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Complicated diets in real life - how do you handle it?

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Dilworth

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Aug 28, 2001, 11:24:02 AM8/28/01
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I sometimes think that people that write to this newsgroup have such
intricate diets that they have absolutely nothing going on in their
lives except what they put into their mouths on a daily basis. Do
posters to this group never go out to eat or eat at other people's
homes? Never deviate from their strict counting and adding and
supplementing? Do people keep a spread sheet posted in your kitchens to
keep track of every little minute speck of stuff that enters your
mouths? What do you do at your in-laws, your best friends' house, your
boss's buffet at Christmas? Do you take your bottles of supplements,
your raw food, etc. to the event, or do you just bore everyone at these
events and talk about what you can't eat? The last thing I personally
want to talk about or hear about is someone's complicated diet. I have
enough problems with my own weight, etc. so hear about someone else's,
especially if they're bragging (which many people do).

Before everyone gets huffed up at what I'm writing here, think about
it. We live in a world where we come in contact with many different
eating situations. Someone at work is always having a birthday treat,
or a potluck, at least where I work. When you're on, say, a diet of raw
fish (as one poster proudly and somewhat defiantly proclaimed) whaddaya
eat on potluck day? Do you ignore the wonderful au gratin potatoes or
the pasta salads? Do you not attend? If you don't attend, how does this
go over with everyone? Are you branded an outsider or a food nut? What
if your boss throws a Christmas buffet or dinner and you have severe
dietary restrictions that are self imposed, i.e. not an absolute medical
necessity like someone with renal disease? What do you do?

Now you can all post away.

Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
Microbiology

Jay Tanzman

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Aug 28, 2001, 1:41:27 PM8/28/01
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Susan Fein wrote:

[snip]

> pass up, I'll have a taste or two. Sometimes I eat desserts (gasp!). If only
> lasagna is served, I peel back the noodles and eat the filling (this is
> trickier with ziti...

...and downright pornographic with cannelloni.

-Jay

Dilworth

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Aug 28, 2001, 4:58:33 PM8/28/01
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Yes, I suppose it's ironic, but I would suppose it's a real life
situational dilemma on a daily basis. You've obviously handled your
diet well. I guess I was wondering how someone with a much more
restricted diet than yours, i.e. all raw (and doesn't live in California
:-)), or someone who eats specifically one of this, two of that, and
this and that are something not easily available outside of one's home
as one has gone out of their way to purchase it - you know what I mean -
how they handle every day social eating situations? Or are all of you
out there self-employed and don't eat in a lunch room, cafeteria,
cubicle, go out for lunch, or some of the typical venues for eating
lunch on a work day? I realize that you can pack your lunch, of course,
but there are some days that this just doesn't work.

I guess I don't have religion - either foodwise or otherwise. I have
certain guidelines, but they're not set in stone or anything. Guess I'm
a pagan (or possibly agnostic)!

Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
Microbiology

Susan Fein wrote:

> This is kind of an ironic post in a nutrition newsgroup, dontcha think? :-) I
> mean, smn is kind of self-selected for those with a greater than average
> interest in diet.
>
> Lots of folks here have complicated diets because of health problems, not idle
> curiosity or boredom.
>
> Seriously, though, I've begun to think diet ranks right up there with religion
> and politics as something people are most likely to become zealots about, and
> education or lack of it doesn't seem to change the odds of this happening.

Justin Bond

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Aug 28, 2001, 6:28:09 PM8/28/01
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Dilworth <bact...@hortonsbay.com> wrote in message news:<3B8BB792...@hortonsbay.com>...

I thought about that when I first started to think about nutrition. I
was a vegetarian in college for a couple years and didn't want to go
through that 'holier than thou' thing where you force everyone else to
go out of their way to accomodate your diet (and conveniently ignore
the fact that I, like most vegetarians, cheated).

So while processed food is verboten in my own kitchen, I feel free to
indulge elsewhere. The irony is that while I may not have the
vegetarian self-rightousness, I feel like a faker. I talk about health
but then live on white bread, soda pop and cereal when I'm home or out
with friends. Practicing what you preach: damned if you do, damned if
you don't.

Justin Bond

John 'the Man'

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Aug 29, 2001, 2:04:24 AM8/29/01
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> Dilworth <bact...@hortonsbay.com> writes:

> >The last thing I personally
> >want to talk about or hear about is someone's complicated diet.

In my opinion, nutrition is just another word for complicated diets.

Just thought that you might want to know?

Maybe you are just lost?


> >Before everyone gets huffed up at what I'm writing here, think about
> >it. We live in a world where we come in contact with many different
> >eating situations. Someone at work is always having a birthday treat,
> >or a potluck, at least where I work. When you're on, say, a diet of raw
> >fish (as one poster proudly and somewhat defiantly proclaimed) whaddaya
> >eat on potluck day? Do you ignore the wonderful au gratin potatoes or
> >the pasta salads? Do you not attend? If you don't attend, how does this
> >go over with everyone? Are you branded an outsider or a food nut? What
> >if your boss throws a Christmas buffet or dinner and you have severe
> >dietary restrictions that are self imposed, i.e. not an absolute medical
> >necessity like someone with renal disease? What do you do?

I think of a line spoken about smoking in a movie, by the actor Robin
William's. To paraphrase him, he stated that:

You have to stop pussy footing around.
You have to decide if you are a smoker, or not a smoker.

I did not smoke, but I did have a cholesterol problem. And, I credit that
slime ball actor for providing me with the motivation to actually do
something about my cholesterol problem.

The same concept applies to Diets!!! You have to decide if you are serious
about eating healthy, or not. You have to make the fundamental choice: To
be, or NOT to be serious about what you eat.

All you NON-serious people are lost, and fundamentally are lying to
yourself. Be honest with yourself for once and be nice to us serious folk,
by leaving this ng. Don't cry, or make a scene. Just go away, please!!!
:-)

I suspect that Dilworth, like a lot of the scientist-want-a-Be's on this ng
just pussy foot around when it comes to diet.

I take my diet seriously. And, the folks at work do make jokes about what I
eat. But, so what? I am really amazed about how naive the world really is
about diet. I am amazed how anyone can survive at all on their crap that
they eat.

I eat an occasional pizza, steak, and birthday cake at work. There are ways
to protect yourself from single high-fat meals. But, mostly I politely
decline. After a while the word gets around, and they simply stop asking.

It is really no big deal, except for folks with very low levels of will
power still pushy footing around.
--
John Gohde,
Achieving good health is an Art, NOT a Science!

Introducing the Award Winning www.NaturalHealthPerspective.com
-- a simple health program that really works!

http://home.naturalhealthperspective.com/links.html.
Bringing the concept of Links into the New Millennium!


Doug Freese

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Aug 29, 2001, 6:39:26 AM8/29/01
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Susan Fein wrote:

> This is kind of an ironic post in a nutrition newsgroup, dontcha think? :-) I
> mean, smn is kind of self-selected for those with a greater than average
> interest in diet.

Ah yes interest but I have been reading this group on and
off for years and years and find consistent fanaticism. While there is
some reasonable discussion from time to time, the signal to noise
ratio from the pissing contests at times is priceless humor
in a perverted way.

Actually as a endurance exercise geek with higher than normal
interest in nutrition, I find this the last place to get
an unbiased view on any eating routine.



> Seriously, though, I've begun to think diet ranks right up there with religion
> and politics as something people are most likely to become zealots about, and
> education or lack of it doesn't seem to change the odds of this happening.

Amen, and times an emotional Big Dick contest. I find Ms.
Dilworth's probe on the money - some people need a life.


--
Caveat Lector
Doug Freese
dfr...@hvc.rr.com

mnt

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Aug 29, 2001, 11:42:43 AM8/29/01
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John " the idiot who has no idea what it is to be a man" farted

>> I take my diet seriously, > All you NON-serious people are lost.

JohnBoy If you think you are doing something important you are only having a
nervous breakdown, See a doctor asap. (Bring copies of your NG posts)

Stop f*ucking with Dilworth, JohnBoy, She is good people and deserves
better than your crap


RBR

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Aug 29, 2001, 11:52:17 AM8/29/01
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On Wed, 29 Aug 2001 06:04:24 GMT, in sci.med.nutrition "John 'the
Man'" <De...@NaturalHealthPerspective.com> wrote:

>
>I did not smoke, but I did have a cholesterol problem. And, I credit that
>slime ball actor for providing me with the motivation to actually do
>something about my cholesterol problem.
>

Slime ball actor?

>
>I eat an occasional pizza, steak, and birthday cake at work. There are ways
>to protect yourself from single high-fat meals. But, mostly I politely
>decline. After a while the word gets around, and they simply stop asking.
>

For some reason I can't imagine you politely verbalising anything. Do
you "politely" tell your coworkers to go fuck themselves? That would
be more along the lines of your internet persona.

Rob


Remember to remove "mypants" before e-mailing me.

mnt

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Aug 29, 2001, 2:46:09 PM8/29/01
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>
John "the man with two vagi*ans" meowed

>And, I credit that
> >slime ball actor for providing me with the motivation > >something about
my cholesterol problem.

Rob observed

> Slime ball actor?

Conclusion: (Ergo): Self motivation is strongest in Slime Balls. With
Slime Ball Actors running close behind.

Leon Trollsky
Mexico City.
29-Aug-2001.

mnt

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Aug 29, 2001, 3:06:47 PM8/29/01
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> Slime ball actor?


RBR,

I am going to give you an 8.5 for that post. (the max allowed for a
Bullseye on a non-moving target)

check my work on the Taking Pills May Backfire thread from 9-27 and see what
you think.


Dilworth

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Aug 29, 2001, 3:39:42 PM8/29/01
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Why thanks, mnt, for the backup. God forbid if this were true [in a
literal sense].....

Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
Microbiology

mnt wrote:

> Stop f*cking with Dilworth, JohnBoy, She is good people and deserves
> better than your crap

Dilworth

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Aug 29, 2001, 3:50:43 PM8/29/01
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Actually, John, what you say is true. Can't believe I'm agreeing with
you, but alas it has happened :-). You can gloat at the end of my
posting.....

You're right - the only person that can make their diet work for them is
the person himself. I think it's refreshing that this thread has forced
some of us to admit we've strayed from time to time. I have improved my
habits over the last 20 years, and much more in the last 2-3 years. I'm
not perfect, and admit I have a ways to go, but it could be worse. I
feel I am making progress, so for me, that's a good thing.

There ARE ways to be tactful, though, if people ask you to eat something
you don't want to. I remember a couple of years ago, the weekend crew
had a doughnut tradition. I had just hired in and didn't know about the
tradition. The last thing I want to eat is doughnuts - they give me
indigestion and they're just a ball of sweet fat. Anyway, I was asked
to bring in the doughnuts for the weekend. I told the tech who asked
me, a casual friend from my last job, [a little too forcefully] that I
had no interest in doughnuts and would never eat them. She was kind of
taken aback at the forcefulness of my reply and probably was offended.
I know there was probably a better way I could have handled this, but
the damage was done. Interestingly enough, the doughnut tradition died
its own death after a couple more months. It's not that doughnuts never
showed up again, because they did, it was just that the formal doughnut
assignments went away. Apparently she was the one keeping it going.

So, there are ways to keep on your coworker's good sides and ways not to
do so. This thread has been interesting in that it has taken down a few
of the walls guarding the forts, so to speak, and let some of the
reality of life shine through.

Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
Microbiology

mnt

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Aug 29, 2001, 6:24:51 PM8/29/01
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John "the maw" is 100% incorrect as always.

Brain structure determins eating habits not "willpower"> There is no such
animal as "willpower" it is a myth.

In order to change eating habits brain chemistry must first be adjusted.

You are not what you eat but what is eating you. I ain't got time to get
into this, Flaming John "the crybaby" is a full time job.

John "the pooper" has no experience with truth.


finafina

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Aug 31, 2001, 3:10:16 PM8/31/01
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justi...@hotmail.com (Justin Bond) wrote:
>I thought about that when I first started to think about nutrition. I
>was a vegetarian in college for a couple years and didn't want to go
>through that 'holier than thou' thing where you force everyone else to
>go out of their way to accomodate your diet (and conveniently ignore
>the fact that I, like most vegetarians, cheated).

I don't appreciate the majority of vegetarians being holier than thou, it
wrecks it for those of us who just want to eat and move on with our
lives.

I'm vegan and don't "cheat", because the idea of non-vegan food repulses
me. I feel sick to my stomach for days if I accidentally ingest something
that I thought was vegan, but contained whey or casein, or any thing like
that.

About the whole "complicated" issue. It's complicated simply because many
restaurants and uninformed people insist on putting these things in their
food. The wrong things are being branded as healthy and people buy it,
and continue it.

But I don't make it complicated for myself. I don't get indignant
if a Standard American Diet restaurant doesn't happen to serve a
tofu-millet loaf with mushroom gravy as an entree. I eat what is there,
be it salad or sauteed veggies, or a pasta primavera made with eggless
pasta.

I do eat at family and friends, and to me, family and friends are people
with whom I have mutual respect. They let me have a plate of fresh
vegetables and whole grains, and I let them have their meat, bacon and
eggs. We wouldn't be friends if we didn't respect each other.

John 'the Man'

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Aug 31, 2001, 7:50:43 PM8/31/01
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> I do eat at family and friends, and to me, family and friends are people
> with whom I have mutual respect. They let me have a plate of fresh
> vegetables and whole grains, and I let them have their meat, bacon and
> eggs. We wouldn't be friends if we didn't respect each other.

What is complicated about it?

Most restaurants offer what is known as a vegetable plate.

finafina

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Sep 2, 2001, 7:17:24 AM9/2/01
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"John 'the Man'" <De...@NaturalHealthPerspective.com> wrote:
>What is complicated about it?
>
>Most restaurants offer what is known as a vegetable plate.

Exactly. People make it "complicated" as an excuse, pretty much.
An excuse either to not eat more healthfully, or to badger someone
else because they don't share your desire to raid the cheesecake tray.

Wuzzy

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Sep 2, 2001, 9:37:17 AM9/2/01
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a great way to diet is to order soup at restaurants>>> and cross
fingers that they are not using hydrogenated vegetable oil or
sulfites/preservatives..

[i payed 1.50 for a gazpacho in NYC, wow, huh. who thought you could
eat good fast food in NYC]

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