Today’s lunch was bright and cheery- a tropical getaway if you will! :mrgreen:
I had a yellow pepper with freshly ground pepper and black bean dip on the side. (Sorry, I just realized how unappetizing that bean dip looks- LOL).
I continued my tater addiction with mashed potatoes! I made these a couple nights ago and they include almond milk, garlic, sea salt, and vegan margarine. I heated them up with a pat of vegan margarine and parsley flakes.
Two words: COMFORT FOOD.
With an Amy’s Texas veggie burger, a high protein pita, Fontaine Santa hummus, salsa, and tomato paste. I like Amy’s burgers, but I really need to make more of the In A Jiffy Spelt Veggie Burgers. They are much, much tastier (and cheaper).
Dessert was a WRINKLY peach! It was now or never so I took one for the team…and ate it wrinkles and all. ;) It did look more ‘distinguished’ I must admit. :mrgreen:
Two exciting things:
1) Michael Pollan + Alicia Silverstone + Food Inc + Whole Foods on Oprah today. Loved it. Anyone else catch it? I thought it was funny how careful Oprah was about everything she said. I must have heard the line, ‘This is only my opinion, you must make the choice for yourself.’ a million times. I guess she is avoiding another lawsuit…
2) 5:30pm and still light out. Can I hear a woot woot for Spring on its’ way??
Do You Feel Pressured To Be Thin At Your Job?
This week I was chatting with a reader who is in school to become a Registered Dietitian. She told me that there is a lot of competition among the RD students at her school. Of course there is competition over grades, but she told me there is also competition over weight and appearance.
Because the focus of the program is so health oriented and it is so competitive to get internships, there is a lot of pressure to appear as that perfect picture of health. You know the saying: practice what you preach.
I instantly thought about my previous jobs and whether I have felt any pressure to maintain a low weight. Most of them were office jobs, so there wasn’t much pressure there. However, I worked in retail for many years and had to wear the store’s clothing. At times, I remember wanting to look thin in the clothing so I could represent it well to potential buyers. However, I never felt pressure from my boss. It was internal pressure I placed on myself.
With my current job, owning a bakery, I don’t really feel much pressure about my weight because baker’s tend to have the stereotype of being heavy. However, owning a healthy bakery, I do think it is important to show that a healthy weight can be maintained with balance and moderation. It is not about being thin as it is just overall healthy though.
Then there is my OSG gig. Given my past eating disorder, I had to think very long and carefully about how I wanted to approach my blog. I knew immediately that it might not be healthy for me to be a 3x a day food blogger just due to the sensitivity I have around it all. It works great for many people, but I had to chose the right path for myself. I decided to blog about a variety of topics that I am passionate about, throw some hot topics and recipes in there, and try to have a nice balance for myself. This approach has worked for me because I have not felt overly scrutinized or pressured to live up to some ideal. I just try to be healthy for myself and not think too much about what other people think or expect of me.
Whether I had OSG or not, I would still want to maintain my weight and be a healthy person, so the blog really doesn’t change anything. At times I have fallen into the comparison trap, like many of us do, but I just try my best to work with what I have and never expect perfection from myself because it does not exist. [For a great discussion see Part 1 and Part 2 on Social Comparison Trap.]
So that was my long-winded way of leading into today’s question…
Do you or have you ever had a job (or school career) where you felt the pressure to be thin? What is it/was it and why do you feel that way? Are there things that you do to reduce the pressure?
You have to stay in shape. My grandmother, she started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She’s 97 today and we don’t know where the hell she is. ~Ellen
And that’s why I really like your blog! You have a balanced view of things which makes it so fun to read about.
It is easy in the society we live in to feel pressure to be thin, but a lot of people forget to be healthy in order to do that and there’s where trouble leaves. Eating fat-free foods and 100 calories (full of cr*p) snacks will not get you thin… or it even might, but there will be some suffering I am sure.
I don’t feel pressure from my surroundings, and everything I do to keep my body healthy through a varied diet and exercising I do for myself, so I can feel good internally, external appearance is basically the consequence.
It is funny how people view this though. I love food, love cooking, I eat very healthy, I exercise, I do everything in moderation and try to keep my life as peaceful as life lets you to. But people don’t see it that way, seems like it is so easy to criticize but so hard to understand.
I am happy with myself now as I have never been before, and sometimes I wish people would understand that and just feel happy for me.
But it seems like the happier you are the more envy you attract and people do criticize when jealousy strikes.
Pressure to be thin is something really interesting to talk about as it can be applied in so many ways.
Man, I think I deviated from the topic, am going to stop talking now!
Really enjoy your blog!
Ana
As an RD student I am worried about the sterotyping that goes along with weight and working as an RD. Whenever I meet an overweight RD or see one on tv, I can only imagine what people are thinking “how can this person help me if they can’t help themselves?” It’s a terrible thing to think, but in today’s world, its definetely a common thought process and even I myself am guilty of thinking that way. On that note, I try my best to practice what I preach only because I believe so firmly in my field. Thankfully I have never had to endure the struggle of being overweight in my life, but I still would never want someone to base my credibility on my looks.
I work at a day care center, and I am definitely not pressured by my coworkers to be thin there, though it is nice to stay in shape so I can keep up with the little ones!
I am, however, also a full-time college student, and I DEFINITELY feel pressure to be thin at my college. Eating disorders are rampant here (and so easy to get away with, without the concerned and watchful eyes of one’s parents!)I’m learning to stop comparing myself to others, and just be the healthiest “me” that I can be.
By the way, I LOVE that Ellen reference. She is my all-time favorite comedian :)
Absolutely! I’m a dietitian and it can be stressful to always be pictured as the epitome of health and nutrition!
Hey Angela,
I love your blog! Read it every day! I was just wondering if the gluten free glo bar will be available for order soon?
Thanks!
I absolutely love you for this post! I work at a gym so I am constantly surrounded by a varied mix of trainers, hardcore fitness buffs, “social” exercisers and individuals trying desperately to adopt a healthier lifestyle. I have also struggled, and am still struggling, with an ED. It’s ALWAYS a challenge and I always feel pressure to be thin/in shape/fit, especially since I am a gym employee. I try not to let it affect me, but it frequently does. I analyze most of what I eat and all of my workouts, but I am lucky! I have an incredibly supportive husband and family who constantly reassure me that they are happy with who I am and the progress I have made in improving my health.
Thank you again for this fabulous post! It’s always nice to know that there are individuals who deal with the same thoughts and pressures.
As a personal trainer the answer to your question is obvious. =)
I just started working in Vermont and I find it sad that no one there cares about their appearance. I feel like the odd girl out…and I barely even wear make up!
I work w/ six women and several of them try the latest “get thin quick diet” whether it’s a cleansing thing, doctors program, whatever. Seems like everyone is always on some sort of diet.
Going into personal training, I definitely say I’m feeling the pressure to not only be thin, but FIT. I’ve been working hard lately at building my upper-body muscle to have that sort of “feminine trainer look.” I want my clients to take me seriously, and even be a source of inspiration for some of them. It’s self-imposed for sure, but it just makes sense in my head, there’s no other way to explain it. Besides, it’s good incentive for me ;)
Wow, super interesting discussion :)
I don’t have any job-related pressure, but I do feel like there is an inherent pressure to be thin and beautiful if you’re a woman living in New York.
PS — I love how colorful bell peppers are. Aren’t they just so fun?
Great topic and conversation going on here!
I have definitely experienced this at work- I spent a summer in New York, working as a temp while interviewing for permanent positions. Most of my temp work was as a receptionist, in media/publishing. There was an unspoken rule that you had to have the “model-esque” appearance because you were the face of the company, being at the main reception. I worked at Vogue a few times and although my work was only ever a day or two at a time there, it was ridiculously intense how much effort was needed to work there permanently. Interestingly, several of the positions I interviewed for required a photo with the application. I had never experienced that before in the UK for *any* jobs and all the companies I interviewed with (mainly advertising or media), the woman looked like they just stepped off he cover of a fashion magazine. I haven’t experienced that anywhere other than New York but have lived/worked in the UK.
I’m an actor and a model. When you work in show biz, you and your image are your product. There is a pressure, both external and internal to maintain your body and be thin and muscular. So many people in this industry fall in unhealthy patterns. I try to avoid that by reading about nutrition and focusing on fueling my tank and keeping healthy and active rather than a number on a scale. So thank you for the positive message of this blog…it is about health and happiness. Your body will glow and radiate when you give it what it needs to keep going.
Thanks for the great post. Good advice! I completely understand how you feel and it makes me hate my job each day. It’s tough. Thanks for you insight though.
I stumbled upon this blog like I did yours. Though their insight on work was very meaningful: http://burisonthecouch.wordpress.com/2009/12/31/our-house/
Thanks for the post! I’d love to see more like it.