So, I have this friend...
cydonian
Posts: 361 Member
The classic story, eh? Anyway, it's actually my male boss. I just found out from a co-worker that he is doing the HCG drops/500 calorie diet per day. He is overweight, admittedly, but he was doing well with food control and exercise before he hurt his knee a few months ago. He is in his 40s and probably in the upper 200s in terms of weight. His diet is pretty terrible. I see few vegetables and a lot of bread, and diet sodas constantly. Very little water. I am concerned about his health if he continues on this diet, as I also heard he's dropped 10 pounds in about a week. Should I say something to him? If so, what do I even say? I would feel awful if he ended up in the hospital and I didn't say anything to him.
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I feel like people who choose to do things like that without thoroughly researching it are going to be the types of people who will probably dismiss your warnings as jealousy or ignorance or something else when the opposite is really true. And since it's your boss, you might want to keep the peace.0
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Be careful discussing health issues with coworkers. My advice is: just dont do it, not your business.0
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Guess I should add that him and I are pretty casual with each other. It wouldn't be the first time we've discussed more personal issues.0
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wow he's eating a lot of bread and diet soda on HCG??? I've done HCG before and I think its a good way to learn to start eating healthier and portion control, however, if what you said is true than he's not even doing it correctly.
Some people abuse HCG by still eating bad and yeah you lose weight but since he's not doing it correctly, once he's off, all i can say is that his weight will go back to what it use to be and some more in no time!0 -
Don't do it. It' his choice to loose weight that way and not really any of your buisness.0
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Yikes!! Thats a tough situation! Where did he get the HCG stuff from ? A doctor? or over the counter?(I havent heard much about that stuff)
If he got it from a doctor I would imagine he'd think its ok to do that! If not , he's probably feeling pretty desperate to lose the weight! Maybe tell him about what you're doing and about this site! Let him know there's people of all ages and sizes on here and its a great motivator! But after that, unless HE brings it up and talks to you about it, I'd lay off a bit. You don't want your boss to be annoyed with you!
Good luck!0 -
wow he's eating a lot of bread and diet soda on HCG??? I've done HCG before and I think its a good way to learn to start eating healthier and portion control, however, if what you said is true than he's not even doing it correctly.
Some people abuse HCG by still eating bad and yeah you lose weight but since he's not doing it correctly, once he's off, all i can say is that his weight will go back to what it use to be and some more in no time!
I'm not sure exactly what he's eating to be honest, because every time I go in, it's been a soda on his desk. If he's been doing it for a week, I haven't really seen him eating at all. That's my concern. He's a large male intaking less than I intake on a daily basis.0 -
Wouldn't say a thing unless he asks for your opinion. I have to bite my tongue ALOT when I see friends doing the old starvation diet thing but if they don't ask, I don't say a word.0
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I have a friend that was doing this exact same diet. I wanted to be sensitive because I know how much it hurts to want to lose weight and feeling like nothing else is really working, so you go to extremes. But I managed to find a way to tell her I was concerned about the low calories and the artificial hormone but admitted I'm no expert and didn't know much about the diet other than that. I don't know if it was me or the unrealistic diet itself, but she doesn't seem to be doing it anymore. Hopefully she finds a healthier alternative and that your co-worker does too!0
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unsolicited advice is not cool0
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I agree with saadler. He's also probably not going to listen because he's seeing fast results on the scale.0
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Yikes!! Thats a tough situation! Where did he get the HCG stuff from ? A doctor? or over the counter?(I havent heard much about that stuff)
Neighbor. Another concern. He hasn't told his physician and he's got blood pressure/cholesterol issues anyway.0 -
I heard him raving about it to co-workers... see, I didn't explain myself well enough previously, lol! I think he's gonna end up bringing it up to me at some point.0
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He may take it personal being that he is your boss or he may be greatful for you saying something :huh: ....But in the end its your call... IF you talk to him offer help... OR I would send him an annonymous email maybe? :glasses: It just makes it harder to tell him since hes like your BOSS :noway:0
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I wouldn't say anything either unless he mentions it or opens the topic up for discussion and ONLY if we were on extremely casual terms and even then, I would probably bite my tongue. Workplace can be tricky for stuff like that.0
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Well with HCG, depending on how many drops he takes, it releases about 2500-3000 calories into your system which is why you only eat 500 calories. When i was on it, if I were to calculate my caloric intake, it was usually between 7-800 calories.
The deal is for breakfast you drink tea or coffee and water.
lunch and dinner you eat 3.5oz meat and as much veggies as you want with 2 servings of fruit and grissini sticks if you want.
You dont have to eat all that in one sitting.
I've always broken it down so that I eat every 2-3hrs as I'm use to that since before HCG, I did do the regular eat clean and workout 6days/wk.
HCG if done correctly can really help lower your blood pressure and cholesterol. My only concern with this is if he's not doing it correctly than he's wasting his money and time cause he will feel like major **** later when he gains all his weight back and some more.wow he's eating a lot of bread and diet soda on HCG??? I've done HCG before and I think its a good way to learn to start eating healthier and portion control, however, if what you said is true than he's not even doing it correctly.
Some people abuse HCG by still eating bad and yeah you lose weight but since he's not doing it correctly, once he's off, all i can say is that his weight will go back to what it use to be and some more in no time!
I'm not sure exactly what he's eating to be honest, because every time I go in, it's been a soda on his desk. If he's been doing it for a week, I haven't really seen him eating at all. That's my concern. He's a large male intaking less than I intake on a daily basis.0 -
The thing is that all of us would try anything before we found MFP. We were all desperate, which is exactly how your boss sounds... but I agree with many here, talking to him may make him resentful because he IS losing weight and he KNOWS what he's doing. He will get defensive. He may even get angry. He will tell you that he is fine and as long as he is losing he will eat the way he wants to.
Remember how you felt before you realized that a healthy diet and exercise are really the only right way to do this?
You can try, but don't be upset if he dismisses your conversation and continues on his path of self destruction.0 -
if he does, maybe you should at least point him to where he can learn more about it?
I went to www.hcgweightloss.com/forum/ for learning and support.I heard him raving about it to co-workers... see, I didn't explain myself well enough previously, lol! I think he's gonna end up bringing it up to me at some point.0 -
Yikes!! Thats a tough situation! Where did he get the HCG stuff from ? A doctor? or over the counter?(I havent heard much about that stuff)
Neighbor. Another concern. He hasn't told his physician and he's got blood pressure/cholesterol issues anyway.
In my opinion, you can tell him and be as nice as you can about it. I think if you come from a point of concern without sounding judgemental, it should be received kindly. I agree that it is none of your bizness what he does, but if it was my boss, I would feel terrible if something happened to him and I did not say anything. Just look at it as if you saw him taking cyanide pills or about to drive off a cliff...Yes, he may live but should you at least not tell him it may be hazardous to his health for doing it. Not to sound perverted, but a man will always listen to a pretty girl talk so make sure to use ya feminine wiles. IJS.0 -
Sounds like he's doing it all wrong. If he is gonna do it he should do it under a doctors supervision not some neighbor who gives him the stuff. Over the counter stuff isn't reliable and getting something from your neighbor probably isn't safe either. If he's eating only 500 calories a day of course he'll lose weight and he may think it's working. IMO I think HCG is a bad way to lose weight. you lose muscle mass along with the fat.Anyway The decision is yours to say something or not.0
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Let him be… He will stop loosing weight using the drops if he fails to follow the recommended food, that sets him up for failure. He will probably blame the drops for his failure and you would have never said a word. I know several people who have used the HCG drops and they do work (one friend lost 110lbs). But the diet usually gets to everyone at some point, it got to me after dropping 45 lbs in 60 days. I have been able to maintain my loss and it did help me get a jump start on my weight loss. Now trying to eat healthy and exercise to take the weight off slowly.
If you have a good relationship with your Boss then talk to him. He will not take it as a negative (if you already have a good relationship). It shows that you are taking an interest in a common goal and you are willing to help. Fact is the support of people around him will help him succeed, perhaps thats why you come to this board? It's a win-win if approached correctly.0 -
Guess I should add that him and I are pretty casual with each other. It wouldn't be the first time we've discussed more personal issues.
That's fine, but you have to understand the risks you are taking when you discuss health issues with a coworker...particuarly when the health issue(s) belongs to the coworker you are speaking to. Disabilities are a protected class under the ADA, which was recently revised to include damn near everything.
So say something about their health issue that pisses them off, regardless of how 'casual' you have been in the past....once you piss them off about it, it's going to be your problem.
It's no different than having an affair with a coworker. It's all fine and good so long as you two get along, but hopefully when you split up...well, hopefully you arent the man; because it's not going to end well.
So again, my advice remains: dont.0 -
Thank you all for the advice. I think I am going to sit back and watch for right now and quietly keep an eye on what he's eating to ensure that he's doing it properly and I may say something if I see anything majorly wrong. I do see a lot of soda in his office though =/. We'll see, thanks again!
And yes, I have a hard time believing in 'fad' diets - no carb, low carb, low calorie, juice fasts, etc etc. because I modified my diet (partially for health reasons with my gallbladder) by eating less red meat and fats, and stuck around 1,200-1,300 calories per day, and I've noticeably trimmed up.0 -
I hear ya, I have a hard time believing in the diets myself. I have even more problems with the 'magic pills' that people take to lose weight/suppress appetite/boost metabolism/whatever. I am this way because I've seen too many medical records for heart valve damage from fenphen & meridia, liver damage from hydroxycut, etc.
But I've also been on MFP for about 6 months now, and I see how 'attached' people get to their diet of choice. They see it almost like a family member, and really do not take too kindly to anyone who disagrees with them.
At the end of the day, they really do not want to hear it. Now, that doesnt mean I wont reply on a messageboard. In some ways it's entertaining to watch those fights, or even chime in from the popcorn gallery to egg the argument on.
But I'd never do it in the workplace as it's just a completely different environment legally. Particularly so with the ADA and now GINA to worry about. You really can not have a simple 'friendly' conversation with a coworker anymore, not without risking your job anyway. Just not a good risk to take, IMO.0 -
Well it's touchy because it is your boss however you can just point out or give suggestions on good foods and how you're doing it. You said he had knee problems? He can get cardio in by doing punches. Ya know, bring it up by saying you've noticed he's lost weight, ask how and give suggestions. You can't force him to do anything you can only hope he makes the right choice
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Homeopathic hCG for weight control
Controversy about, and shortages of, injected hCG for weight loss have led to substantial Internet promotion of "homeopathic hCG" for weight control. The ingredients in these products are often obscure, but if prepared from true hCG via homeopathic dilution, they contain either no hCG at all or only trace amounts.
The United States Food and Drug Administration has stated that this drug is fraudulent and ineffective for weight loss. It is also not protected as a homeopathic drug and has been deemed an illegal substance0 -
Give it a few weeks, keep an eye on his health. When you see that he is less energetic, pale. listless etc. and the novelty of the drops has worn off, ask him if he is ok. Tell him that he looks kinda pale and is not acting as usual. Open the discussion with concern for his health and well being....but try not to "preach" to him. Get him to ask you questions. Then the chances are that he won't feel pushed or railroaded and resentful of your tactful intervention.
God only knows what are in those drops.0 -
He must know to take supplements in order not to drop dead from this kind of diet. I think if you want to talk to him it could be about what he recommends.. You dont want to get on the boss' bad side.0
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X2.unsolicited advice is not cool
Yes you've talked personal issues, but maybe he was comfortable talking about it.
He might not be comfortable talking about this.
He is your boss, and I wouldn't do it, unless he opens the door and starts to talk to you about the drops he is taking.
Then that's a different story, and I would then think you are ok to share what you know, but until then.0
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