No support from coworkers??

[5krunner]

I happen to work in a profession where most of my coworkers are over weight and not physically active. Lately I have had to go on the defense during lunch over my eating habits and choice of diet. It's come to the point where I will avoid eating with others just so I don't have to explain to people everyday what my "deal" is. Anyone else have similar experiences like this?

[tomdana]

I don't get negatives though people are now getting putoff when they bring me deserts and candy/cookies as treats and thank yous, and i don't eat them. I feel I will do my thing and the drawer at my desk is full of protein bars, drinks, and of course tuna. If one person changes that is fine with me. I have changed myself and if that is all I can expect, I am content. Good luck to you.

[ironwill2008]

I'm retired now, but for years worked in an outside construction enviornment. Some of my co-workers would needle me about my eating constantly, and always lifting weights. It was usually the more-overweight types who would say stuff; I'd just laugh, and tell them they should try working out. I never got defensive, and I never flaunted my being in shape. I'd usually let their comments slide. I figured it came from a lack of discipline on their part to do something for their health. Three of them eventually saw the light, and started working out. One of them trained with me for nearly a year, until he built a new house, with a home gym that rivals mine. It's a great feeling to see others get proactive about their health, and see them get strong and healthy.

[djl_ottawa]

I know the feeling. Or did. My current job folks are great. Only one person who I work with is Obese, but he is going to the gym also now.

My last job I worked in a Call Centre type environment and it was bad. Everyone would order take out and such and I would bring my lunch and do shakes. They would get pissed when I did not want to get in on the "order" because they were short one person. I just kept to it and eventually (took months) they understood that was normal for me.

[dogguy]

Originally Posted by 5krunner

Lately I have had to go on the defense during lunch over my eating habits and choice of diet.

--Oh, man, can I relate to this. LOL! I am constantly explaining to people what I am doing, and for some of them, it's very intimating. I encourage people to eat right and get into a fitness program. This one guy is actually beginning to crack. LOL! He will join us soon enough, soon enough. LOL!

[runner05]

It can be tough when you are the "minority". I have found that there are those who actually seem to get angry 'cuz I won't do their thing or eat the donut offered. But, those people are obviously the ones who do not work out or eat clean. They try now and again w/o success for lack of really being willing to do the work. They think it's easier for "someone like you". So, they get upset because they are not as "in shape" as I am and yet I am trying to do even better. They just simply don't understand it. Ignorance is the key here. 5k... you should be feeling better just 'cuz you are "in the know" I know it doesn't make it much better when you're looking at their scowling faces, but here's the mental picture I like to use (silently, of course) when faced w/ those situations...

You've seen the show "Tommy Boy" w/ Chris Farley? There's a scene w/ him as a passenger in the car, shoving food into his mouth, and his driver says, "I just just HEAR you getting fatter!" Yeah... I use that a lot - although I never really share it w/ anyone! I know it's kinda' mean, but I do keep it to myself, so not to hurt their feelings, of course - but, it does make me feel better!

[bodyhard]

It's weird man cause whenever you do good you are ridiculed and when you do bad you are accepted.

[woodan]

Originally Posted by bodyhard

It's weird man cause whenever you do good you are ridiculed and when you do bad you are accepted.

Because when you do good you inadvertently make people feel bad about themselves, and when you do bad they feel good about themselves.

[Nikonguy]

Originally Posted by 5krunner

I happen to work in a profession where most of my coworkers are over weight and not physically active. Lately I have had to go on the defense during lunch over my eating habits and choice of diet. It's come to the point where I will avoid eating with others just so I don't have to explain to people everyday what my "deal" is. Anyone else have similar experiences like this?

Hmmmm.. do you happen to be a teacher? As an "occupational group" we seem to have this problem (particularly coaches, wtf??)

I don't ever get and flak but sometimes comments about how great it is that my wife packs such nice lunches for me I eat lunch with people who are always "on a diet". They are amazed at what I bring in to eat. They can't imagine how I've lost weight and kept it off. Everything they eat comes frozen in a tiny cardboard box while today I'll eat 3 cups of salad greens with pasta and greek dressing along with a large grilled chicken breast. If they only knew how much I actually eat in the course of a day, LOL

[WordyGirl]

Originally Posted by woodan

Because when you do good you inadvertently make people feel bad about themselves, and when you do bad they feel good about themselves.

I think that's it, in a nutshell.

[GreenWave1]

I don't explain. People will make comments and I usually just smile. Sometimes people will comment on my lunch while I'm preparing it. I usually say "I have plenty. Would you like some?". No one has ever said yes.

[bhaputi]

I have gotten crap in the past, but since many people here have seen the results, I tend to get sincere questions more than anything now.
I even am getting a few of the guys around here together on May 1st to do a 1 mile run with me

[KimberleyRN]

I am a NURSE on the cardiac unit... you would think my coworkers would understand, huh??

NOPE, they look at me like I am completely crazy. I just keep on eating clean, working out and living life with a smile on my face.

I think more than the eating clean, the positive attitude really chaps their hides.

I have heard so many times... "you are too perky", "Why do you have to be so happy this early in the morning?"... yeah... they prefer I be grumpy and slow moving... can not relate.

[TuffGirl]

Jeff, Man... just look at your abs and then took at the guys who are questioning your lifestyle. They are probably Overweight, Out of Shape, Tired, Unhappy, Pitiful people. JEALOUSY IS AN EVIL BEAST

I had one chick at work, probably weighed close to 250 pounds calling me ANOREXIC! That really hurt my feelings, especially after I had been working so hard to lose the weight. I had gone from 203 pounds to about 160 by then, no way was I anorexic!

She was just JEALOUS! But Guess What? I'm getting the last laugh now,,,, I'm weighing in at 144 and her BIG ASS is still 250+

FORGET THE HATERS! DO YOUR THING!

LOOKING GOOD AIN'T EASY!

[IronCamp]

Originally Posted by woodan

Because when you do good you inadvertently make people feel bad about themselves, and when you do bad they feel good about themselves.

That is really just sad. I love to see other people succeed.

[ed819]

There are several people who comment on my eating habits at work, it is usually the same closed minded BS like man you eat all the time how are you losing weight.
I have tried to explain the benefit of eating smaller meals more frequently throughout the day but my explanation has had an adverse effect . Now this one guy (who is obese) eats every break right along side of me, the only difference is everything he eats is from the vending machines. :sad:

[OHIOSTEVE]

I used to get it some when I was into lifting before...I get it more over my judo and submission wrestling. Had one buddy who was constantly harassing me about it telling me I liked to wrestle sweaty men etc....One night in front of a large group of our friends he decided he wanted to wrestle me. In about 15 seconds I had him in a crucifix and everyone laughing at him.....A while later we were staying in a hotel for a convention. He started again about the judo. I hit him with a throw in the hotel room and he landed flat on his back in the middle of the bed. My wife and his wife were standing there and she said" whoa...can you teach me how to do that?".....He started training with us not long after that.

[jmhester]

I think I'm the luckiest guy around. I work in DOD and most all of my coworkers are ex-military. Before that, I worked at USCENTCOM and 90% were active military. Being fit was encourage, even to us civilians! Plus, they had a great gym and watching Navy Seals workout is great motivation.
Now, we are actually having a bodybuilding contest at work. The bet is to see who can drop their bodyfat % the most by the end of July.
In the private sector, I worked with the fattest SOBs you have ever seen. Being fit sure ticked them off, especially when their wives were giving me the eye! :-) Like everyone says, misery loves company so stick with it and screw the rest of the slackers.

[Hound53]

I average about 1 visitor maybe 2 every couple of weeks in my office. I have a fridge and a microwave in there and sit at my desk and either read or surf the net while I do lunch. No one to care about what I eat or don't eat.

[bodyhard]

Originally Posted by KimberleyRN

I am a NURSE on the cardiac unit... you would think my coworkers would understand, huh??

NOPE, they look at me like I am completely crazy. I just keep on eating clean, working out and living life with a smile on my face.

I think more than the eating clean, the positive attitude really chaps their hides.

I have heard so many times... "you are too perky", "Why do you have to be so happy this early in the morning?"... yeah... they prefer I be grumpy and slow moving... can not relate.

My wife is exactly like that, when I get up in the morning I am always singing, whistling or laughing and she is like "Shut the F up!" She is NOT a monring person at all, until she gets her coffee and cigarette.

[djl_ottawa]

Originally Posted by bodyhard

My wife is exactly like that, when I get up in the morning I am always singing, whistling or laughing and she is like "Shut the F up!" She is NOT a monring person at all, until she gets her coffee and cigarette.

I am during the weekday the first one up. I always am the one getting the wife up for work (she gets up 2 hours before I do). I get up at 5am and feed the cats, and then wake her up. Then I go back to bed.

During the weekend though, I sleep in. Probably to much.

[5krunner]

Sounds like a lot of us deal with this at times! Someone told me the other day that I must be going through a mid-life crisis or something. I replied that my life was not in a crisis at all and that I'm actually more happy now than ever. It does get annoying at times and I often have to bite my tongue for fear of saying something mean/rude in return.

[Thuirwyne]

My best friend used to be the same way! Coffee and cigs first, looking very much like the undead, but now she's the one harassing me, "Doing cardio this morning? Do you want to go trail running this Sunday?" No more coffee or cigs either. Hang in there!

[TuffGirl]

With today being Friday, I decided I'd treat myself to a little "Fast Food - Bad Food" so I dipped into 'Chipolte Mexican Grill' (it's a chain that sells burritos, burrito bowls, mexican salads, etc...).

There was a group of my co-workers sitting right in the front door. One of them, a guy, very overweight yelled; "Hey, Regina, We're surprised to see you here, you're so skinny we didn't think you ate!"

I admit, it did make me laugh!

[StressMonkey]

Originally Posted by 5krunner

I happen to work in a profession where most of my coworkers are over weight and not physically active. Lately I have had to go on the defense during lunch over my eating habits and choice of diet. It's come to the point where I will avoid eating with others just so I don't have to explain to people everyday what my "deal" is. Anyone else have similar experiences like this?

Yah, I can definitely relate. Today I got the "you're eating again???" comment when I was eating a banana at my desk.

[Pretty Hardcore]

I used to get comments like that all the time, but not so much anymore. I've been with the same company for 10 years, while everybody else has been getting fatter, I'm not and people are noticing. They are starting to ask me questions about my diet and exercise plan now, so you can become a positive influence.

[AndrewLK]

I swore off fast food and the excessive amounts of pop I was consuming and the whole luch room basically laughed at me and poked fun for weeks. I am now down 35 lbs since January, I have no clothes that fit or hang on me properly and everyone is surprised. I would rather me the odd man out being fit than fat with the rest of them. I am a mechanic and when there is a heavy lifting job to be done guess who gets it done or is the first choice for help?? Stay on track and I try to inform them as to what I am doing and why when asked without trying to act better than them. I will not give into there prodding or let them piss me off as my time and energy is better spent on myself then on their insecurities. Most of these guys are younger and I am surpassing there fitness levels or lack there of and they might just be lashing out cause they can't bring themselves to try to change their lives. Keep up the good work!!

[Bando]

When I decided to get fit I was coincidentally paired with a supervisor who is a fitness/eating guru. She coached me to lose 30 lbs.

At a whole company staff meeting I told my story and nominated her for "master motivator." Lotta tears and cheering all the way around. A couple months later I ran a 5k with her, and am running it again with her on Sunday. This year I motivated 2 other co-workers to run the run.

Screw the people who wanna drag you down, work on the people you can drag up.

[redweston]

F_ _ _ k Em !

Keeponpumpin! - red

[IR45N]

Originally Posted by AndrewLK

Most of these guys are younger and I am surpassing there fitness levels or lack there of

You're only 36 so your quote above says a lot! Keep up the good work. Food, fast food, it's all about 'taste' yours has got to 'taste' better than the other guys & 'healthy' is way down on the order of importance despite what any company says.