Dealing with negativity when losing weight

I hear you on that one...I have a few co-workers who have made comments to me (which what they say are positive, sort of, but give me this negative vibe from them)...I posted a blog about it...

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/baypathgrad/view/-hey-slim-112637

It definately makes me feel awkward when I run into them (small office of 30 or so people). So, you are not alone!

Keep your head up and let the haters hate! Just smile and be the best person you can be and any smart person will never hate you for that.

Stay true to yourself, greet and treat them as you always have. Sometimes people don't know what to say or how to act. I am bold enough to ask, "Are we okay" or "Are you upset with me about something?", but I say just let it roll off your shoulders. Celebrate your success that is what counts.

It's definitely tough to deal with, and I'm sorry that the joy you've gotten from being so healthy and treating your body right has been overshadowed with negativity. I'm sure more than one person will tell you, "they're just jealous," which is probably true. If most of them are obese or overweight, then it means they've noticed your weightloss and are probably ahsamed of their own weight conditions. Some of them might want to ask you how you're doing it, but that would be admitting defeat and admitting that they need help. That is really hard for a lot of people. Give it some time, and hopefully they'll warm up and maybe they'll even start coming to you for advice. In the meantime, keep your chin up and be proud of how far you've come! All you're doing is being healthy and extending your life- absolutely NOTHING wrong with that, buddy!

I understand what it's like working with people who are unhealthy and over weight. I work with many people like that. 2 of them are on Weight Watchers, and have been for several months and have put on a lot of weight since joining it because they have no self control over how they eat. It makes me extremely self conscious about even talking about exercise, or eating right, or even being vocally happy about how I've lost close to 40 pounds. I don't know if I am getting negativity like yourself, but I'm pretty positive I would be, were I to speak of the progress I have experienced.

Someone once told me this....What others think of me is NONE of my business. I like that because I am hard enough on myself, I don't need someone else beating me up. )

I get that too at my office. Nearly every day, there are donuts, cookies, cake, and various other baked goods in the office kitchen, which I do not eat. Everyday at lunchtime, people go out for food, and I hear the comment "Don't bother asking her.... she's on a diet". Well, I got fed up with the snarky "she's on a diet" comments, and let the chief commenter have it. IT'S NOT A DIET!! It's a lifestyle CHANGE. Go ahead and eat all the crap, and chase it down with your cholesterol, hypertension and heartburn meds... I'll eat my healthy food, and take NO MEDS! Now who feels stupid? Who's laughing now?

Sorry for the rant... I think I popped a gasket.

You are a visual reminder that they are not dealing with their own obesity. It is painful to them, so they will try and find fault in order to dismiss what you are doing as not applicable to them. It is also something that you really do not need to deal with or confront. It is clearly their 'stuff'. You need to be strong and focused and not let their 'stuff' distract you from what you need to be doing for you. They will make up their own minds to either deal with their issues or not. If they do, they will eventually come to you and ask you 'how you did it'. That's your invitation. But don't go overboard. Just give exactly the info you're asked for and don't volunteer anymore. Remember, they may just be looking for an opportunity to sabotage you by telling you that you're doing it wrong. I've been dealing with this kind of nonsense off and on for years. There are 3 of us that are significantly overweight and we've been at various points in our dieting lives. The other two are my friends and colleagues and have been for a long time, so it is easier for us to call each other on our nonsense, but it hasn't always been that way.

One is very competitive and the other is just focused on getting it done for the 'right' reasons...her health. The lady who is competitive has a temporary goal in mind...a vacation...and while her efforts have been admirable and I"m very proud of her, I wonder if she will be able to sustain it. The other lady has been working steadily at it for several years, building new habits, and is slowly losing the weight, but talks incessantly about it. Both are obsessed and talk of nothing else, criticizing the way the other is doing it. It kind of drives me bonkers. My advice...just stay out of it and don't bring it up. Your body, your business. Just smile on your way to the gym and don't be afraid to assertively tell others that what you do with your body is your business and yours alone and that you do not appreciate comments about your body or what you are eating, especially in response to sabotage. They will, of course say, "I'm just concerned." Thank them for their concern and reiterate that you do not welcome comments, however well meant. Eventually, they will back off and just talk about you behind your back....which is what folks like that do anyway, Let them. :yawn:

Hollycat
:flowerforyou:

Wow must be hard. I thank god all the time because in my office at any given time there is at least 8-10 peoples that train for one thing or another (right now 3 are training for an iron man) So in fact, being overweight in our office must be really hard. We need to mixte my office and yours LOL. You are doing what is best for you, don't mind them.

Get 'em motivated! Be proud of yourself. Talk it up. You'd be surprised how many people get excited and start asking questions about what you're doing when you're open and honest about it Keep up the great work!

Remember if your boss gives you any grief outwardly (instead of just feeling like he resents you, he SAYS or DOES something), he is creating a hostile work environment and is putting the company at risk. You'd have to document what he's doing, but if you have a legitimate beef, remember you can report him to HR.