I may as well be a fucking Martian to my coworkers.
Everyday, I get gasps of horror as I eat almonds, broccoli, and a random chunk of animal.
“Oh, no carbs? Atkins didn’t work for me.”
“What are all those pills? ::pill diatribe::” (Fish oil!)
And I swear to God an old fat man was borderline pissed off that I refused to eat the hotdogs and chili and white buns and nachos he brought in. I thanked him profusely, but I was not going to eat it. People fucking hate that you eat healthy but they don’t.
I am not didactic or holier than thou in my life journey to other people so I don’t get the animosity toward me for it. Fuck 'em. What does suck is when they ask what I do. “Thib’s carb cycling”. Or whatever. It’s all a waste of breath.
“I eat few carbs. I lift weights. My cardio is sprinting, slow jogging, then sprinting again over and over. I take a lot of fish oil, and yes each day begins with 4 whole eggs, with the murderous yolk intact.”
I think people are sometimes genuinely confused when we refuse to eat things. I’ve had a number of people offer some version of “But you can afford it!” Well, sure. But if I accept all the donuts or disgusting grocery store birthday cake I’m offered I won’t be able to “afford” it for long.
It’s that they view dieting as a means to look like you do, and since you DO look like you do…they don’t understand why you’re not “enjoying” life as they would in your position. They don’t understand the commitment to it in and of itself. Just as a means to an end.
There is no way to explain it. Just throw your idiot coworkers a knowing smile to any of their smartass remarks. I never said a word, just a smile to their retorts. This way they will speak less, and preserve your sanity.
[quote]EmilyQ wrote:
I think people are sometimes genuinely confused when we refuse to eat things. I’ve had a number of people offer some version of “But you can afford it!” Well, sure. But if I accept all the donuts or disgusting grocery store birthday cake I’m offered I won’t be able to “afford” it for long.
It’s that they view dieting as a means to look like you do, and since you DO look like you do…they don’t understand why you’re not “enjoying” life as they would in your position. They don’t understand the commitment to it in and of itself. Just as a means to an end.
That’s my theory, anyway.[/quote]
It’s a good theory.
But they have to understand that not everyone is like them. For some god awful reason, I have some OCD all or nothing excessive overbearing addictive personality. “Just a little bit” turns into a gorgefest and a general feeling of shittiness about it all. Could probably be classified as some sort of eating disorder, but I’m better off not even having ‘just some’.
But they have to understand that not everyone is like them. For some god awful reason, I have some OCD all or nothing excessive overbearing addictive personality. “Just a little bit” turns into a gorgefest and a general feeling of shittiness about it all. Could probably be classified as some sort of eating disorder, but I’m better off not even having ‘just some’.[/quote]
Yes! I don’t interpret it as OCD as much as that I’m always hungry. All the time! When I eat, I eat large quantities for my size because usually I eat lean food. If I got started on the donuts I feel like I might never stop. They don’t fill me up. EVER. So I’m helplessly snarfing my third or fourth greasy, glazed, 300 calorie donut, starting to get shaky from guilt and too much sugar, and the people around me are thinking “She sure does eat a lot, wonder why she’s so skinny?”
So I agree, best not to start. I eat plenty of cheat foods, but I like to pick them. Not mindlessly eat junk because I can’t seem to stop.
One place I worked used to have an eating occasion about once a week. Usually great stuff. One secretary made a breakfast souffle that was absolutely awesome with sausage, egg, cheese, and bacon. Good shit if you are lifting heavy and active. Problem was, they were all sedentary office workers.(I was the factory service repair guy).
I had a lunchmate filled with deer meat, fish oils, and protien shakes. It was strange to them. There was one woman who worked out and had the best snack drawer in the universe, but neither she nor I lasted very long there.
I’m not suggesting joining your friends in everything they do, but once in a while, taking a bite with your coworkers or an unplanned ‘cheat’ meal will not throw you completely out of gear…and will prevent you from 'looking like a martian" to your friends, so you only stand out in a crowd because of the muscle youre carrying. Unless youre 10 weeks out from a show…or are doing a severe diet like the V-Diet/GSD whatever.
Ive observed that a lot of weekend warriors start looking at themselves as competitive bbers once they begin to lift weights and subconsciously walk around with a ‘holier than thou’ attitude. On the other hand, ive seen really massive dudes who actually join in the fun with friends and family once in a while…youve got to find that fine line where you’re willing to tread without complaining.
[quote]msd0060 wrote:
I may as well be a fucking Martian to my coworkers.
Everyday, I get gasps of horror as I eat almonds, broccoli, and a random chunk of animal.
“Oh, no carbs? Atkins didn’t work for me.”
“What are all those pills? ::pill diatribe::” (Fish oil!)
And I swear to God an old fat man was borderline pissed off that I refused to eat the hotdogs and chili and white buns and nachos he brought in. I thanked him profusely, but I was not going to eat it. People fucking hate that you eat healthy but they don’t.
I am not didactic or holier than thou in my life journey to other people so I don’t get the animosity toward me for it. Fuck 'em. What does suck is when they ask what I do. “Thib’s carb cycling”. Or whatever. It’s all a waste of breath.
“I eat few carbs. I lift weights. My cardio is sprinting, slow jogging, then sprinting again over and over. I take a lot of fish oil, and yes each day begins with 4 whole eggs, with the murderous yolk intact.”[/quote]
I lift weights. I eat lots of carbs. My cardio is cycling 5 hours a week. I take fish oil and yes each day begins with 4 whole eggs, with the murderous yolk intact.
[quote]tribunaldude wrote:
I’m not suggesting joining your friends in everything they do, but once in a while, taking a bite with your coworkers or an unplanned ‘cheat’ meal will not throw you completely out of gear…and will prevent you from 'looking like a martian" to your friends, so you only stand out in a crowd because of the muscle youre carrying. Unless youre 10 weeks out from a show…or are doing a severe diet like the V-Diet/GSD whatever.
Ive observed that a lot of weekend warriors start looking at themselves as competitive bbers once they begin to lift weights and subconsciously walk around with a ‘holier than thou’ attitude. On the other hand, ive seen really massive dudes who actually join in the fun with friends and family once in a while…youve got to find that fine line where you’re willing to tread without complaining.
[/quote]
Oh please believe I cheat. Yesterday was a large pizza and 6 pack of Sam Adams Hefeweizen. I just make the cheats worth it. Half a hot dog would suck nuts.
I am the sum of all of the meals combined, so the occasional cheat is easily forgiven. But for a hot dog? C’mon.
And those massive dudes, they can easily cheat because their muscles just absorb that shit and shrug it off. I am not huge yet so my body does not burn a quarter million calories a day yet.
But I agree, cheating is necessary and unavoidable. If I allowed them to sway me though, my coworkers, I would have a “small portion” of cake or a donut or a squirt or 3 of trans fat french vanilla creamer in my coffee daily.
You’re not doing anything wrong by eating differently. How are body builders any different to vegetarians, vegans or people with food intolerances? They’re allowed to be different.
Almost every day cakes and biscuits are brought into the office and for everyone else it is a time of much rejoicing. Good for them, they enjoy that shit, I don’t.
When I get up in the morning I make breakfast and two lunches (chicken/turkey breast with salad onion, pepper, cherry tomatoes, chili pepper and spinach - with or without rice).
I get comments from time to time about my ‘unusual’ diet but it’s just something to talk about. I tell them I feel better when I eat healthy food and they just accept it.
Some people will dislike me for it, but I’m not gonna let it get in the way of looking the way I want to.
I eat as much free food as I can. It is expensive to feed myself enough to gain size. I appreciate an extra bagel or 3 from a coworker.
If you want to look good naked all the time, cheating every time someone brings something to the office is impossible. Someone brings cake/cookies/candy/doughnuts/bagels into our office almost every day. I don’t dig the sweets because they make me feel like shit, but bagels go well with a protein shake.
You could always make some shit up, “I have a gluten allergy, so I can’t eat any bread or stuff like that” would work well if you’re not eating carbs. When you get caught and called on it later, just smile and say “I hope I don’t die!”
But yeah, sometimes people will think you’re nuts, or resent you for eating clean.
One more reason to get big. Now, I’m not huge by any stretch, but I look like I lift. And, it seems the more muscle I put on, the less weird my massive eating habits and protein shake consumption seem to other people.
I guess it’s kind of like seeing a 150 lb beanpole walking around the gym sipping from a gallon jug of water…looks kinda odd. But, when looking at the 250 lb juggernaut doing the same thing, it just kinda makes sense.
It’s fine to tell them that if they believed that they had any value they wouldn’t eat so much of the crap; people look after the things they value. You will only have to say it once because this truth stings people when they hear it.
[quote]905Patrick wrote:
They feel shame when you won’t eat crappy food.
It’s fine to tell them that if they believed that they had any value they wouldn’t eat so much of the crap; people look after the things they value. You will only have to say it once because this truth stings people when they hear it.[/quote]
…or, they might just be wondering why their coworker has a stick up his ass in regards to his diet.
Not everyone is so envious of the T-Nation lifestyle.
[quote]905Patrick wrote:
They feel shame when you won’t eat crappy food.
It’s fine to tell them that if they believed that they had any value they wouldn’t eat so much of the crap; people look after the things they value. You will only have to say it once because this truth stings people when they hear it.[/quote]
Um, no. You will only have to say it once because everyone will avoid you thereafter for being so needlessly unpleasant and superior.