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Posted 12/16/2008 8:50 PM (GMT 0)
I have to get this off my chest...feel free not to respond as I know it's pointless, but it's bugging me.

I work with daily and am surrounded by guys (and girls for that matter...) that eat like garbage. Even before I was sick I used to bug them and say that I would be watching them all drop from heart attacks before I hit 30 (I'm 28 now).

One co-worker in particular has a pepsi and doritos EVERY DAY. He even smells like doritos (gross). He eats burgers and hot dogs and all that good stuff all week long. He looks at what I eat and says "looks to healthy, can't taste good" On top of it all he smokes.

Another one (this one a close friend) drinks like a fish and at one point went almost an entire year....A WHOLE YEAR I KID YOU NOT of eating pizza and drinking beer EVERY DAY with barely a sub sandwich or glass of water thrown in more than once a week. Mind you, he had a very hard time dealing with the loss of both of his parents, so I understand why he turned to alcohol for a while (he's doing better now).

These are just 2 examples. What gets me the most, is now these two guys, among others, look at me as if I'M the one with the health problems now and think how terrible it must be to watch what I eat and all of that stuff while they continue to do as they please and eat as they please.

WHAT GIVES? How does this work????

Sorry....vent for the day....haha

Posted 12/16/2008 8:55 PM (GMT 0)
     Not to be nosy...but where do you work?  Sounds like a fast food place.

Posted 12/16/2008 9:02 PM (GMT 0)
Trust me, their time will come! And vent anytime - we all need to do this on occasion!

Gigi1227
Posted 12/16/2008 9:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Pushingforward,

Give them some gruesome details. For me, it's not always making it to the toilet, farting and having blood and mucus come out, and bleeding about 1 1/2 to 2 cups a day.
Posted 12/16/2008 9:05 PM (GMT 0)

Haha Christine, you would think so by that description. Although I did back in my high schol days.

I actually work in a sales office. We have an attached warehouse which is where my co-worker and most of the guys work. There are only a few of us in the office. Some of them eat pretty normal, but there are some you'd just wonder how their heart keeps beating haha. Gotta love them all, but really..do you need pepsi and doritos EVERY DAY. haha.

Just something I couldn't help but share.

Posted 12/16/2008 9:15 PM (GMT 0)
Oh yes. And I have this light pinkish brown stuff that comes out that I swear looks like skin.
Posted 12/16/2008 9:15 PM (GMT 0)
I'm one of those people that eats garbage every day. I know many people that eat poorly but are still healthy. I've never had to watch my weight so I've never worried about what I eat. Honestly, I don't know why what other people eat would bother you so much. Not that I could or would want to eat Doritos every day but it's no different than people who don't drink coffee having to watch people drink coffee every day. I think many people have things that they eat every day or drink every day. My DH drinks a Pepsi every morning instead of coffee. Is it healthy? NO, but in the 10 years I've known him, he's never been to the doctor.
Posted 12/16/2008 9:24 PM (GMT 0)

Dont get me wrong glamourgirl. Maybe my post came off the wrong way.

I'm not mad and it doesn't bother me to that point. It's just something I've noticed.

I've always watched what I ate to some extent and exercised in order to stay as healthy as can be, but then those people who couldn't care less and eat whatever are the ones with no problems. I guess I am more stating I couldn't help but notice.

I definetely don't lose sleep over it and don't have any less respect for these people...just noticed and thought I'd "vent" for lack of better word.

Also, if you saw these people, you'd know what I mean. I'm not talking about a pepsi a day or a not so healthy diet. I'm talking about literally eating nothing but chips, burgers, pop. And my friend LITERALLY lived off pizza and beer...like no other food, just those....

I just found it ironic and thought I'd share :-)

Posted 12/16/2008 11:07 PM (GMT 0)
I see what you're saying; like "How is it I eat healthy and am sick, but these people eat crap and are healthy". It really does suck how that works out. But it's a good argument against the accusations of "If you ate differently/better, you wouldn't have these problems!" which I hear all the time. Every time my parents see me with a McDonald's bag, they freak out and say "Edie!! You shouldn't eat that garbage, you know what it does to you, you probably wouldn't be so sick if you would just stop eating McDonalds". Which I know is not the case, and I happen to like McDonalds and pasta and milk shakes and things that make my stomach ache but I'm tired of UC ruling my life and I figure, if it's going to make me miss out on fun activities, I might as well at least enjoy the food I want to. Gotta live life in some way, right?
Posted 12/16/2008 11:33 PM (GMT 0)

Hey, you young people.  Here is one older lady (much older) and my husband who eat terrible.  We drink coffee w/creamer in morning (I got down to 1.5 cups because of UC but not giving it up), only white bread, little fruit but rarely veggies.  We eat tv dinner with too much sodium and some fat.  I have cut back on fat and sugar but not enough.  I am obese and therefore have thought all my life "why can she eat anything and be thin when I diet and stay fat". 

It is a good observation and I also think it will catch up with these people or maybe some will change as they get a little older (we can hope).  Our habits here we have had for so many years - probably won't change soon enough to add years to our lives.  My husband has heart disease, COPD from smoking 50 years, now lung cancer, etc. etc.  I have hypertension and knees that are needing replacement.  I did this to myself - no one else forced me to be overweight - no one fed me too much fat and calories - I did it.  Hope at least some of those you work with change before too many years go by and it is too late.

ElaineNY

Posted 12/17/2008 12:28 AM (GMT 0)
     Oh, it most certainly WILL catch up to these people some day.  But, I wouldn't worry about it.  Just worry about yourself Chuck, eat healthy for overall health not just for UC.  I should talk...I had a BLT with chips tonight for dinner.  I rarely do this but I had such an appetite for it.
Posted 12/17/2008 12:30 AM (GMT 0)
Yep, although people would assume this disease is somehow caused by what you eat, it simply isn't.
It's even hard for us with the disease to "digest" because it just doesn't seem fair.
And then, even though you know the facts, you grow tired of explaining to people who just won't believe it...

We should all know better than to eat too much junk or smoke, just the same.
Posted 12/17/2008 1:13 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks guys.

Having this diagnosis has really had an impact on my life. I know I cheat. The other night I had 2 BIG plates of spaghetti and tomato sauce...so good. I just try not to make it my everyday thing.

I'm still human too...just have a different challenge than some others. I don't wish it on anyone, but I'm glad that you guys are hear to share ideas and thoughts. It really helps....believe me.

Thanks to you all :-)

Posted 12/17/2008 1:33 PM (GMT 0)
I know how you feel and I know that one day all that junk food eating, drinking and smoking is going to catch up to them. But sometimes I feel resentment toward people like that. It's not the fact of WHAT they are doing but just the fact that they CAN. I sometimes will watch people and wonder what it's like to be healthy like them but then I stop to think. Who's to say that they ARE healthy ya know?? Everyone has something. I wonder if someone who is severely ill and they see me walking out of McDonalds with a bag of food for my kids and think, boy wouldn't it be wonderful to be healthy as HER (me). There is always 2 sides to the fence and I found that I can't be thinking about the other side or it will drive me crazy. But it is an ironic side of life isn't it?

Btw, Chuck - I haven't had a chance to welcome you to Hw! I'm a bit late but WELCOME! :)
Posted 12/19/2008 1:00 PM (GMT 0)
I know what you are saying.  It is sad when people take their health for granted when we are trying so hard to get healthy.  I feel you.

Posted 12/19/2008 4:01 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, vent away - life is not fair, and its frustrating if you feel you have gotten the short end of the stick.

That said, in reading the posts on this topic and the previous one, "Carbohydrates and UC", I can't help thinking that food is being overrated. We need food to live, but we in North America tend to have a weird fixation with food that results in extreme views: either its the enemy or its the cure-all. Is this because we have an overabundance of relatively cheap food or is it some kind of reaction to this overabundance? Bizarre. Julia Child used to term people who obsess over food nutrients to the extent that they could not enjoy food "nutritional nervous nellies". Granted, when we are flaring, certain foods may, for some of us, aggravate a flare, but other than that...why obsess?
Posted 12/19/2008 8:30 PM (GMT 0)
Yup- food is fuel, nothing more, nothing less. I totally agree that Americans are obsessed with food- either they try to eat more, or less, or none of this & all of that, etc. It's just a way to keep our bodies going. I think we have far too many choices, but I like that theory about the craziness being a reaction to all the cheap foods available.

Posted 1/10/2009 10:06 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, we have some delicious choices. AND UC is usually not life threatening like cancer, heart disease, brain tumors, etc. Mostly we can sneak through life with nobody knowing what we have because we "look" normal! At times, we need to make wiser choices about what we eat, but we can always "cheat." Nothing like a big juicy burger and my favorite hot, rich habanero caramel ice cream sauce over a scoop of vanilla ice cream! I love the heat!! AND the spicy fabulous guacamole!! We may suffer if we cheat, but we mostly won't die!

Moderation in all things. Isn't that biblical? I find "a little wine for thy stomach's sake" works just fine for me! The other night I cheated and ate 7 or 8 pistachio nuts. I KNEW I shouldn't but they were so good! Sure enough! Big flare the next day!!

I live vicariously through my friends. I watch them eat and try to enjoy those bites along with them. Yep! I'm jealous!! BUT, I'm going to go into remission soon and then I'll join em!

A few years ago a famous fitness expert died of a heart attack while jogging in a park. I don't remember his name, but I remember my gramps laughed and said "See? All that fitness stuff is hogwash!"

Moderation in all things........................
Posted 1/10/2009 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
The fallacy in your thinking is that diet doesn't cause IBD. It may well cause them problems, but later in life and likely cardiovascular problems.

It's sad and unfair, but bad things do happen to good people.
Posted 1/11/2009 3:17 AM (GMT 0)
Living in the South and spending a good amount of time in southern Louisiana, I am guilty of eating somewhat poorly most of my life. If it is fried or Cajun, I usually love it. Granted I don't do a lot of sodas (mostly sweet tea or water) and only drink alcohol 3 or 4 times a year and have never even tried a cigarette. Not saying that foods don't affect me but a lot of times it "feels" like the mental game (stress/anxiety) causes me more GI issues than the diet.

The other problem is I HATE cooking and I am bachelor. lol Being new to UC, watching my diet is going to be rough.
Posted 1/11/2009 3:56 AM (GMT 0)
UC.... I love cooking... If ya get into the right frame of mind... US men can outcook the women. Not saying they can't cook. But cooking can be fun. I love to hunt, fish, and grow my own food. I can, and cook. Its a healthier way to live and it can be fun. You can be the envy of all your friends ( and their wives ). LOL. Just out cook them. Plus the added benefit is that if you get know as "the cook" when parties or holidays come around they ask you to cook. Then ya always know there is going to be food there that is not on your "trigger" list. You control the menu with tastey safe choice for you.

I may be old and decreptid... but stupid I'm not. LOL
Posted 1/11/2009 4:12 PM (GMT 0)

unclebubba - you are right on!!  AND - if you are old then since I am 30 years older than you are - I am really OLD!

I am especially drawn to men who cook.  I taught my sons who are 44 and 45 to cook so when they got married they both do a lot of the cooking.  My husband can boil water and use the microwave - hee hee!  He just never learned.  Spent 20 years in the Army.

I have had IBS for years so always needed to know the menu when going out to eat - restaurants or relatives.  Sometimes hard to find something I could enjoy and not have problems.  Offering to take a "dish" along helps or eat a little at home in case you should not eat what is offered.  It is not easy.  Now there is an advantage to being OLD - people expect you to act "funny" and not eat stuff, etc.  One of my lines is "just can't eat like I used to". 

You can come over the cook for us anytime!!

ElaineNY

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