish this rant to my journal, but seriously, the comments from my co-workers about my eating habits have been going on NON-STOP for almost a year.

Why is it anyone's business what I eat?  I never make comments about how other people choose to eat, nor do I talk about my own food choices.  I don't see why they think this is socially acceptable.  I actually get anxious to go into the kitchen for fear of what stupid small talk I'm going to have to endure.  Today's exchange:

I was in the kitchen washing my afternoon snack consisting of 85 grams of green beans, and 100 grams of carrots.  It totals to about 65 calories.

One of my co-workers walks by and says "Look at you, the healthy person again."  I uncomfortably giggle, and expect her to mark that as the end of the conversation and keep on walking. 

No, she presses onward "You're going to eat ALLLLLLL that?".  I stared blankly at her.  She repeats "You're going to finish ALLLL that in ONE day."

I responded back "It's 65 calories of vegetables, that's nothing".

I uncomfortably laugh again, and she finally goes away.  By her reaction, you would think I was eating an entire chocolate cake or something.  WTF?!  I know people are just trying to make smalltalk, which is why I generally try to laugh it off even though on the inside it makes me insecure.  But seriously, can't people just talk about the weather.  It's so weird for them to always be commenting on my food!

Does anyone else encounter this on a regular basis?  What do you do?

I ABSOLUTELY know where you're coming from. Since I've lost some weight and often eat lots of fruits (and as of recently baby carrots), I hear nothing but snide remarks. Someone even had the nerve to say, "You actually still eat?", after I said I was going out for lunch. SMH...

Anyway, I've come to the conclusion that some people are just unaware of their rudeness (sometimes!) when it comes to nit-picking other people dietary habits. You'd be surprised how many people don't have a full understanding of having a healthy eating lifestyle. Not a diet, but a permanent lifestyle. All you can do is keep doing what you're doing. And obviously, you're doing something right or else no one would "care" enough to say anything at all.

I don't know the full details of your situation, but I don't think her comment is along the lines of "you're eating a whole cake", more like "you are not eating enough to live on"  i know the miniumum anyone should be eating is 1200 cals a day, so if you make that 3 meals and a snack, you should be at 300 cals a meal, not 65.  and then more if you exercise, or are larger, etc.

i'm not saying you are under-eating, maybe you graze all day?  but to someone who see's you eat that small amount of food as a "meal", it would look abnormal.  65 cals is not even half a snack for me!  i would starve.

zhowe - the OP said this was her "afternoon snack."

As a loyal Kaffwyn journal reader, I know she's not starving or undereating.

Funny that you mention that.  I generally eat 2 afternoon snacks (in addition to my lunch, and my morning snack).  I have one small one shortly after lunch, and then usually some oatmeal to sustain me for the ride home.

I also frequently get the "are you eating AGAIN" comments.  I can't recall if I've gotten that one specifically from this person.  However, it was clear in her tone of voice that she was shocked at the large quantity (in her opinion) I was eating.

I think she was just  probably shocked that it is possible to *eat all that* there are people who still believe that you have to eat baby portions.

Next time just straight out ask *why do you ask*? and see where it takes you.

This is what picky eaters like myself have had to put up with all my life. 

"Why don't you want cheese on your hamburger?"

"Don't you want ketchup on your fries"?

 "NO MAYO?!?!" As if it's a crime, every time I order a sandwich from the same woman at our company cafeteria.

My father used to critique me on how I ate at practically every meal, just because I didn't like to mix my food together.

Etc, etc.  Some people are just obsessed with what and how other people eat.  I think it's a control thing.

I would have slapped that woman... but actually I would have looked at her and her cookie and laughed in her face at how unhealthy her snack is compared to mine (yours). She is completely jealous of your habits and only wishes she liked vegetables as much as you. Seriously she is jealous and you should only pay attention to all the good you're doing for your body! Look at her and her terrible habits and BASK in the glory of how well you are doing on your diet! 

Yeah... sigh. I work with about 30 men that eat fast food ALL day. I now have gotten past 2 years of the same ridicule... Now I use it as a way to get back at them... I make pumpkin brownies and after they snarf them all down I tell them whats in it! HA! That or tofu chilli... nobody knew! Some poeple need to open their eyes not just their mouth. Plus... I am sure they are jealous of ya!

I <3 Veggies!

GlobeJumper

Lol, I probably would of said something like "Oh yeah! they're soooooo delicious, but they make me soooooo gassy! I feel sorry for whoever I have to sit next to at the meeting today!" That usually shuts people up.

I don't really have the problem of "Are you going to eat ALL that food?" It is usually, "Is that all you're eating?!" (My family consists of some very large people, who happen to think that a well-rounded meal is ribs and fries for an appetizer, 12 ounces of steak or pork with mashed potatoes, gravy, and HUGE chocolate brownies with ice cream for dessert.) I just ignore the comments, and eat whatever portion is right for me.

Just realize that your co-worker is insecure about herself, that's why she picks on you. It's just like grade school, some people just never grow out of it.

Hi there,

I too struggle with work collegues whi think that they are allowed to make a running commentry on what I eat throughout the day. I do tend to think that it is a kind of jealousy at your motivation and willingness to eat healthy. Maybe you should have offered some to them.

However:

One day I actually flipped and ranted at one particular office full of middle aged ladies that I didn't comment on the 5 chocolate bars a day they each eat, plus the tea with sugar, plus the mayonaise dripping meat loaded white subs and biscits. I told them that the reason I was so "thin" was that I looked after myself and the reason I didn't sweat like a pig was because I worked out. I stomped back to my office. Later that day I got pulled in with the boss who began to talk about disciplinary measures reagrding my outburst as I had upset these particular ladies. I explained exactly what had been happnening over the past couple of months and asked her whether she thought it was fair that I had to endure everyone talking about my eating habits.

Needless to say I was kicked out of the office and replaced with the room full of women who were given a "equality and diversity" talk.

I'm 5ft 6in and 134lbs - which is smack bang in the middle of the healthy BMI. It is difficult for some people to deal with others who take care of themselves.

Keep your chin up x

Original Post by kaffwynn:

Ok, normally I would relinquish this rant to my journal, but seriously, the comments from my co-workers about my eating habits have been going on NON-STOP for almost a year.

Why is it anyone's business what I eat?  I never make comments about how other people choose to eat, nor do I talk about my own food choices.  I don't see why they think this is socially acceptable.  I actually get anxious to go into the kitchen for fear of what stupid small talk I'm going to have to endure.  Today's exchange:

I was in the kitchen washing my afternoon snack consisting of 85 grams of green beans, and 100 grams of carrots.  It totals to about 65 calories.

One of my co-workers walks by and says "Look at you, the healthy person again."  I uncomfortably giggle, and expect her to mark that as the end of the conversation and keep on walking. 

No, she presses onward "You're going to eat ALLLLLLL that?".  I stared blankly at her.  She repeats "You're going to finish ALLLL that in ONE day."

I responded back "It's 65 calories of vegetables, that's nothing".

I uncomfortably laugh again, and she finally goes away.  By her reaction, you would think I was eating an entire chocolate cake or something.  WTF?!  I know people are just trying to make smalltalk, which is why I generally try to laugh it off even though on the inside it makes me insecure.  But seriously, can't people just talk about the weather.  It's so weird for them to always be commenting on my food!

Does anyone else encounter this on a regular basis?  What do you do?

I have experienced this and still do from colleagues, friends and family.  It seems to be a constant thing for them....guess there is nothing better for them to comment about.  I have heard everything from "you could use some cake - put a little something on those bones"   "You weigh what 150, 100?????"  "What size pants do you wear?????"  "Do you have to go to the kids section to buy your clothes so they fit?????"  "When was the last time you ate a meal????"  Personally it gets old...I laugh out loud and think you guys just dont get it...it isnt about YOU...its about ME...my health...my choices...my life....so I have learned to just say "the hell with them" - if they dont like what I am eating dont watch...if they want the Outback blooming grease ball go for it...if they want to eat 3000 calories and 100 grams of fat in one sitting - I say have at it...its your call do what makes you feel good....just leave me out of it :)  Hang in there and take ONE DAY AT A TIME!

I have gotten comments from co-workers on my eating, my body etc.  I look at them, smile and very politely tell them I believe in a healthy lifestyle and then walk away. 

I think they must justify eating their sugar-laden foods and fats clogging up their arteries.  I think they must justify sitting on their butts gossiping while I am treking around the grounds walking at lunch. 

I do my own thing, dance to a different drummer and enjoy myself.  Not all my co-workers are 'off-color'....some are quite kind.  But some....well, they think nothing of telling me "Gee its a shame you cant lose weight off your fat calves".  Ugh!  I smile and am polite and tell them "yes, I wish I had dancer's legs but unfortunately genetics gave me my father's muscular calves".

Rant over.

Here you go Kaffwynn:  "Yeah I know!  Isn't it great???? When I started on this journey I had no idea how satisfying and healthy the food would be...I tell you everytime I see one of those commercials about [insert diet that rude co-worker is currently on] it infuriates me! I can eat this gi-normous pile of veggies and still lose weight!! Would you like some pointers??"

Turn it around on them honey - everyone always tries to avoid a crusader. :D

For Patsy: "Are you kidding?? I've been trying to build these babies up since the fifth grade. I love being able to have the leg strength to move myself through the world! It's great! Would you like some pointers??"

Some great tips on this thread here. You should very well be brave with people who aren`t your friends and give them a piece of your mind.

For me, unfortunately, the only people who comment on my eating habits are my obese parents and some very overweight friends. My coworkers with weight issues are actually very impressed by what I eat, and constantly ask for pointers and express the desire to have my will power. I`d much rather have it the other way around, as I wouldn`t be comfortable flipping my loved ones off. So in lack of a better option, I end up avoiding situations when I have to eat around someone who I know will give me a hard time about it.

I`d be perfectly fine with the comments if they didn`t ruin the satisfaction of eating for me. I`m a Taurus and I care deeply about enjoying and savouring my food, thank you very much.

If it bugs you just tell them what you think when they start up give them a piece of your mind.  They will probably shut up. 

Original Post by caramelrocky:

One day I actually flipped and ranted at one particular office full of middle aged ladies that I didn't comment on the 5 chocolate bars a day they each eat, plus the tea with sugar, plus the mayonaise dripping meat loaded white subs and biscits. 

There are SOOO many times I ran that exact scenerio through my head.  Despite the fact that I am a pretty blunt person, the ONE place I bite my tounge is at work.  I have to see these people every day, so I try to be as cordial as possible.

And I totally understand when people say I should just express my feelings.  Although, I have to admit, I think it would also make me seem weird if I responded "Can you please not talk about my eating habits, it makes me uncomfortable".  That would make me even MORE of the office freak. 

Original Post by kaffwynn:

One of my co-workers walks by and says "Look at you, the healthy person again."  I uncomfortably giggle, and expect her to mark that as the end of the conversation and keep on walking. 

No, she presses onward "You're going to eat ALLLLLLL that?".  I stared blankly at her.  She repeats "You're going to finish ALLLL that in ONE day."

 

I used to get comments about my eating habits all the time. Or someone would make a rude comment when I went to log my food. I found the perfect way to fix it.

I went to our lunch room when the main offenders were eating. Someone made a snarky comment about how I probably was not going to even eat a lunch. To that I replied "I did eat lunch, it was 300 calories." A lady coworker responded  that what I ate was not a meal.

I then proceeded to tell everyone an approximation of how many calories they were eating for lunch. One woman actually stopped eating after I told her that her triple cheese burger had more calories in it that I ate in an entire day. Someone actually had the nerve to tell me not to make them feel bad about what they were eating. To which I replied "Now you know how I feel"

The comments stopped. I am rude like that though, this tactless tactic may not work for you.

No matter what type of food commenting it is, it bugs me when people comment on what I eat! I had a co-worker in an old office say "gosh, you're eating potato chips? I'm surprised you're not REALLY big!" I worked in an office where everyone was obese and kept pushing cake on me.  Right now I've got an anorexic hovering over my shoulder saying "do you know how many calories there are in CELERY??"

just look 'em dead in the eye and say, "Stop it."