leading 2 lives (pics)

IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym
IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym Posts: 5,573 Member
edited December 2024 in Motivation and Support
I work in an office building, sit in a cubicle. It's FREEZING where I sit, so I always wear an over-sized Ohio State sweater everyday all day. My friend who runs the deli downstairs always teases me about wearing it, because she says I am hiding my figure and people don't believe its me in the pictures she had of me from last years competition.

As I see it my 2 worlds are kept separate. In the office I wear slacks, dresses or skirts and heels - professional. Not for one second do I feel there is anything wrong with competing, in fact, I think its an amazing experience that helps push me past things that scare me the most, i.e. stage fright. That being said, I don't feel the need to have everyone at work know what I do, because while I like to find the best in people and think people mean well, I also think they don't always understand it completely, either.

I'm not hiding who I am or what I do that am passionate about, as I am proud, but I'm just not going into detail about it here, either. Work is work and training is training. I like it that way, because I'm relatively quiet and shy and keep to myself at work.

work Bry (minus the Ohio State sweater - you have to imagine that over the dress, lol)
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competition Bry
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Anyone else lead 2 lives and not share their hobby/passion/dreams with work or others?

Replies

  • HeidiMightyRawr
    HeidiMightyRawr Posts: 3,343 Member
    For me, I'll happily talk about training and stuff like that with work collegues if they asked, or it came up in conversation. Apart from that I don't really, I feel the same as you in that I don't think a lot of people will understand.

    MFP I have always kept separate. A couple of my close friends know about it, but nobody at work, and it's staying that way. That's another thing I think people will understand less about, even more so than training. Especially as someone of a normal weight who doesn't look like they need to be watching what they eat to the outside world, I don't fancy explaining why all the time. I'm really proud of being on here, just like you and competiting and have found it a massive help but I also feel I do better at this when it is separate from the real world, I don't have to hold anything back if you know what I mean.
  • IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym
    IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym Posts: 5,573 Member
    For me, I'll happily talk about training and stuff like that with work collegues if they asked, or it came up in conversation. Apart from that I don't really, I feel the same as you in that I don't think a lot of people will understand.

    MFP I have always kept separate. A couple of my close friends know about it, but nobody at work, and it's staying that way. That's another thing I think people will understand less about, even more so than training. Especially as someone of a normal weight who doesn't look like they need to be watching what they eat to the outside world, I don't fancy explaining why all the time. I'm really proud of being on here, just like you and competiting and have found it a massive help but I also feel I do better at this when it is separate from the real world, I don't have to hold anything back if you know what I mean.


    definitely understand. Its not that I think they wouldn't support me, because I think they would and if they have questions, I'm more than happy to talk to them about it. I just don't make it a point to start up conversations about it myself. My deli friend loves to share and I'm so quiet and shy that its awkward for me, especially standing in this huge sweater. I just say thank you...
  • peuglow
    peuglow Posts: 684 Member
    I've always kept work at work and home at home. I don't socialize with my coworkers (save 1 or 2) and I very rarely see them outside of work. I have my regular friends who I CHOOSE to be around, and they know what my hobbies are.
  • IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym
    IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym Posts: 5,573 Member
    I've always kept work at work and home at home. I don't socialize with my coworkers (save 1 or 2) and I very rarely see them outside of work. I have my regular friends who I CHOOSE to be around, and they know what my hobbies are.

    exactly. I wrote this post, because I am constantly asked "why do you wear that baggy sweater? Show off your figure!" But, why? I'm not at a competition. I'm at work.... in an office. I don't need to show it off in an office. I will show it off tomorrow at my competition, instead.
  • HeidiMightyRawr
    HeidiMightyRawr Posts: 3,343 Member
    I've always kept work at work and home at home. I don't socialize with my coworkers (save 1 or 2) and I very rarely see them outside of work. I have my regular friends who I CHOOSE to be around, and they know what my hobbies are.

    exactly. I wrote this post, because I am constantly asked "why do you wear that baggy sweater? Show off your figure!" But, why? I'm not at a competition. I'm at work.... in an office. I don't need to show it off in an office. I will show it off tomorrow at my competition, instead.

    Completely agree! If I'm cold or just plain comfy dressing a certain way, I will do so! I don't have to "show myself off" all the time - to me that just seems like bragging. There's a time and a place.
  • chivalryder
    chivalryder Posts: 4,391 Member
    Will you marry me?
  • stephanomassaro
    stephanomassaro Posts: 1
    I actually live 3 lol..:)
    But I wouldnt change a thing!

    http://www.naturalmuscle4u.com/10.html
  • supertracylynn
    supertracylynn Posts: 1,338 Member
    I don't mind mixing my strange eating habits and training with my more professional side. I've been blessed that it's all along the same lines.

    However, I do like to skim over the fact that I used to be 218#, and 40% (at least) body fat according to the Navy. As strange as it sounds, people seem to discredit everything else about me and focus solely on that - how I did it, how long it took, etc, never mind that I read and read and read for Years about food, nutrition, and exercise. Or they think I'm lying and took pills or had surgery done. So I keep quiet. Luckily, I moved at the tail end of my journey so no one here in So Cal has known me at that bigger size.
  • mandiam
    mandiam Posts: 109
    haha, nice.
  • cici1028
    cici1028 Posts: 799 Member
    I let them bleed over each other a little teeny bit. A lot of my coworkers know that I'm a very dedicated yogi and I have a fairly regimented practice schedule. However, most people at the office have no idea that I have a giant tattoo of a peacock on my back that goes from the brastrap line all the way down to my hip and around a bit. :)
  • IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym
    IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym Posts: 5,573 Member
    Completely agree! If I'm cold or just plain comfy dressing a certain way, I will do so! I don't have to "show myself off" all the time - to me that just seems like bragging. There's a time and a place.

    exactly - time and place for each.
    Will you marry me?

    I think my husband might have something to say about that, but thank you for the offer.
  • moominpoo
    moominpoo Posts: 31 Member
    I completely see where you're coming from- the less they know about me at work the better !!

    I am a teacher and have THE most boring work outifts ever and rarely socialise with my colleagues (no thanks!). I don't even add any of them on Facebook. That's not to say I don't get on really well with them, I would just rather what I did outside of work was separate. I don't even have the same name at work as I am married and still use my maiden name professionally. I see my married name as part of my private life- but of course I wear my rings so everyone knows I am Mrs really :)

    Outside of work I have been promoting club nights in the music industry for nearly 10 years (my "other" passion and first love really!) AND I am also a radio DJ/presenter at the weekends. NONE of the kids know any of this hahaha

    Good on you - you look amazing!
  • tuffytuffy1
    tuffytuffy1 Posts: 920 Member
    Girl, you look amazing! Wow!
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    1. Youre my hero

    2. My separate lives are there, but not in the same sense as you. In the public eye, I am bold and daring and larger than life and I draw people to me like a lighthouse. Im dressed to the nines, rocking heels and dramatic makeup and red lipstick and sharing the spotlight with so many other larger than life amazing personalities. On the other side, at home, you wont find me out of some soft sleep shorts and a tank top, running around the sidewalks barefoot, hopping down stairs and splashing in puddles and climbing trees and doing cartwheels and struggling constantly with wondering if anyone really even tolerates me and my weirdness and the fact that even when Im silent, Im just too loud.
  • IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym
    IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym Posts: 5,573 Member

    Girl, you look amazing! Wow!
    1. Youre my hero

    2. My separate lives are there, but not in the same sense as you. In the public eye, I am bold and daring and larger than life and I draw people to me like a lighthouse. Im dressed to the nines, rocking heels and dramatic makeup and red lipstick and sharing the spotlight with so many other larger than life amazing personalities. On the other side, at home, you wont find me out of some soft sleep shorts and a tank top, running around the sidewalks barefoot, hopping down stairs and splashing in puddles and climbing trees and doing cartwheels and struggling constantly with wondering if anyone really even tolerates me and my weirdness and the fact that even when Im silent, Im just too loud.


    thank you!!
  • andreanicole686
    andreanicole686 Posts: 406 Member
    You look fantastic! I don't talk about my fitness goals with my co-workers that much. I do with my family though.
  • IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym
    IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym Posts: 5,573 Member
    You look fantastic! I don't talk about my fitness goals with my co-workers that much. I do with my family though.

    thank you! Yes, family, friends, Facebook, you guys here on MFP I talk about it with, just not most work people. I feel weird when they try to measure me up with their eyes when they find out... One person jokingly asked if I Photoshopped my head on that body, lol.
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