Ok, this will probably sound weak but… I work in a large office with a pretty laid back atmosphere. They are allways having big appreciation parties and food oriented events. The company is constantly using junk food as rewards and gestures of appreciation for hard work. On top of all that, the employees are constantly holding potluck BBQ’s and Bake-offs on a regular basis. I am sure that some of you other guys have noticed the way that women tend to try to feed you if they like you. I am a good looking guy, big in comparison to the average guy. I am constantly being offered sweets, and baked goods by the women at my work, it’s a womans feed/nurture type thing or something. They think that a big guy will have a big appetite and love to eat thier baked goods. I like alot of these women, and don’t want to hurt thier feelings but I don’t want to eat that sugar loaded, high carb crap. I haven’t ever had much of a sweet tooth to begin with, but right now I am two weeks into a modified T-dawg diet and with the help of MD6 there is no way I am going cheat. Sorry about the long post but, how do you guys turn down these kinds of food offers without hurting anyone’s feelings. To say I was on a diet would make them think I was crazy because you know “normal” people, they only think obese people need to diet. I am in great shape, Ijust got off of a bulking phase and am trying to expose my abs a little more. In a nutshell “What do you guys say to girls you like,(keep in mind there are alot of fat people around scarfing down every form of sugar encrusted horrors imaginable) when they don’t understand why you wont eat thier baked goods?”
Just tell them the truth, namely, that you’re a bodybuilder and must adhere to a strict diet regimen. Word will soon get around and they’ll stop asking.
Don’t say you’re one a “diet” - cuz actually you’re not. It’s more of a lifestyle. But if you’re comfortable enough with it - then the others around you will be also and it won’t be a issue. Just do what you do, eat what you eat - and don’t stress over it.
From a female perspective, it ain't no big thing. But then, I'm also into this "lifestyle" - so I see you're point. But I get egged to eat stuff I normally won't probably more so than men. Cuz, I get the "but you're so tiny" line. Know what I do? I just put a little bit of "stuff" that I could eat on my plate - and that's it. And bone up on the conversation skills - the more you talk to others, the less they'll be paying attention to your empty plate.
It might help to tell them that you really appreciate the effort that they put in before you explain why you can’t eat it.
Most people will not get it, but just tell them what Demo said. Some people might get offended but they will get over it and stop asking.
Patricia brings up a good point. At my last job people were constantly bringing in snacks like cookies, cake, etc. Coincidentally the women in the office were all on a sheep diet because they all needed to lose weight. None of them exercised regularly.
In any event, it wasn't even an issue for me because I was the "healthy guy" who didn't eat that stuff. No one took it as an insult when I didn't partake. However, if I were a chick I bet I would have been "that bitch who thinks she has to be skinny". Women can be damn hostile when it comes to body image issues.
Lie and say you’re diabetic.
You have a few options here:
- Tell them you’re on a strict diet and don’t eat that crap.
- Gladly accept all their food and take it home and put it in the refrigerator and eat it on your cheat day.
- Eat everyones food and every day when you see them ask “what did you bring for me to eat today?” Ignore them the rest of the time and pretty soon they will get tired of it. This is how I dealt with this issue at a job several years ago.
I have something of a similar problem here in Japan. Hereabouts, people always want you to drink with them at parties. This is so that they can let their hair down with a good excuse (“Well, I was drunk”) that will fly in this society. I, on the other hand, don’t drink. This has caused problems at times, since if you refuse having someone pour beer in your cup they think that you don’t want to drink with them (true) and that you don’t like them (not true).
I solved the problem by keeping my glass as full as possible. I do take a tiny bit of whatever’s on tap, but then I keep my glass filled. That way, when someone comes around they see my glass doen’t need topping off, and I can offer to top theirs off instead. Works like a charm. I imagine you could do something similar with the baked goods.
You have two options:
-
Tell the truth - Be totally honest and let them know the reasons you limit certain foods. If you are sincere they may start coming to you for advice.
-
Lie – Tell them you are diabetic. The best bodybuilding diets seem to match a diabetic diet anyway.
I would prefer to tell the truth, and as soon as possible. They might start bringing in smoked salmon dishes for you.
It is very tough not to explode with a burst of laughter when your boss says you are eating ‘weird’ while he is stuffing down a bag of sugarcookies. As for the women… just show them the incredible discipline and self control you have. And if that doesnt work, show’em your abs 
not in the same situation but im offered food, pizza anything bad for me all the time. when they offer i say im on a diet they say
“why your not fat” this and that. then i here come on eat one…it wont kill ya…ive herd that to many times.
I typically take an incredibly small piece of whatever is being offered, proclaim it to be quite delicious, and “sadly” comment that, since I’m training, none of the food I usually eat is nearly as delicious as the bite of food I just had.
Demo has got it right . I get the same stuff at work, just decline the food enough times and sooner or later they will stop asking. Then some of them will come to you for diet advice and ignore any thing you tell them.
“…Then some of them will come to you for diet advice and ignore any thing you tell them.”
Exactly.
I totally agree with Demo Dick and Kelly Baggett. Just tell them the truth. Or if you don’t want to do that, you can tell them you’re not hungry at the moment and then take the food home and use it on your cheat day–or give the food to someone else.
Tell em your allergic to processed flour and sugar. This should cover any baked goods and sweets offered to you.
We have some of the same stuff at work. I just say no thanks and there have been times where I’ve just said that I’m on a diet, when I was really in a bulk phase. I’ve gotten the response that I have such a skinny waist and I just say, “yah, and there’s a reason for that.” But I feel your pain man.