Holding my tongue so tight but I've got to tell someone
I just went in the break room to refill my water bottle from the sink in there. Our building's new janitor, a young man who's so overweight that he practically has to go through doorways sideway was in there. He was scrapping some canned Chef Boyardee (sp?) crap into a plastic bowl to nuke it. Omg, omg, omg. I couldn't even look at what he was fixing. All the info on healthy veg*n eating that I've posted is still up on the bulletin board in there. He's killing himself but I'm not his mother or the food police. I have no business confronting him over how bad for him what he's eating is. I want to grab him and shake him and say "You won't see 40 eating like that!" I'm so conflicted but I know that if I make an issue of it, I might be prevented from even posting my stuff on the bulletin board. So I'm going to continue to hold my tongue so tight and just pray for that SAD young man!
I know what you mean. I'm in my last year of school. We're all biology students, getting our masters. Now, you would think that biology students who know about the environment, the way their own bodies work, what their bodies need, etc., would be just a little MORE conscious of what they put into their bodies.
But, they're not. Some of the stuff they eat doesn't even resemble food.
I have to say that there is a difference, though, between those of us who are getting our biology masters with a concentration in ecology and the rest of them. The ecology group, as a whole, has far better eating habits. There's definitely quite a few vegetarians and vegans among us.
But, the rest of them ... whenever I go into our student area in the labs, where we have microwaves, I see someone with their "healthy" lean cuisine that smells SO bad.
And, I post on the bulletin board in there too. ;) Of course, I also sometimes say "what's that awful smell? You're not supposed to be doing lab experiments on decomposing matter in here." ;D
So much of what passes for food these days is not actually food, but just plain calories, if that makes sense. Spaghetti Os, the good chef, Campbell's soup, Triscuits, Oreos, fruit rollups...it is all just empty garbagy junk. I believe that corn flakes, Cheerios, Special K belong on that list too. The only food value, outside of calories, is from what is put in AFTER it is processed to death. You don't find these things in my house!!!!
Those of us who grew up in the 1960s were told on TV that the above things were "wholesome" and "good tasting." Our moms served when they wanted to please us at the table. Our most special treat growing up was a Banquet fried chicken TV dinner. I have a friend who calls buying 20 of them at $1 a piece "grocery shopping" and that is literally all she eats. (Yeah, she has a weight problem that is getting worse and she can't figure out why she is tired all the time and her IBS is so bad.)
This is all just so wrong. McD's is allowed to advertise "good things for little tummies" and I am sorry, but ancient preserved apples, moo juice, and chicken nuggets are not good things for little tummies. It is better than a greasy burger and fries, but only marginally, very marginally. My biggest issue with fast food places is all the trash they generate. Everything comes wrapped in plastic, is taken out, reheated or fried, put in more little packages and then in a bag and taken out to eat. Add to that the enormous amounts of water for processing, fuel for driving these little packages around the world, the exhaust pouring out of the cars that sit in line at the drive up...just wrong wrong wrong.
I could rant all day.
HA! Everyone at my work sees me bringing in salad for snack ("You're going to turn into a rabbit!") and mock my "gross" food (hummos, tofu ANYTHING) and complain when my salad smells funny (I put oil & vinegar on it, so it tends to be strong smelling ;D) but when they order fried chicken or wings and the whole office wreeks of meat I have no right to complain...sigh, the injustice!
I know its hard, TinTexas, but you should probably continue to :-X If he ever talks to you & complains about his weight or health, use that that as an opening to gently tell him he would feel better if he ate healthier. If you confront him or are mean about it, he will just get mad & not listen.
Be a healthy, energetic, happy example of how great the vegan diet is :)
I know its hard, TinTexas, but you should probably continue to :-X If he ever talks to you & complains about his weight or health, use that that as an opening to gently tell him he would feel better if he ate healthier. If you confront him or are mean about it, he will just get mad & not listen.
Be a healthy, energetic, happy example of how great the vegan diet is :)
I will but the thought that I could recruite him for an experiment has crossed my mind. I could provide him with lunch for the next three weeks and see what happens. He probably would be terribly offended so I'm not going to suggest it.
OMG! My roommate eats the same kind of crap! Lot's of fast food, canned stuff and super processed "food". And he is in nursing school which just makes it worse because I know for a fact he has been in two nutrition classes and he has watched "Super Size Me". So even though he knows all the facts and agrees with them and fully supports a vegetarian diet, he still eats crap! And to add insult to injury, he is as thin as a rail! I just look at what he's eating and gain weight, he shovels in 6000 calories a day and nothing! Blarg!
I know its hard, TinTexas, but you should probably continue to :-X If he ever talks to you & complains about his weight or health, use that that as an opening to gently tell him he would feel better if he ate healthier. If you confront him or are mean about it, he will just get mad & not listen.
Be a healthy, energetic, happy example of how great the vegan diet is :)
I will but the thought that I could recruite him for an experiment has crossed my mind. I could provide him with lunch for the next three weeks and see what happens. He probably would be terribly offended so I'm not going to suggest it.
Agreed. When someone is that overweight, it's not like they don't KNOW their eating habits are unhealthy. Some people just don't want to change.
man - my head is spinning! it is SO hard to live with non-vegetarians, who shovel dirt into their mouths everyday.
I'm trying to be healthy and wholesome with what I eat... but it's more difficult when your family/roomates eat only frozen meals, steak, potatoes, and fried eggs, and drink soda all day!
Agreed. When someone is that overweight, it's not like they don't KNOW their eating habits are unhealthy. Some people just don't want to change.
Hmm- I think that most of the time when someone is that overweight, the issue goes deeper than the quality of food he eats. I would DEFINITELY not go so far as to say he doesn't want to change. The thought of changing is probably on his mind constantly. He is most likely a compulsive overeater and needs help and deserves some compassion. Just a thought.
I say don't say nothing but if you want to do something try this.
Make more of your lunch a second helping bring extra forks pack it in a seperate container and say to him, "You know I love to cook and i would love for you to try out these new recipes that I've been making. I would love to hear your opinion on them." I think that's the only way to hook him if he decides it.
its a free country, let him kill himself if he wants to
OMG! My roommate eats the same kind of crap! Lot's of fast food, canned stuff and super processed "food". And he is in nursing school which just makes it worse because I know for a fact he has been in two nutrition classes and he has watched "Super Size Me". So even though he knows all the facts and agrees with them and fully supports a vegetarian diet, he still eats crap! And to add insult to injury, he is as thin as a rail! I just look at what he's eating and gain weight, he shovels in 6000 calories a day and nothing! Blarg!
See, but that's why people cannot use looks (especially body shape) as a sole determinant of health. My friend Matt is the same way--eats tons of junk and never gains and ounce. My boyfriend and I are both really thin, but we always have been (just the way we are). Whenever I say "Sheesh, I need to start working out again" and people respond with "Oh, yeah, like you have SO much weight to lose" I get pissed because exercising shouldn't be about losing weight--it should be about getting your heart, muscles, and bones in tip-top shape. Same with eating veggies and salads (the ultimate "diet" food)--since when did a healthy diet and exercise have to be only a part of a weight loss plan and not just a good way to live your life?!
Agreed. When someone is that overweight, it's not like they don't KNOW their eating habits are unhealthy. Some people just don't want to change.
Hmm- I think that most of the time when someone is that overweight, the issue goes deeper than the quality of food he eats. I would DEFINITELY not go so far as to say he doesn't want to change. The thought of changing is probably on his mind constantly. He is most likely a compulsive overeater and needs help and deserves some compassion. Just a thought.
You know, it's weird, you would think someone who is over weight would know they are, but sometimes they don't. 3 year out of high school I literally doubled my weight I went from 100 lbs to 200 lbs! I knew i was chunky, but I never got that I was seriously over weight! (also I'm only 5'2 so that was some MAJOR weight gain!) I finially figured it out on my own after seeing some rather unflattering birthday pictures, since then I have spent the last 5 years trying to get the weight off--I still have 30 lbs to go...back then, I just wish someone had the balls to tell me (gently) that I needed to do something. It can be a hard subject, but really, it could save someone :)
If you are trying to restrain, but still want to do something, offer him an extra apple or some other healthy snack to go along with whatever he's heating.
I thought I didn't like squash until a co-worker offered me some that she had cut into chunks, put in a bowl with a little water, and nuked for a few minutes. Then she added Mrs. Dash and some pepper. It was awesome, so everytime someone brings in squash now, I make what she made and borrow her Mrs. Dash.
OMG! My roommate eats the same kind of crap! Lot's of fast food, canned stuff and super processed "food". And he is in nursing school which just makes it worse because I know for a fact he has been in two nutrition classes and he has watched "Super Size Me". So even though he knows all the facts and agrees with them and fully supports a vegetarian diet, he still eats crap! And to add insult to injury, he is as thin as a rail! I just look at what he's eating and gain weight, he shovels in 6000 calories a day and nothing! Blarg!
My older sister has been a nurse for over 15 years and she's the same way. What's even worse is that my 6 year old niece is autistic and is supposed to be on a restricted diet. (no dairy, gluten and a 3rd thing I can't remember) Do you think my sister follows this? No! She pretty much gave up after my niece wouldn't eat/drink soymilk, soy yogurt, etc the 1st time tried. I offered to take her to the health food store where there are tons more options and was told not to bother. Both her kids are overweight and decide what the family eats. So you know it's McDonald's, pizza and any other greasy crap that is advertised on TV.