I have been doing this WOE for about 3 months now. I started a new job in March. First time I am eating this way in front of people, besides my family.

At work, ( I mentioned this in my journal too), my workmates are noticing my eating habits. They don't know that I am low carbing. Only one girl does (she is not one of the "teasers"- although she always asks if I am eating meatballs and green beans with string cheese today -my usual lunch). They just think I am dieting. They make comments here and there- mostly they think I don't eat enough, which I think I do, I just don't load up on carbs... protein is quite satisfying... I have said that I eat 6 small meals a day if I don't eat a big lunch. Today it was lox and cream cheese only and I got a lot of snide remarks from that. I think they are actually starting to worry about me, maybe they think I have an eating disorder? I am almost embarrased to pull out my food from my lunch bag.

I guess I just need support. How do I deal with this? I don't want this to ruin my WOE. I don't want to be ashamed of how I eat. I finally got myself in the habit of eating like this... HELP...I know I shouldn't care, but I do...

__________________
Suzanne
:butterfly

These sound like the same people that probably gave us "fat kids" a hard time in school. I have long since thrown away my allowance of peer pressure to affect my decisions. I would tell them you are eating LC and that it works for you. If eat the way they do works for them, then so be it. But that is the way it is. "Leave me alone." Be patient. When I started losing all my weight it started a health craze here at work. Numerous people have now adopted LC WOE. None tries to influence my eating anymore. I guess going from size 50 pants to size 38 makes quite an impression.

Good luck and Hang in there. Don't let those teasers force their views on you.

__________________
To think is to create!
So What? Now What?
Tom
Restart LC 7/05/08

In an ideal situation, you could either very bluntly tell those people to mind their own business, or just sit somewhere else. But....knowing that you're in a new situation and have the need to build bridges with new coworkers, here's what I've found to work...

Tell them that you hafta eat this way because you hafta keep your blood sugar levels stable. Tell them: "If I DON'T eat this way, you will hafta pick me up off the floor after I fall into a slobbering, insulin-dependent seizure, then call 911 and make sure that I get to a hospital before I bite off my own tongue and die of said seizure."

That shuts 'em up every time.

In fact, I've used that one consistently, and now -- when people comment that I'm not eating the pastries at the office or the dessert at the company party -- co-workers jump to my defense and say, "Oh, April can't have that, so quit trying to make her eat it unless you wanna see her have a fit."

__________________
April

The face of a child can say a lot -- especially the mouth part of the face.

My Blog

In following up to what April said...I have been asked (not teased) about my WOE plenty. I usually respond to those who are being nosy, critical or "concerned" that I have a family history of diabetes and syndrome x, (which is true) and that I have changed my WOE to keep control of my blood sugar and avoid being next.

Usually people accept this answer or ask me what syndrome x is... yes I am doing this to loose weight too, but that is as my mother in law would say "nunya" or none of their business.

Im sorry they are being nosy and I hope that if they really are concerned that they lay off.

Heidi

__________________
Heidi
171/163/150

Visit my Journal!

I love that April it's great! I usually tell people that I'm LC'ing luckily now I eat by myself most of the time in my classroom! But when I did eat around people some of them would say "Oh you're still doing that?" And I just reply...yes and I'll be doing it for the rest of my life because I would prefer not to drop dead of diabetes because I am petrified of needles and I don't want to have to give myself a shot because I really WILL die if I have to give myself a shot and it will be suicide because I'm not going to do it. They usually look at me strange after that...then again most of the people who know me know that I do have a weird way of putting things sometimes....

__________________
Proactive not reactive!!
222/176/165

What could be weird about meatballs, green beans and string cheese? Sounds lots healthier than the Big Mac and fries! I don't understand people who feel the need to comment on other's food habits, weight, tattoos, piercings, handicaps, or anything else that isn't their business. It's hard to come up with a polite comeback, although I love April's. It's the best!

__________________
Nita

i am a proud lc'er now and am more than happy to tell anybody who sits still 10 seconds, but when i'm not in the mood to deal with it, i just say i avoid flour and sugar.

if they mention you eating just a little at a time, maybe you could tell them you love to eat so much that you want to do it all day, so you have to pace yourself!

it would probably help you to remember that their teasing if it's gentle (and it sounds like it is) is most likely a sign of acceptance into the group. office mates frequently tease each other and it can be an indication they like you. they simply noticed your eating to mention because it's different from the garbage they toss down their own gullets.

__________________

EatSmart Nutritional Scale Review

Ask them if they're eating what they want, and when they say yes (or no) give 'em a big grin and say "So am I!" (or "Well I am!") as the case may be.

__________________

I can empathise what you are going through! I am sorry to hear it. The sad thing about it is if you were watching your POINTS on WW. That would be admired however, since you are downing the protein and not eating the chemical laddened/fake crap they are eating you are frowned on!

Just think about this, you are going to be the healthy one who doesn't catch that cold/flu that goes around that all of the low fat carb eaters are eating. You won't be tired at the 2 o'clock marker on the clock and everyone else is in a carb coma about to fall over their pc's!

Being excepted at a new work is tough, but you are tougher!!
Hang in there!

__________________
"Summer of PQ"
19 pounds down....
Atkins

I like PQ's thought on that. I also hear this at my work-- now that I've actually lost weight, I'm getting looks when I put my lunch in the 'frig. I'm still a Big Girl, so putting my three-cup salad loaded with eggs, bacon bits and other tasty veggies is quite funny to them.

I've had to turn down French Toast Friday (to the total incredulity of one gal who asked me WHY????) and never eat out anymore. I used to eat out EVERYday-- spending at least $6-10/day on food that was making me fatter and fatter.

But I came in with a brand new outfit on today (Burlington Coat Factory has outfits for under $20) which I plan to continue doing for each 10 lbs I lose-- and got lots of compliments. I said Yep.. I save so much money now by bringing my lunch that I can buy a new outfit.

When I get those Inquiring questions-- I tell them the same thing most of ya'll said-- I HAVE to eat this way. It's not a choice. I'm in a health emergency state and MUST eat this way for life to be healthy. So many say Oh I could NEVER give all that up, to which I just sort of smile and say, You'd be surprised what you'll give up to live. That shuts em up.

Blessings,
dovey

__________________
Winsome Dove

oh, that's a good one, dove! that's a good one.

__________________

EatSmart Nutritional Scale Review

Thanks everyone for your input and support. It helps out alot. Things are getting better at work.

It's this kind of support that helps me so much. Thanks, you guys, for being there (for me and for everybody). If it wasn't for this forum, I know I wouldn't be doing as well as I am doing. I probably would have given up by now. It helps to have such great support and encouragement!

__________________
Suzanne
:butterfly

i am a total bragger about what i eat and am unappologetic about it. it is my preference and everyone has their preferences. occasionally someone asks why i never eat bread/rice/potatoes and i use the medical excuse; ....long family history of IBD/digestive disorders. it is not unusual to be allergic/sensitive to starchy stuff so that's pretty easy. there's always this one: i'm allergic to carbs, i break out in fat! if you can have fun with this, it'll make your lunch break more relaxed. no one blinks an eye at my lunch and for that, i will shut up and not ridicule theirs....lucky them 'cause i could go on, and on.

I really liked what Queenmama said...they wouldn't be saying a thing if it was MD's or other fast food junk but when we get healthy I think people start feeling guilty about their own way of eating. I get strange looks when I go to birthday party's and bring jello to eat when others eat cake. Then they'll tell me how I don't need to lose anymore weight, how they couldn't eat the way I do, drag on and on about how much will power I have but have weird remarks that seem like they are putting me down at the same time! We should feel sorry for them because I love the way this clean eating makes me feel now.

__________________

Just a thought, do you have to eat with those people...

maybe you can go out side and sit in a park, or take a walk while they are eating and come back and you eat ....

I have a hard time with people that think they know how everyone should eat....
I bring my lunch, eat in the kitchen and rarely (of course I have been eating this way for awhile) does anyone say anything about my food choices... which are pretty good choices

Today I had a sausage patty and some cheese for breakfast
lunch is the rest of a greek salad i had yesterday with gyro meat
a couple of strawberries with cream, some sf jello
dinner is a roast with broccoli...

whats not to like about this way of eating...

__________________
http://www.youravon.com/cnorulak
carolyn in texas
started 8/11/03 327/268/177
5/20/08/ - 348
onward thru the fog