It’s amazing to me how inconsiderate people are when someone is trying to “watch their weight” or “eat healthier”. I watched a lady express to her “friends” that she needed to get her weight better under control because she was having some medical issues. The “friends” all showed great concern for her well-being . . . until it was time to order dessert! Then I heard “one bite won’t hurt you” and “you’ve been doing so well, you deserve a little treat”.
Would these same words come out of people’s mouth if the person was an alcoholic or recovering drug addict? These “friends” would be the biggest a-holes ever!
Now, I’m not saying that it’s easier to be an alcoholic or recovering drug addict . . . but you can remove yourself from the temptation and surround yourself with supportive people. Obviously these are keys to the process. But, when it’s food related, you can’t remove yourself from the temptation – we have to eat to survive. You can remove yourself from the worst temptations and remove those same temptations from your cupboards, but you still have to put food in your mouth. But how is it that even supposedly supportive people can become the devil when it comes to someone’s health?
Maybe it’s jealousy that someone is getting healthier, more svelte, and has more energy. Maybe it’s personal guilt because they don’t have the same commitment, but would like to. Maybe they don’t want to become the “fat friend”. Maybe they’re just uneducated about what is really healthy. Maybe they don’t understand the long term health risks of a poor diet. Maybe they don’t like to see others succeed.
Truly, I don’t know, and probably don’t care what baggage is leading them to be such an awful “friend”. What I do know is that I wanted to yell – HAVE SOME RESPECT at these “friends”. And I encourage anyone in this situation to do the same.
There should be no guilt because you don’t want to try the new recipe of brownies from the office secretary, and no lost friendship because you didn’t commiserate over a slice of cheesecake. When put in these situations, we all need to think of ourselves as recovering -holics and see the devilish pushers for what they are.
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