Comments on: Treats At The Office

By: Linz

Linz — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:57:34 +0000

Mostly I eat the damn cake and then get the hell out before someone offers me another slice. I keep my comments to myself, thankyouverymuch.

By: susan

susan — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 19:03:12 +0000

I work with 99% women — there is a constant stream of treats on a back counter. I used to contribute to the fat talk, but try not to now. If the treats look fabulous, I try to savor a small piece. If they look store bought and not so fabulous, I ignore them. I ignore all of the idiotic comments.

By: ricki

ricki — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:50:44 +0000

Here’s a thought: Why not stop prescribing what OTHER people should do, and also SHUT UP about your own health-manias?

Seriously. I liked the world a lot better back before people thought it was their duty to offer unsolicited advice on EVERYTHING (not just food and exercising, but also child-rearing, driving, choosing clothes, gah, EVERYTHING) to relative strangers.

If I don’t ask you for advice, shut the heck up. And let me enjoy my damn cake in peace.

Oh, I know the real answer: the busybody folks are unhappy (because they are so wrapped up in AVOIDING potentially harmful things they never enjoy the little things) and they want everyone else to be as unhappy as they are. But seriously: shut the heck up. I don’t want to hear about how sugar is “unhealthy” for me. I don’t want to hear about how I’d immediately drop 35 pounds if I just walked every night after dinner (guess what: I already do!).

I just want people to butt out of my damn life and let me be happy. Even if they aren’t.

By: littlem

littlem — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 04:27:53 +0000

@ LaWade:

Well, OK then. Your first sentence? Was all I meant in context.
Really.

I’m sure if I threw the entire rest of your — admittedly learned — commentary at someone in the office — in the midst of a food-pushing situation — all I’d get is a wide-eyed look of “Buh?” and my guess is that the impact of the sentiment — no matter how accurate the commentary’s literal content — might have been substantially, perhaps irreparably, diluted.

Which, arguably, kind of defeats the purpose, y/y?

After all, my entire intent in throwing out a comment like that is rarely to educate Mr./Ms. “ZOMG – do you know how much fat is in that?”

Some people do not want to be educated.

My intent is usually to get them to JUST. SHUT. UP.

By: La Wade

La Wade — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 01:30:37 +0000

Yes, some cells in the brain are partially made of lipids and the brain does use glucose as metabolic fuel. But your body can synthesize lipids and glucose from almost any food, as long as it contains some carbohydrates (which most food does). And people rarely eat glucose, anyway…table sugar is a different type of sugar called sucrose.

By: littlem

littlem — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:30:15 +0000

LaWade, I’m not going to get all into it with you, because I’m sure you’re a scientist and I’m sure you’re right, but are you telling me that brain cells aren’t made of lipids, and the brain doesn’t use glucose as metabolic fuel?

By: i_geek

i_geek — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:38:55 +0000

I work with all guys, so you’d think the “bad food” talk that is stereotypically the domain of women would be non-existent. And it is for me and the two other students. Our advisor, OTOH, complains about nearly every sweet treat that we bring in. Of course, he has a major sweet tooth, so that doesn’t stop him from complaining about the unhealthiness and then sneaking a double helping when he thinks no one is looking.

For me: I always eat the cake (unless there’s another option like cookies or brownies or pie) but only after I’ve scraped off the frosting. I usually hate the frosting. But I love the cake, especially if it’s either yellow or chocolate. Even better if it’s cheesecake. :)

By: Miriam Nadel

Miriam Nadel — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:55:17 +0000

We have chocolate at every staff meeting – varying from cheap stuff I ignore to good chocolate brought back from meetings in Brussels. People either take it or not depending on what they want and nobody makes a big deal one way or another out of it.

It’s nice to work with adults. And chocoholics.

By: Meg

Meg — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:13:01 +0000

I eat the crap out of any sort of free cake offered. Extra frosting, please. Yesterday at a work event I happily ate two hot dogs and two desserts at the end of the night.

If I worked in an office that had catered lunches or treats more often, maybe it would be different, but cake is a MAYBE once a month type deal, and cake is not something that I purchase for myself at home, so this is my chance to get in some good, pastry-eating. Yesterday for the first time ever, someone said something about how I must have a high metabolism (soooo not true) and I just said that I loved desserts AND I loved running, so it all worked out – but other than that, I refuse to get into it with the “I’m so bad/just a little slice/I wish I could eat like that but it goes straight to my hips,” type folks. I say go for the gusto.

By: nolafwug

nolafwug — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 22:52:02 +0000

I hate the very thought of eating in public. I despise diet talk. It’s absolutely horrifying. “I can’t eat any, I’m too fat.” And the person is thinner than you.

Or if you decide you don’t want to partake for whatever reason you are judged for that as well. You must be one of those crazy, deprived dieters or maybe anorectic. Depends on the crowd.

You can’t win. Maybe I’m just a “closet eater” but I can’t enjoy eating in such an anxiety-filled situation so I prefer not to. And to draw as little attention to myself as possible. If I think people might make comments I’ll eat or pretend to eat. Maybe that’s abnormal but I wish people would be more sensitive and not judge. What someone eats or doesn’t eat is their own choice and nobody’s business.