Coworkers baffled me...
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Mikkimeow
Posts: 139 Member
Hi everyone. I am about a year into getting into fitness and health, currently focusing on slower, sustained weight loss and lifting 3x week, cardio 3x a week.
I just realized how different my mindset is than it was a year or so ago. My company did a New Year's 8 week health challenge. I participated just for fun, and didn't expect much out of it. I continued meal prepping and working out and drinking plenty of water. I watched as everyone else that participated ate like crap and ordered out every day and wondered why they couldn't lose weight. Just as a bad, I had coworkers do the craziest stuff. Cleanses, detoxes, tried cutting sugar/drinking/smoking all at once only to crash. When I ended up losing 20 during the challenge (that Christmas weight gain was REAL), a bunch of people asked me how... So many were like genuinely in disbelief when I told them I eat around 2200 calories a day and work out three times a week. Even more were unsure when I said that I don't restrict my eating. If I want pizza, I get pizza. I just don't eat an entire pizza in one sitting now.
A year ago I would have thought I couldn't lose that way. I just had to develop the willpower and understanding of food to lose.
Anyway, there are so many misconceptions out there about what being healthy means and how to take care of your body. There is of course no one right way to get in shape, but wow I can't believe I used to be someone that thought I needed a five day juice cleanse or an all meat, no carb no fat (yes I really did that) diet to drop the pounds.
I just realized how different my mindset is than it was a year or so ago. My company did a New Year's 8 week health challenge. I participated just for fun, and didn't expect much out of it. I continued meal prepping and working out and drinking plenty of water. I watched as everyone else that participated ate like crap and ordered out every day and wondered why they couldn't lose weight. Just as a bad, I had coworkers do the craziest stuff. Cleanses, detoxes, tried cutting sugar/drinking/smoking all at once only to crash. When I ended up losing 20 during the challenge (that Christmas weight gain was REAL), a bunch of people asked me how... So many were like genuinely in disbelief when I told them I eat around 2200 calories a day and work out three times a week. Even more were unsure when I said that I don't restrict my eating. If I want pizza, I get pizza. I just don't eat an entire pizza in one sitting now.
A year ago I would have thought I couldn't lose that way. I just had to develop the willpower and understanding of food to lose.
Anyway, there are so many misconceptions out there about what being healthy means and how to take care of your body. There is of course no one right way to get in shape, but wow I can't believe I used to be someone that thought I needed a five day juice cleanse or an all meat, no carb no fat (yes I really did that) diet to drop the pounds.
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Replies
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I think this is an epidemic in most offices. I changed my life 4 years ago. Stopped ordering out. Exercise increased to 4-5 days a week. Lost 40 pounds and people asked how I did it. They always thought there was a "trick" or "secret" to it. They also had to make it an issue when lunch was catered and I wouldn't partake because I bring my own and I don't want to derail my success. I figure at some point they will choose for themselves when its their time to make a real change and not rely on MLMs or quick weight loss schemes.15
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Well, I spent about 15 years doing everything but watching my calorie intake to try to lose and maintain and felt kind of stupid when I started logging food here and it was so easy. I had no idea how many calories I needed or was eating.
There are massive amounts of diet programs, supplements, celebrities, reality tv shows, co-workers, etc all telling people to do things to lose weight and simple calorie control can seem hard or not big enough of a change compared to all that noise. Some people figure it out faster than others.13 -
In the risk of being too cynical, I am not sure many of them were ready to hear that it took long term consistent work to get to where you want to be. You can't drink green juice for eight weeks and be healthy, you are likely to gain it all back plus some. I simply kept my mouth shut and let other people live their lives, but to really act like I lied about how I lost was kind of comical.9
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It really is a sad state of how people have been brainwashed into believing "x" diet will change them forever. I look at my "diet" as a lifestyle I can eat "normally" just looks like a lot less when others don't understand portion size. I will tell anyone that really wants to know my secret is working hard and eating right it really is simple. But very few really want to know it's taken me 1.5 years to lose 100+ lbs and will take me another year or so to lose the last 60. And will take the rest of my life to really follow what I eat to keep it off.25
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I feel like people do know at a base level, but they feel counting calories is too tedious/hard.
I used to track calories on paper before there was online food journaling and it WAS hard/tedious.
I find it hard to believe they don't know it's about calories - but then - wait, just read the top four pages of Recent Posts in this forum...so, maybe I'm wrong. It happens.4 -
People just don't know. It's not taught at school.7
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I think this is an epidemic in most offices. I changed my life 4 years ago. Stopped ordering out. Exercise increased to 4-5 days a week. Lost 40 pounds and people asked how I did it. They always thought there was a "trick" or "secret" to it. They also had to make it an issue when lunch was catered and I wouldn't partake because I bring my own and I don't want to derail my success. I figure at some point they will choose for themselves when its their time to make a real change and not rely on MLMs or quick weight loss schemes.
I'm having this same problem right now, but not from my staff. I'm having trouble explaining it to the vendors that cater the luncheons, bring bagels, doughnuts, cookies, etc. I'm always asked, "Really? You don't want a free meal/doughnut/bagel/cookie? Are you sure? We have plenty, just one won't hurt you. . . " and on and on.
I'm learning to just not care what anyone else thinks, eat the lunch/snacks that I packed and smile a little more each week when I step on the scale.
I don't know if this helps, but on days lunch is catered, if I know about it, I pack a big lunch and plenty of "allowable" snacks (I have a smaller dinner that night) and eat before the food arrives. If I'm full I'm less tempted.14 -
positivepowers wrote: »
I'm having this same problem right now, but not from my staff. I'm having trouble explaining it to the vendors that cater the luncheons, bring bagels, doughnuts, cookies, etc. I'm always asked, "Really? You don't want a free meal/doughnut/bagel/cookie? Are you sure? We have plenty, just one won't hurt you. . . " and on and on.
I'm learning to just not care what anyone else thinks, eat the lunch/snacks that I packed and smile a little more each week when I step on the scale.
I don't know if this helps, but on days lunch is catered, if I know about it, I pack a big lunch and plenty of "allowable" snacks (I have a smaller dinner that night) and eat before the food arrives. If I'm full I'm less tempted.
I had a luncheon last week and they brought ChickfilA. The rep was baffled at how I wouldn't eat it and kept making comments like "I've never met anyone who could resist Chickfila". I guess he has now. It's just rude when people make an issue. I don't make an issue out of them partaking in bad habits then wondering why they aren't losing.21 -
I had a luncheon last week and they brought ChickfilA. The rep was baffled at how I wouldn't eat it and kept making comments like "I've never met anyone who could resist Chickfila". I guess he has now. It's just rude when people make an issue. I don't make an issue out of them partaking in bad habits then wondering why they aren't losing.
huh, you would have thought he met a vegetarian or vegan by now. I have absolutely no problem whatsoever passing up any food at work or during the day easiest thing in the world no matter what it is..........now you bring it to my home in the evening time.....11 -
I had a luncheon last week and they brought ChickfilA. The rep was baffled at how I wouldn't eat it and kept making comments like "I've never met anyone who could resist Chickfila". I guess he has now. It's just rude when people make an issue. I don't make an issue out of them partaking in bad habits then wondering why they aren't losing.
The rep would be baffled with me too because I don't like Chickfila either. I think that their food is loaded with sodium and nothing to crave about (imop).4 -
Grimmerick wrote: »huh, you would have thought he met a vegetarian or vegan by now. I have absolutely no problem whatsoever passing up any food at work or during the day easiest thing in the world no matter what it is..........now you bring it to my home in the evening time.....
Or even someone who won't consume their products due to some of the other issues surrounding that company.35 -
"Eat less and exercise" is something many folks just don't want to believe. It's amazing how much resistance there is over the idea, but such is the weight loss industry that they've brainwashed a lot of people.17
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MacrosandMacaroons wrote: »Hi everyone. I am about a year into getting into fitness and health, currently focusing on slower, sustained weight loss and lifting 3x week, cardio 3x a week.
I just realized how different my mindset is than it was a year or so ago. My company did a New Year's 8 week health challenge. I participated just for fun, and didn't expect much out of it. I continued meal prepping and working out and drinking plenty of water. I watched as everyone else that participated ate like crap and ordered out every day and wondered why they couldn't lose weight. Just as a bad, I had coworkers do the craziest stuff. Cleanses, detoxes, tried cutting sugar/drinking/smoking all at once only to crash. When I ended up losing 20 during the challenge (that Christmas weight gain was REAL), a bunch of people asked me how... So many were like genuinely in disbelief when I told them I eat around 2200 calories a day and work out three times a week. Even more were unsure when I said that I don't restrict my eating. If I want pizza, I get pizza. I just don't eat an entire pizza in one sitting now.
A year ago I would have thought I couldn't lose that way. I just had to develop the willpower and understanding of food to lose.
Anyway, there are so many misconceptions out there about what being healthy means and how to take care of your body. There is of course no one right way to get in shape, but wow I can't believe I used to be someone that thought I needed a five day juice cleanse or an all meat, no carb no fat (yes I really did that) diet to drop the pounds.
Oh I get this too where I work. Everyone has been complimenting me on how much weight I have lost and how great I look but yet they wonder what they are doing wrong. I try and help as many people as I can but it gets exhausting when they dont or cant follow? if that makes any sense. I too see alot of people I work with eat out everyday and I am like wow how the heck can you afford to eat out like that?.7 -
MostlyWater wrote: »People just don't know. It's not taught at school.
I was taught the concept of calories in/calories out in P.E. in middle school and then again in health class in high school way back in the 90's. Just because they teach it, doesn't mean people pay attention or retain it, though. Health and fitness is just not something that everybody values. If it was a big deal to people, they would take the time and effort to learn about it. (I personally don't understand that, since my health and independence are the most important things I have in this world. They make all other things possible and enjoyable.)13 -
It is all about portion control and being accountable .7
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I had a luncheon last week and they brought ChickfilA. The rep was baffled at how I wouldn't eat it and kept making comments like "I've never met anyone who could resist Chickfila". I guess he has now. It's just rude when people make an issue. I don't make an issue out of them partaking in bad habits then wondering why they aren't losing.
Really? Chikfila is OK, I guess, but it's nothing special.
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MostlyWater wrote: »People just don't know. It's not taught at school.
It's definitely taught in school. My kids did it in 6th and 7th grade health class.
They where given a pad of paper and told to write down their foods for the weekend and look up the USDA nutrition values associated with the food choices.
Then they where shown how many calories most people need in a day verse what most people consume.
My children go to a American public school and I could easily go ask for the lesson plan to prove that kids are taught this in school.11 -
100_PROOF_ wrote: »
It's definitely taught in school. My kids did it in 6th and 7th grade health class.
They where given a pad of paper and told to write down their foods for the weekend and look up the USDA nutrition values associated with the food choices.
Then they where shown how many calories most people need in a day verse what most people consume.
My children go to a American public school and I could easily go ask for the lesson plan to prove that kids are taught this in school.
The schools that I went to were not as dedicated to teaching health and fitness to kids. I had a health coach teacher just walk in and ask us to just do assignments with an open book. We just wrote terms and definitions. And that was on a good day for the teacher. If his sports team lost then he would do nothing in class because he's too depressed. Pretty funny.
Anyway, I guess it just depends on the teacher and area. I was in a low income neighborhood where health and fitness was taught but people feel like those were unattainable or too expensive to do. And there was no time to work out because their schedules are filled with multiple jobs. Fast food is cheap, quick and easy.
I'm in a better neighborhood now and I was shocked to see people jogging outside when I first came in. The only time I see people running their butts off was from the cops.19 -
My work is the same way. They see what I'm doing, and they see that it's working... yet the crazy fad diets still win out.
Our CEO is a BIG guy who used to eat HUGE portions from the cafeteria of deep-fried, comfort food goodness. He went low carb for Lent and has dropped quite a few pounds so now everyone here is jumping on the bandwagon trying it out. Well DUH he lost weight when he went from what he was eating to having a single hamburger patty with mustard for lunch.
My "diet" is eating foods I want in appropriate portions. I exercise so I can eat more. Yet somehow this is a completely unattainable way of losing weight according to the people around me. Some days it just boggles the mind.21 -
"Eat less and exercise" is something many folks just don't want to believe. It's amazing how much resistance there is over the idea, but such is the weight loss industry that they've brainwashed a lot of people.
A lot of people are okay with the "exercise" part because fitting in a half hour walk--or even weight session--a few times a week seems a lot easier than counting calories and meal planning.3 -
100_PROOF_ wrote: »
It's definitely taught in school. My kids did it in 6th and 7th grade health class.
They where given a pad of paper and told to write down their foods for the weekend and look up the USDA nutrition values associated with the food choices.
Then they where shown how many calories most people need in a day verse what most people consume.
My children go to a American public school and I could easily go ask for the lesson plan to prove that kids are taught this in school.
As a former principal of an American public elementary school, I can tell you that it is very hard to penetrate the culture of cupcakes and doughnuts for birthdays, even HALF birthdays. The few allowed parties were full of cookies to decorate .. cupcakes, candy, even soda! Luckily, the feds outlawed soda, so that was an easy fix.
We decided as a staff to cut it out. We had a huge push, with lessons and posters and healthy choice examples for recess and "special day" snacks. We had "Garden Parties" in our school garden with tasty treats from the vegetable garden to test taste. Then we put our foot down and said, "NO" to birthday treats (you can't imagine how many birthdays and half birthdays 32 students could have) Then our few parties became "Kindness Activities" and instead of decorating huge cookies, where the main purpose of the party was to scarf down snacks while creating a giant cookie snack, the purpose became whatever project the kids had chosen. .. like making dog blankets or letters to soldiers.
While it is great for students "learn about" healthy eating, but then if the school participates in regular opportunities to celebrate based on poor food choices, that is all pretty hollow. I did earn the title of "Cupcake Nazi" Of course, we still had treats, we just made them more about regular food and not desserts only. Small desert choice, large vegetable, and protein choices. I even changed the chocolate jar for the teachers to in-season lunchbox size fruits and once a week a little chocolate treat.
At the same time, we increased active lifestyle choices at recess, free time and after school .. but that is another side of the "Fit for Life" coin and a discussion for another day.
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JMcGee2018 wrote: »
A lot of people are okay with the "exercise" part because fitting in a half hour walk--or even weight session--a few times a week seems a lot easier than counting calories and meal planning.
If you can't outrun your fork, you're surely not going to outpace it by walking.15 -
Sounds like your plan just isn't sexy enough.5
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I had this coworker tell me trans fat will make you fat even on a caloric deficit
So I replied "if you eat one single donut during the day and nothing else, you're telling me that you will gain weight?" In which she replied yes....I didn't bother to argue with her, I knew her mind wasn't going to change. 15 -
I had this coworker tell me trans fat will make you fat even on a caloric deficit So I replied "if you eat one single donut during the day and nothing else, you're telling me that you will gain fat?" In which she replied yes....I didn't bother to argue with her, I knew her mind wasn't going to change.
Now there's someone who has completely missed the point of the messaging about trans fats.3 -
I had this coworker tell me trans fat will make you fat even on a caloric deficit So I replied "if you eat one single donut during the day and nothing else, you're telling me that you will gain weight?" In which she replied yes....I didn't bother to argue with her, I knew her mind wasn't going to change.
As Mark Twain said: "Never argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience." 34 -
My coworkers full a table right by my desk full of cookies, treats, dainties, cheeses, chips, donuts... Every. Damn. Day.
It's been so stressful at work lately that I've been having a hard time leaving them alone, and my scale has shown it.
Back to logging and a deficit for me. I'm tired of feeling horrible AND stressed!15 -
Now there's someone who has completely missed the point of the messaging about trans fats.
yea.. it's not that it will make you fat.. it will clog your arteries and make you dead earlier7 -
Ugh yes, a few months ago, way before I started on this site I signed up to bring something in for "Wednesday Treat Day" that day is coming soon and it is stressing me out! I don't know what to make that won't tempt me too much!2
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BattyKnitter wrote: »Ugh yes, a few months ago, way before I started on this site I signed up to bring something in for "Wednesday Treat Day" that day is coming soon and it is stressing me out! I don't know what to make that won't tempt me too much!
Make a treat that you can enjoy without worrying about temptation such as: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10500016/low-calorie-protein-cheesecake/p1
You can play around with the recipe to change the flavor if you want, there's lots of awesome suggestions in the thread 1
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