Coworker Rant! I've GOT to vent.

melsmith612

I do have to admit that I am, on the rare occassion, that person. Primarily because I love making curry and chili but I try not to bring them in for lunch and save the leftovers for an easy dinner the next day. Sometimes I can't resist though.

WhatDoesLisa

My friend sits next to a woman that cracks open a can of tuna everyday and MICROWAVES it. Then she sits down next to her and eats it. The entire module wants to kill her.

melsmith612

The office i'm in only has 4 people. The women try and eat okay-usually subway or a burrito bowl from Chipotle, nothing I would castigate them for. But the one guy in our office...he's a different story. Arby's, Domino's, Jimmy John's, mexican...I swear, it's insanity! And he's a good Southern boy, so he ALWAYS asks if anyone wants anything. Sometimes it smells so good it's almost sinful! Thankfully, I eat about an hour after he does, so I'm usually not too hungry when all that lovely food comes waltzing in. That, and I've finally figured out how to let myself have those things I crave without wrecking my new habits!

Stay strong my friend!

I started eating later too. I typically have a mid-morning snack to keep me until 1pm when almost everyone else in my office has already used the kitchen - that way I don't end up smelling something good half an hour after I've finished eating. Sometimes I have to smell popcorn (our office PROVIDES it as a snack to anyone who wants it) but that usually goes away pretty quickly compared to the smell of reheated fried foods.

KJoy7

I'm eating Cauliflower and carrots right now and smelling Long John Silvers... Thanks Co-workers

But I don't mind because I'm healthly

mamakjknows

So, my question is--why are you depriving yourself of foods that you like to eat? It only makes you want it more. So, I see--have a hamburger from McD's every once in awhile, or a piece of chicken from KFC. Your craving will be satisfied and you won't be jealous of what your co-worker is eating

Just saying!!!!:devil:

IrishHarpy1

I'm now waiting for the suggestions of how people who bring in "unhealthy food" to work should be forced to heat it up and eat it far away from the rest of the employees. Should they be asked to go outside like smokers are? Segregate them into a small area of the cafeteria and surround them with air purifiers?

"ZOMG -- someone is eating a Big Mac and fries! This is UNACCEPTABLE IN THE WORKPLACE!!!!!"

*sigh*

Sorry... just had to vent.

It'd just be nice if our kitchen either wasn't right next to my office (I moved here when I got a promotion last year) or if the kitchen had like an exhaust fan or something to keep the smells from lingering - no need for sarcasm.

It's not sarcasm -- believe me, if I were being sarcastic you'd know it.

The point I'm trying to make is that you can't always control your environment... you can only control yourself. People post rants like this QUITE often, and use it as an excuse as to why they "caved in" and stopped for fast food on the way home from work, or fell off the wagon because someone put temptation of some sort in their path. Not saying that you would, mind you -- but others are looking for excuses.

I understand where you're coming from -- I have a coworker who likes to eat egg sandwiches covered in onions and Limburger cheese EVERY DAY. The tea tree oil? It will become your best friend....

KJoy7

My friend sits next to a woman that cracks open a can of tuna everyday and MICROWAVES it. Then she sits down next to her and eats it. The entire module wants to kill her.

punch her in the throat! She deserves it!

ENCORRALES21

keep vapor rub at your desk, I am in the same boat as you. It sucks and i find that a quick wiff of the vapor rub blocks out the wonderful McDonald smell that I encounter every day!!! I keep a little round tin of Vicks at my desk

fishingwoman

Not only does my co-worker eat it right beside me because our desks are really close and our office is small, he always offers to grab me something while he's getting his. He goes out every day for lunch. Cheesesteaks, KFC, McDonalds, Zaxby's, all the places that I love. He thinks he's being considerate even though I have told him I am trying to cut out those kinds of foods. I bring my lunch everyday and thats what I tell him but it does not keep him from asking and when I tell him no thanks, his reply is "Are you sure?" :grumble:

Ready2Rock206

I don't know what my co-worker is eating right now - at her desk. It's very fragrant. I can't tell if it smells bad or good though! :ohwell: One of those things. Kinda spicy but like chips. I should go wander around and peek at everyone's desk to see who it is and what the heck they are eating. I can hear crunching occasionally too...

Tank_Girl

Stick some tinfoil in the microwave next time you see that particular co-worker about to microwave their food... Microwave explodes co-worker gets blamed and hopefully they dont replace the microwave

tomomatic

Throw a metal fork in the microwave when no one is looking and walk away. Problem solved.

Kitiara47

The smells don't bother me too much anymore. My biggest problem I have is I walk through our student center to get out of the heat when walking to class and am instantly bombarded by the delicious, enticing smells of the sub shop, chinese, pizza, tacos, McDonalds, and Chick fil a! Instead of thinking "OMG I wish I didn't pack a salad today and had this instead!" I let myself take in the wonderful smells, eat my lunch or walk through, depending on the time of day, and go on. My stomach does growl and long for the food, but I don't feel like I absolutely-must-have-it-or-I'm-going-to-die anymore. I still buy my lunch from there, but usually only once a week or two, depending on what time I got up that morning :laugh:
Long story short, I guess I just trained myself to put it at the back of my mind.... :noway:

Queen_Adrock

My coworker sits in the cube next to me and eats lunch at his desk everyday. He has pizza delivered at least once a week, gets chinese food, cheesesteaks, and everything delicious smelling. It kills me. And he even leaves his empty pizza box in his trash can so I can smell pizza all day long.

But at the same time... I can hear him eat it. Which is a disgusting, finger sucking, lip smacking mess. So I lose my appetite at the same time. He literally SOUNDS like a pig while he eats lol. Bleh.

I think you work at my company! The smells are hard to deal with, but the sound is what really irritates me. He brings in porcelain bowls and silverware and is constantly clanging them around. And he chews with his mouth open. Loudly. The only word I can describe it as is "snarfing." I gotta say, it's easier to ignore the good smells when I'm disgusted with all the sounds.

PJmetts

I don't mind those things. It is when ppl heat up their fish and other seafood that just stinks up the kitchen for like 3 days that pisses me off!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHH

^^^^
THIS! I am allergic to seafood and boy does that smell EVER get me mad!

eleqtriq

The way I've dealt with it in the past is to simply eat something when this happens. Something similar. By that I mean if smelling fried chicken get something a bit salty, etc.

rextcat

wickless candels they can cover just about any smell.

2012asv

-shut your door?
-open a window?
-light a candle... there are some "flameless" candles too that you can plug in
-leave and go for a short walk in the fresh air for a few minutes
-have your own healthy snack so that's what you're tasting/smelling

domgirl85

Sounds like a good way to practice self-control to me

meganmorsey

I have this problem but with chinese food. I suggest if you're ever tempted, put it into your food diary and see how much it would set you back. i do this and it's never been worth it!

This is great advice! I do this any time I'm considering going out to get something for lunch or dinner, or eating something a coworker brought. Seeing the calories in my log almost always makes me choose to eat something healthier!

AuntThelma

I find a bit of smug self-satifaction helps. I just imagine how my healthy eating is so much superior to their crappy, fatty habits. I think to myself, how can they do that to their bodies? Yuck, I would feel so lethargic and bloated.....

Make sure you are eating properly and aren't hungry when fat-friend makes her lunch. And don't be afraid to pat yourself on the back for being the better - and far more healthy - person.

Angie_1991

I have a co-worker that eats a whole pizza and then complains the next day how fat she is....blast.

jenniferrow

So, my question is--why are you depriving yourself of foods that you like to eat? It only makes you want it more. So, I see--have a hamburger from McD's every once in awhile, or a piece of chicken from KFC. Your craving will be satisfied and you won't be jealous of what your co-worker is eating

Just saying!!!!:devil:

Agreed! Mamakjknows what she's talking about!!

melsmith612

So, my question is--why are you depriving yourself of foods that you like to eat? It only makes you want it more. So, I see--have a hamburger from McD's every once in awhile, or a piece of chicken from KFC. Your craving will be satisfied and you won't be jealous of what your co-worker is eating

Just saying!!!!:devil:

I actually don't deprive myself - I tried like the devil to find candy corn oreos in the super market last night but no luck. I just don't want to eat that way every day and I've done that before so the temptation to go to a drive-thru is that much worse when you can smell it coming from somewhere else.

I don't even LIKE KFC or fried chicken, it just smells really good. lol

melsmith612

I'm now waiting for the suggestions of how people who bring in "unhealthy food" to work should be forced to heat it up and eat it far away from the rest of the employees. Should they be asked to go outside like smokers are? Segregate them into a small area of the cafeteria and surround them with air purifiers?

"ZOMG -- someone is eating a Big Mac and fries! This is UNACCEPTABLE IN THE WORKPLACE!!!!!"

*sigh*

Sorry... just had to vent.

It'd just be nice if our kitchen either wasn't right next to my office (I moved here when I got a promotion last year) or if the kitchen had like an exhaust fan or something to keep the smells from lingering - no need for sarcasm.

It's not sarcasm -- believe me, if I were being sarcastic you'd know it.

The point I'm trying to make is that you can't always control your environment... you can only control yourself. People post rants like this QUITE often, and use it as an excuse as to why they "caved in" and stopped for fast food on the way home from work, or fell off the wagon because someone put temptation of some sort in their path. Not saying that you would, mind you -- but others are looking for excuses.

I understand where you're coming from -- I have a coworker who likes to eat egg sandwiches covered in onions and Limburger cheese EVERY DAY. The tea tree oil? It will become your best friend....

ahahahahahaha I can't stop laughing... that DOES sound awful, I'd quit before I let myself smell eggs every day. The smell of eggs literally makes me sick. :-p

sizzle92

Ya I ranted recently about the endless potlucks we have here. For every.single."event" (Like hey! It's Tuesday let's have a potluck!") Ugh!

melsmith612

I find a bit of smug self-satifaction helps. I just imagine how my healthy eating is so much superior to their crappy, fatty habits. I think to myself, how can they do that to their bodies? Yuck, I would feel so lethargic and bloated.....

Make sure you are eating properly and aren't hungry when fat-friend makes her lunch. And don't be afraid to pat yourself on the back for being the better - and far more healthy - person.

Sadly, the woman who is eating all this garbage food every day is about the same size I am if not a little smaller so it's hard to be smug except that I've already lost a ton of weight this year so I can at least take pride in that.

shaydon80

We have a restaurant in the building and every morning around 11 they fire up the deep fryer and that's all I can smell! So irritating! At least I know that the restaurant is too expensive for me to eat at! LOL
Funny thing is it's a health food restaurant! They must be frying the tempura maybe?

melsmith612

We have a restaurant in the building and every morning around 11 they fire up the deep fryer and that's all I can smell! So irritating! At least I know that the restaurant is too expensive for me to eat at! LOL
Funny thing is it's a health food restaurant! They must be frying the tempura maybe?

They're frying chicken strips for 1200 calorie "salads" like every other eatery that wants to claim they have a healthy menu. I'm honestly so sick of restaurants putting everything but the kitchen sink on their salads and then pretending they're healthy. :grumble:

shirleygirl910

I tried the logging and didn't like the calories, so then I went to eating a smaller portion of the item and that helped for a little while. Then I started looking for healthy recipes of those things I craved. I don't pack things like salads for lunch and feel deprived, I fix things I would normally eat, but in either a lot smaller portions or healthier recipes.

This is a life style change for me. Since I don't eat much fast food, when I do feel like indulging, the grease makes me sick and the taste is dissapointing.