Corporate America

(Michelle) #1

This is kind of my ramblings for today, feel free to ignore, tl/dr, but I had to just get a brain dump of this stuff.

I work for a big company, and I’m in HR, and was needed for several in-person meetings this week. Some of the meetings we had 10-12 people in the room, and in one meeting, we had 40 people sitting around the table.
I love these meetings for people watching. I think it’s fascinating to see people’s behaviors and what that may indicate as to the health of the nation (or at least my small subset to observe). I try and see who may be eating low carb, and what their physical appearance, vs. someone that is carby and what they may physically look like. And, I realize you cannot tell one’s health by their physical appearance, but I often look for symptoms of IR, or fat accumulation around the mid section, etc.

Breakfast and Lunch were supplied and consisted of:
Bfast: muffins, bagels, ton -o - fruit, to go cereal cups, yogurt parfaits, etc.
Lunch - salad, rice, chicken, salmon, potatoes, bread pudding
snacks - pizza, veggie platter with hummus, pita, and big huge bags of snack-size candy bars distributed to everyone

Well, you and I know, all of this is bad bad bad. When I look around the room, I look at people’s posture, what they are drinking (i.e., coffee, juice, soda or water) and if they are falling asleep (we all know how easy this is when you are sleep deprived and sitting in a boring meeting!!).

Here’s what I saw:

  • Majority (but not all) of the people had breakfast. Most did, and it was muffin and fruit and coffee
  • Very little people had water, mostly diet drinks and coffees
  • I saw one lunch plate that had just chicken and salad (my keto brother perhaps??? no, cause after he ate it, he jammed a bunch of candy in his face)
  • People that were obvious overweight or obese were having carbs, carbs and more carbs (I understand the cycle)
  • Just about everyone in the room had at least one of those little mini-candy bars, if not more. I mean, just one doesn’t hurt right? I heard a lot of people saying “I need the sugar for energy”

I saw a man there that I haven’t seen in about 6 months. 2 years ago he was on a diet and was having 2 meal replacement shakes a day, and then a dinner at night. He had lost ~60 lbs and looked great. Fast forward to yesterday and he was bigger than before the shake diet!! Especially around his mid section. He looked 9 months pregnant. I feel so bad for him. I wanted to run up and tell him what to do.

It’s just sad to me to see all of this. Now, I listen to a stupid amount of health related podcasts, read a ton of books on improving my health, and I’ve always taken an interest in it, so I’m maybe on the extreme side . But, it’s obvious that NOT a lot of people even care about their health. The posture in the room was atrocious. People were so hunched over on their computers, I thought they were bending down to pick up something off the floor. And hydration anyone?? I understand it’s hard to pound water when you are in an all-day boring meeting, but reach for water once in a while. And definitely saw some folks dozing off with a few head bobs.

What does all this mean to me? Well, #1, I’m grateful I get to WFH on most days. If I had to look at this every day, it would drive me nuts. #2, I will never wonder why healthcare costs are out of control. I see it happening real time. #3 I’m so grateful I found keto, never felt better about myself and my WOE. #4 I’m even happier when I can help someone else turn things around

I wonder — do you guys also make these observations when you are in meetings? what do you see??

#2

Yeah, this is what I observe, too. And the constant snacking. People can’t just sit there for an hour or two in a meeting or workshop without grabbing a cookie, or granola bar…constantly nibbling.

(Brad) #3

Yes, I do. Actually I loathe the “food is provided” meetings. Was just in a 3 day training class, and same set up, pizza, sandwiches, and tacos.
So I had toppings, meat, taco salad with no shells. I did tell the guy arranging lunch after day 1, if he could provide some kind of low carb lunch, I would appreciate that. We got Tacos (close enough).

I notice a lot of things around the workplace that just scream carb me up.

Funny how you watch some one eat and think 10 carbs, 20, carbs, Oh my God carbs. You just want to smack the fork out of their hand and shake them…“For the love of God man step back, you’re killing yourself”

(Keto in Katy) #4

I left the corporate gig three years ago and this post reminded me of the endless soul-sucking meetings around conference room tables. People eating crap, most not even aware of what they are doing to themselves. Or maybe some of them just don’t care.

Oh yes, another PowerPoint slide would be nice, thank you. Excellent strategy there, Jerry. Solid brand positioning and IT alignment to boot. Stellar!

#5

I used to work for a place that sometimes hosted catered training. I tried my best to coordinate food choices that weren’t such a carbfest, but it was tough. Cold cut trays worked pretty good, with the meats and cheeses. El Pollo Loco does pretty good with the grilled chicken to go along with all the rice and beans. Got a local BBQ joint approved a couple times.
But the reality is, it’s about cost, not health.
The less carb-focused catering options are just waaaay more expensive.

(Arlene) #6

Thank you for posting this. I love your observations My husband has converted to keto because of my leading and his horrible gout and rapid heart rate problems. He is one of those who has absolutely no interest in the subject of nutrition. He would rather study history or stars and planets, which I find quite boring. Our minds are all unique, for sure. My husband enjoys eating this way, and he loves how he feels. As long as I’m around to make his yummy meals, I don’t see him going back to his old ways of eating, but he still talks of pizza, and even eats out occasionally with his kids, however not without paying for his eating crimes with a bad bout of gout, or several hours of rapid heartbeat. Now that’s incentive, don’t you think.

(ianrobo) #7

This is not the US but everywhere. I have a two day trip next week and not looking forward to the food options I will be presented with …

It will be the usual crap so will be ‘weird’ I think and just ask for butter !!

(Michelle) #8

Yes, luckily I didn’t have to travel for this and the meetings were held in my town. I brought my own food everyday.

(Jennie) #9

I don’t feel like that’s really true. People don’t wake up and want to be unhealthy, but the current diet dogmas have put us in a place where it’s really hard to take control of our health. We’ve found keto, but they haven’t yet. I bet people care about their health, but they’ve tried an array of stuff that hasn’t worked, so they’ve settled into dealing with all the other stuff life throws their way.
I wonder if being in HR you can influence any of the foods being served? Would they allow you to add some fat or proteins to the options?

(Jaidann) #10

I think I agree with this in general. I know I have become much more aware of others lately. Aware in the sense of how they look not in a judgemental way but in an empathy way. I remember being like that. It’s not that I didn’t care, it’s because I was lost. The amount of misinformation out there is astounding. I use to consider myself full of nutritional knowledge when I was thin. Boy oh boy was I wrong! I had the no fat/eat my grains thing down to an art form! After all … it’s touted everywhere. And what happened? As I aged I got obese eating this exact way.

(Tim) #11

These are great observations, thanks for sharing. I notice the same food availability and similar behaviors at the events I attend as well.

Regarding whether or not people care about their health, I agree with @Jennie that with so much bad information pushed on us from all directions, it’s understandable that people effectively give up trying when what they’re being told will work for them actually doesn’t.

(John) #12

I’m not around people a ton, but I check everything at the store for sugar, it is amazing how much is in everything. Shoppers baskets are full of almost nothing but sugar. I made a related point the other day, but I looked up chocolate cake nutrition and lucky charms, 60% carbs to 80% in the cereal and at least there are more micronutrients in the cake.
I went through the line at my daughters school and what most kids picked (2nd grade here) a little turkey, mashed potatoes, chocolate milk, fruit juice (more sugar than fruit), a roll and a fruit cup. I bet the average kid eats 200 carbs for lunch, and then there is chocolate milk and pop tarts for breakfast for 50 more. Somehow there is an obesity issue.

#13

I went years and years where I’d have completely believed that I was making a good choice getting the fruit and yogurt for breakfast. Now I know better. I went to countless meetings where I’ve had issues with the food. Sometimes I’ve discreetly eaten the sandwich fillings and pickle and then gave away the chips and cookie that would inevitably come with it. Or I had to sit there and not eat and go back to my desk and eat my emergency rations of tuna and nuts that I kept in my desk.

I’ve had some lucky asking the person arranging food if they could get me a salad. That would work if they were ordering from Jason’s Deli, but not so much if they were ordering a bunch of pizzas.

(Jo Lo) #14

Half the problem is that the Govmt requires any Govmt ordained organizations including official agencies, schools, military, many hospitals, Native Reservations, and any other group that is Govmt administered or gets Govmt $$ to follow the official dietary guidelines. These are still based on the Food Pyramid, which as we know is quite upside down.

That’s the party line. Anything else is unconventional. That’s all a lot of people need to know.:expressionless:
To do anything else is rebelling against authorities. Not in the cards for average joe.

(Jennie) #15

Interesting insight! I hadn’t considered that one must follow certain guidelines. That makes me feel a little better about the state of affairs.

(Jo Lo) #16

Yes. Well, we don’t have to. The Dudes don’t. And they are bustin’ out healthy. :smile:

(ianrobo) #17

there was a story here in UK that a hospital has told a shop to take out high fat foods and yes keep sweets being sold, the reason - the guidelines …