Embarrassed to eat in front of coworkers

#1

I Here is the thing… I am in maintenance now as I have reached my goal size (female, 5’7, 145 lbs, size 4-6). I am actively working on body recomposition by working out most mornings for 45 min (spin, barre/Pilates , or barbell classes).

Classes start at 5:30 am, which means I wake up at 4:30 or earlier. When I come to work by about 8:30 I am often starving. I have pushed through until lunch while I was losing, but now that I am in maintenance I figure I’d eat breakfast and then dinner after work.

Since I am super hungry 2-3 hours after my workout, I like to order a large breakfast at the downstairs cafeteria. I order 4 eggs, side of bacon, and maybe a side of spinach. The problem is, I get weird looks every time, from the person cooking the eggs, from the cashier, and most importantly from the coworkers who happen to be there ordering breakfast. There are grown men next to me ordering two eggs, and here I am with 4. I have gotten comments from “wow, you ARE hungry” to “are going to eat all that” to just double takes. Never mind that these people will probably eat again 3 hours later and I will last 10, but they don’t know that! And I can’t even make snide remarks since I work with these people. I just resort to either saying I won’t have time for lunch or that I worked out and am hungry.

I am sick and tired of having to explain myself. Sometimes I bring dinner leftovers and eat them in the kitchen, but then I also get weird looks because it’s not noon and I am eating steak. Not to mention I eat a lot! I have a big appetite and can put away impressive portions. I am slim now though so I suppose they can bite me?

(Allie) #2

Don’t let their issues and jealousy mess with you. Just think, you can eat all that food and still be healthier and slimmer than them… :grinning:

(Randy) #3

Just strike a pose and say “KETO, BITCHES”!!! :smile:

(matt ) #4

Who gives a shit what they think. You do you! You got up and busted your ass and you want refill the tank with keto goodness.

(Jennifer) #5

Dont explain yourself if you don’t want. Tell them to f off…

(Hala) #6

Same here I’m shy even to eat with my parents everyone let me feel I’m weird :joy: So from day 1 of keto I feel I’m lonely :joy:

#7

Get a T Shirt printed of before and after. Put a nice logo “4EGGS”

#8

I have been fat all my adult life, and I got tired of ppl judging me for every bite i put in my mouth decades ago. Nowadays my meals are even weirder since they see the fat bird is eating meat, fat and no veg.

Sadly this is just something that you have to ignore.

My policy is to act like a 3D human being and expect them to act the same.

It isn’t socially acceptable to gawp and pass judgement and comment on what other ppl are eating. It is rude. That is on them, not you. So if ppl say anything, i just ignore them completely. I don’t offer explanations or comments, i just let their comment fall into silence. And the longer that silence lasts, the more rude their comment seems, and the more uncomfortable they get.

Works every time.

Although I have to admit that is doesnt happen often. Possibly i have more confidence now. And of course I am older.

(Darlene Horsley) #9

Cleaning my screen now.:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

#10

In my carb days, I noticed the dirty looks buying cake, or donut. They never looked at skinny people buying cake, or donut LMAO I don’t care what people think anymore, I just luxuriate in ME

(Liz ) #11

Legit made me LOL!

My go to response to stupid stuff like that is a big smile and an enthusiastic, genuine, “I know, right??”

Like you are thinking: I almost can’t even believe it myself I am so lucky I get to eat all this and I am so freaking healthy!!

Seems to end the stupid conversations pretty fast if you agree with people.

(Banting & Yudkin & Atkins & Eadeses & Cordain & Taubes & Volek & Naiman & Bikman ) #12

“Wow you are hungry.”
“Yep.” or “Yeah, aren’t you?”

“Are you going to eat all that?”
“Yep” or “Yeah, are you gonna eat only that?”

Other people are Hell.

And yeah, you’re slim now, so they can go eff themselves if they don’t like it.

#13

Thanks for the support everyone!

I am going out with some girlfriends tonight, and I am going to pre-eat dinner at home before I go. They eat like birds, which drives me crazy. They like tapas and sharing, and all that weird stuff women do. I don’t want to share, I want a giant meal to myself, damn it! I will eat my full at home and then be all dainty later with them and not rack up the bill :joy:

(CharleyD) #14

Yeah, I’ve fallen into eating a few handfuls of my nuts/seeds collection in the pantry before a meal out with friends. There’s a popular pizza place in the neighborhood we all adore and they have a fantastic meat/cheese/stuffed pepper antipasti plate that is all I get.

The novelty of your orders should abate over time :slight_smile:

(Tubeman) #15

My partner relishes the opportunity to eat a giant steak in front of other women. The idea, besides eating a yummy steak, is to remove the stigma of eating a big meal and eating red meat, two things many women are shamed out of.

If anything, I use it as an opportunity to tell people that ketogenic diets are the bees knees.

(Jeanne Wagner) #16

They eat like birds, you eat like a T-Rex!!! Go get 'em tiger. Really, I’d freaking flaunt it. You know, in a nice way. :wink:

(Sophie) #17

Just say, yeah, I’m on a special diet and losing weight like crazy!

(Tubeman) #18

I often eat big meals. I like to tell people I’m on the python diet!!

(Trish) #19

What makes you think you owe any of them an explanation? If someone has something to say simply inform them that once they’ve made your next mortgage payment and you are then technically living under their roof that is when they get to start dictating rules. Sorry but your life, your body, your health so your rules. Be proud of your acomplishments.

#20

@Mamash Oh, please eat your amazing breakfast and enjoy every bite. Speaking as a straight woman here so I don’t mean this in a sexual way - but a woman who can own her appetite and really appreciate her food is a rare and beautiful thing.

Personally I love it when I can out-eat a lot of the guys around me and I relish every bite. (I’m fit and attractive and very comfortable in my own skin, so I’m sure that helps - but really it might be that all that is the result of enjoying the heck out of my meals and loving my hunger.)

I think @Brunneria’s strategy is lovely :slight_smile: for rude comments, but if it’s a neutral “wow, you must be hungry” it might be nice to practice being comfortable saying “Yes, famished! and oh, this is SOOO good!”