Need support re: negative comments.

GingerSka wrote: »

I'm so tired of negative comments from coworkers! How little I'm eating (I'm eating a safe amount, don't worry), how thin I've become (I'm within normal limits).

Unfortunately I'm not one who can magically let all things roll off of my back. It takes a minute or two to get back into positive head-space.

How have you dealt with this?

I do realize these comments stem from their own insecurities but it still bugs me.

You could try to politely explain to the people making the comments, that you aren't comfortable with it.

My experience with this is that most people don't mean ill intent when they comment about someone being thin or fit or someone who doesn't eat much. That doesn't mean you shouldn't or can't be offended by it, I'm just mentioning it because I think for some people, intent matters. In their head they might even be trying to compliment you.

This isn't quite the same thing. But there's a girl at work who was seriously a food pusher. She was constantly trying to get me to eat things and I don't think she even realized she was doing it. It really started to bug me. One day, she brought me a chocolate covered strawberry because she'd had lunch at Zupa's. I said, "No thanks," and she said, "I'll just leave it here," and set it on my computer keyboard and started to walk away. And I just sort of blew. I was like, "I hate it when you do that, why are you always trying to force feed me?" Or something like that. It was probably slightly more tactful, but still pretty blunt. She was a bit stunned and took the strawberry back. I felt kind of bad. But then the next day she was like, "I talked to my boyfriend about what you said yesterday and he said 'Yeah, you do do that.'" It hasn't been a problem since then. She still offers me food sometimes, but she doesn't push when I politely decline.

The point of all that was... you might just need to get a little bitchy. Seriously, just say, "I'm doing fine and I'm a little tired of hearing about it." Just express your irritation. They may get it and back off.

Or maybe not, maybe you work with a bunch of douches. I don't know. Worth a try, though.

I'd probably respond with, Thanks, I didn't realize you were promoted to food police.
or in response to "you're too skinny" say, "I know isn't it fabulous" Don't give them anything to work with.

jgnatca wrote: »

@gia07 , I'm with you on the advantages of maturity. They don't have to live in my body. I do.

Yes, if ONLY they would figure that out too!

Honestly, I feel sorry for anyone who would care about how much and/or what I am eating. Blow it off.

my FRIENDS tease me about what i eat and we laugh and joke about it. notice i say my FRIENDS. they know what i am doing and why because we have a relationship, we talk. co workers dont get the benefit of explanations. if someone decides they want to comment, i usually say "im good, thanks" and that's the end of the discussion. no explanations, no charts, and, if it continues, the tact goes out the window. at the end of the day, this is your life and you have to do what you have to do to improve your days in this life. so have at it and enjoy!

GingerSka wrote: »

I'm so tired of negative comments from coworkers! How little I'm eating (I'm eating a safe amount, don't worry), how thin I've become (I'm within normal limits).

I do realize these comments stem from their own insecurities but it still bugs me.

You look fab. Your profile page lists nothing but positive motivators. You don't have an issue, they do.

I'm assuming you don't like confrontation in the work place; you may even otherwise like or at least respect your co-workers. It can be hard to engage work mates in meaningful talk about your situation if they are in denial about their own weight and health issues and are bouncing their own problems in reverse off of you.

If you do try to talk about it, the conversation has to be wholly centred on you and your choices and not leave them thinking there is some comparison going. Make it goal centred - you wanted to be able to engage in running races with your family so you worked to get into running form.

If they can't understand and accept your decisions to reach for a perfectly healthy objective, there's little to be gained from pursuing the matter further. At that point I would simply and politely ask them to stop sharing their opinions on such matters. They may slip up and do it again but it would take a true dolt to misinterpret the reminder you'll give them at that time. I doubt you'll hear more of it.

In the meantime plaster your office or cubical or work environment with posters advertising upcoming races and enter one.