How to respond to a smug vegetarian?
iggyboo93
Posts: 524 Member
Disclaimer - virtually all the vegetarians I know are incredible people who I respect because they joyfully offer support, recipes, and advice for my weight loss journey and are generally really pleasant to be around. Except this one guy.
He is a coworker and unfortunately in my carpool. He and his wife are actually pescetarians (will eat fish). His wife is working on losing about 30 pounds - she has taken up running and I think she is doing awesome. He complains to me that she will eat jelly beans and justify eating something if she has gone for a long run. I told him that he really needs to let go of the jelly bean thing which happened almost a year ago. Her eating cheese seems to upset him greatly.
I was in a staff meeting with him about 6 months ago and I started munching on the cheese that was left over from the lunch platter. I said "oh this is good protein". He scolded me in the car on the way home that calories are calories and it doesn't matter if it's a protein or carb. He then told me the "calories in - calories out" is the only way, I have to walk, I should play more soccer with my kid and I should try vegetarianism. Yesterday - he brought up the cheese thing again - holy crap - I ate that cheese 6 months ago. When I told him why he would bring this up - he ignored my comment. I responded that some overweight people struggle with their weight despite eating normal diets and sometimes it could be a thyroid or metabolic syndrome. I told him that losing weight is a lot tougher than maintaining weight. Then he proceeded to say - "well, none of the people in Auschwitz were overweight."
Question - how do I respond to this moron? I unfortunately work with him and I pride myself in that I strive get along with everyone at work. He is smug - thinks he is better than everyone else at work. He openly defies the work that I do (safety) - he thinks the new safety rules the company is abiding by are stupid and mocks my job. I mentioned that I am looking for another job and he is upset because I would leave the carpool (what does he expect - it's an hour commute to work one way - I'm looking to work closer to home). I've been working on re-instating the random drug tests because he bragged to me that he smokes the devil's lettuce almost every weekend. I never bring up the fact that I believe he drinks too much - a six pack of IPA every night!?!?!? I did once and he skewered me because I smoke (side note: I signed up for the hospital's smoking cessation program which starts in April) and brought up the cheese thing again. But then he calls me a good person and a good friend.... weird. The guy admits he likes playing devil's advocate but this is getting ridiculous.
Your thoughts? What's the obsession with cheese?
It was very therapeutic to vent. Thanks. It would be great to go back to pleasantries while carpooling instead of being lectured on my failures as a human being.
mumbling.... "calories in - calories out" - what crap........ going to the fridge and getting a slice of colby-jack
He is a coworker and unfortunately in my carpool. He and his wife are actually pescetarians (will eat fish). His wife is working on losing about 30 pounds - she has taken up running and I think she is doing awesome. He complains to me that she will eat jelly beans and justify eating something if she has gone for a long run. I told him that he really needs to let go of the jelly bean thing which happened almost a year ago. Her eating cheese seems to upset him greatly.
I was in a staff meeting with him about 6 months ago and I started munching on the cheese that was left over from the lunch platter. I said "oh this is good protein". He scolded me in the car on the way home that calories are calories and it doesn't matter if it's a protein or carb. He then told me the "calories in - calories out" is the only way, I have to walk, I should play more soccer with my kid and I should try vegetarianism. Yesterday - he brought up the cheese thing again - holy crap - I ate that cheese 6 months ago. When I told him why he would bring this up - he ignored my comment. I responded that some overweight people struggle with their weight despite eating normal diets and sometimes it could be a thyroid or metabolic syndrome. I told him that losing weight is a lot tougher than maintaining weight. Then he proceeded to say - "well, none of the people in Auschwitz were overweight."
Question - how do I respond to this moron? I unfortunately work with him and I pride myself in that I strive get along with everyone at work. He is smug - thinks he is better than everyone else at work. He openly defies the work that I do (safety) - he thinks the new safety rules the company is abiding by are stupid and mocks my job. I mentioned that I am looking for another job and he is upset because I would leave the carpool (what does he expect - it's an hour commute to work one way - I'm looking to work closer to home). I've been working on re-instating the random drug tests because he bragged to me that he smokes the devil's lettuce almost every weekend. I never bring up the fact that I believe he drinks too much - a six pack of IPA every night!?!?!? I did once and he skewered me because I smoke (side note: I signed up for the hospital's smoking cessation program which starts in April) and brought up the cheese thing again. But then he calls me a good person and a good friend.... weird. The guy admits he likes playing devil's advocate but this is getting ridiculous.
Your thoughts? What's the obsession with cheese?
It was very therapeutic to vent. Thanks. It would be great to go back to pleasantries while carpooling instead of being lectured on my failures as a human being.
mumbling.... "calories in - calories out" - what crap........ going to the fridge and getting a slice of colby-jack
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Replies
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What an asshat.0
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I agree0
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I would buy a huge block of cheese and eat it in the car with him. And eat it. If he said anything about cheese, I'd agree enthusiastically.
"You're so right. Cheese is a killer." Then take another huge bite.0 -
LOL! Yes - totally agree. I'm thinking of bringing some cheese with me to munch in the car on the way to work next week. Obviously, rational dialogue will not work with this guy.0
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I would buy a huge block of cheese and eat it in the car with him. And eat it. If he said anything about cheese, I'd agree enthusiastically.
"You're so right. Cheese is a killer." Then take another huge bite.
Ha! We must have written the same idea at the same time...
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WE ALL AGREE!! 0 -
I suspect that this guy would be a kn*bhead whatever he were to eat.
I would wind him up by loudly eating cheese every time you share a car, and maybe follow it up with a side of jelly beans (be sure to offer him some).
I am another pescetarian who enjoys a bit of cheese :happy:0 -
I'd def keep eating cheese around him. Let loose a cheese fart in the car.0
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I would tell him to suck it. :flowerforyou:0
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Disclaimer - virtually all the vegetarians I know are incredible people who I respect because they joyfully offer support, recipes, and advice for my weight loss journey and are generally really pleasant to be around. Except this one guy.
He is a coworker and unfortunately in my carpool. He and his wife are actually pescetarians (will eat fish). His wife is working on losing about 30 pounds - she has taken up running and I think she is doing awesome. He complains to me that she will eat jelly beans and justify eating something if she has gone for a long run. I told him that he really needs to let go of the jelly bean thing which happened almost a year ago. Her eating cheese seems to upset him greatly.
I was in a staff meeting with him about 6 months ago and I started munching on the cheese that was left over from the lunch platter. I said "oh this is good protein". He scolded me in the car on the way home that calories are calories and it doesn't matter if it's a protein or carb. He then told me the "calories in - calories out" is the only way, I have to walk, I should play more soccer with my kid and I should try vegetarianism. Yesterday - he brought up the cheese thing again - holy crap - I ate that cheese 6 months ago. When I told him why he would bring this up - he ignored my comment. I responded that some overweight people struggle with their weight despite eating normal diets and sometimes it could be a thyroid or metabolic syndrome. I told him that losing weight is a lot tougher than maintaining weight. Then he proceeded to say - "well, none of the people in Auschwitz were overweight."
Question - how do I respond to this moron? I unfortunately work with him and I pride myself in that I strive get along with everyone at work. He is smug - thinks he is better than everyone else at work. He openly defies the work that I do (safety) - he thinks the new safety rules the company is abiding by are stupid and mocks my job. I mentioned that I am looking for another job and he is upset because I would leave the carpool (what does he expect - it's an hour commute to work one way - I'm looking to work closer to home). I've been working on re-instating the random drug tests because he bragged to me that he smokes the devil's lettuce almost every weekend. I never bring up the fact that I believe he drinks too much - a six pack of IPA every night!?!?!? I did once and he skewered me because I smoke (side note: I signed up for the hospital's smoking cessation program which starts in April) and brought up the cheese thing again. But then he calls me a good person and a good friend.... weird. The guy admits he likes playing devil's advocate but this is getting ridiculous.
Your thoughts? What's the obsession with cheese?
It was very therapeutic to vent. Thanks. It would be great to go back to pleasantries while carpooling instead of being lectured on my failures as a human being.
mumbling.... "calories in - calories out" - what crap........ going to the fridge and getting a slice of colby-jack
Do you have to respond at all? I mean it's so easy to walk away from this.0 -
Ask him to find a vegetarian carpool. It's not the vegetarianism, it's that he's a difficult person and you've let him get to you. This probably pleases him to no end.
Never let them see you sweat.0 -
My thoughts? It's just another person at work, one that you happen to dislike and he seems to like you.
Did I read right in that you want to introduce drugs testing because he smokes weed? Why would you want to do that? Sounds far worse than him talking about cheese.0 -
I love cheese.0
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Maybe try a big cheesy Steak Sandwich, With jelly beans for desert, Make sure you mention how good the dead animal tastes 0
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Sounds like his cheesestick is too SMALL... and his ego/need to obsess about what women in his life are eating is too LARGE.
Ignore him as much as you can and NEVER share any personal info about your future job change plans.
Listen to ipod/language program/books on tape when it is not your turn to drive the carpool.0 -
What you do is bring a sammy that has meat AND cheese in the carpool and smack your lips while eating it. Watch him hyperventilate.0
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I let things go with him. I generally do ignore his comments and chalk it up to him being a jerk. For some odd reason, this cheese comment grated on me (no pun intended). I've let go of the other numerous cheese comments in the past but he cannot himself let go.
Yes - agreed. I'm just not going to participate in anymore conversations - he obviously needs to be somebody significant or something.0 -
I would just tell him that it's a good thing he isn't responsible for anyone but himself and that he's entitled to eat however he feels fit but you are responsible for yourself and answering to yourself about your eating habits is plenty without a nag on your back. I'm pretty blunt though.0
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I would buy a huge block of cheese and eat it in the car with him. And eat it. If he said anything about cheese, I'd agree enthusiastically.
"You're so right. Cheese is a killer." Then take another huge bite.
Haha love it! :laugh:0 -
I would buy a huge block of cheese and eat it in the car with him. And eat it. If he said anything about cheese, I'd agree enthusiastically.
"You're so right. Cheese is a killer." Then take another huge bite.
This!
Or... "Every time someone eats a piece of cheese, a smug vegetarian somewhere dies!"0 -
I would buy a huge block of cheese and eat it in the car with him. And eat it. If he said anything about cheese, I'd agree enthusiastically.
"You're so right. Cheese is a killer." Then take another huge bite.
Love :drinker:
You should add bacon to EVERYTHING you eat in front of him. *disclaimer I have been vegan and vegetarian in the past and he sounds like an *kitten* hat to me*0 -
Cook some bacon in the microwave at work. Make the whole place smell like bacon!!!0
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Then he proceeded to say - "well, none of the people in Auschwitz were overweight."
are you effing kidding me?! he honestly compared someone working towards getting HEALTHY to the prisoners or Auschwitz!?
Sounds like this person needs his head checked because there is something seriously wrong with them.0 -
I feel sorry more sorry for the wife. Ugh what a d***. Maybe just tell him that he doesn't need to worry about your diet. And I agree with the jellybeans lol, offer him some. If I was feeling particularly evil, I would give his wife some jelly beans. Constantly talk about cheese, the different kinds, tastes, how you like to eat it, cook with it. If he really thinks he is your friend, ask him for a cheese of the month club for Christmas. You could just ignore it, but his smugness needs a slap.0
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I would buy a huge block of cheese and eat it in the car with him. And eat it. If he said anything about cheese, I'd agree enthusiastically.
"You're so right. Cheese is a killer." Then take another huge bite.
^^ This
Also, a hunk of chicken.0 -
Did I read right in that you want to introduce drugs testing because he smokes weed? Why would you want to do that? Sounds far worse than him talking about cheese.
The company used to do random testing - I work in the chemical industry with lots of things that could blow up, spew crap into the environment or kill people. I just don't like any one who could be drunk, stoned, tweeking, hallucinating, etc. operating heavy equipment on a job site. My suggestion to bring back the random testing is being considered. I've had to let people go in the past for showing up to work drunk or stoned. One situation was really hard - he was a good guy and a good employee - he had a rough situation and had a few drinks before his shift - he got tagged for being drunk by supervisor, tested via breathalyzer, and was fired.0 -
I would buy a huge block of cheese and eat it in the car with him. And eat it. If he said anything about cheese, I'd agree enthusiastically.
"You're so right. Cheese is a killer." Then take another huge bite.
^^^^ this
The best way to deal with people who lecture you about what you eat is to eat the foods they're telling you are the root of all evil in front of them, and when they tell you how bad it is, tell them how much you enjoy eating the poison.... seriously. They'll think you're too far gone to bother trying to lecture you again.0 -
I would buy a huge block of cheese and eat it in the car with him. And eat it. If he said anything about cheese, I'd agree enthusiastically.
"You're so right. Cheese is a killer." Then take another huge bite.
Love :drinker:
You should add bacon to EVERYTHING you eat in front of him. *disclaimer I have been vegan and vegetarian in the past and he sounds like an *kitten* hat to me*
I approve wholeheartedly of your use of "asshat" as well. bahahh.
"Cheese is a killer"0 -
"admits he likes playing devil's advocate" - Sounds like my ex-husband, lol!
But playing devil's advocate about jelly beans and cheese would actually be opening a discussion about the effect consuming those products has on the digestive system, the body as a whole, and perhaps the environmental effects of sugarcane harvesting and mass dairy production. SMH.
Next time he starts a commentary, I'd respond, "I didn't ask for your opinion so please keep it to yourself." If he starts to respond to that, interrupt and say, "Did you not understand what I said? I don't care what you think about my personal choices."0 -
I would buy a huge block of cheese and eat it in the car with him. And eat it. If he said anything about cheese, I'd agree enthusiastically.
"You're so right. Cheese is a killer." Then take another huge bite.
That's what I would do too. I usually skip cheese or have soy cheese but in this situation I'd eat lots of dairy cheddar 0
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