Work colleague commenting on things I do

[Coffeyaddict]

I've always liked who I've got on with. I'm not someone who thinks badly of others and I'm usually a popular team member and make lasting friends at work.

I've joined a new job. There's me and another girl (both late twenties) 3 men (aged 30-50) and three women 40+
Maybe it's because I'm the only other woman her age and she feel a bit put out by it but she comments on everything I do.

So outwardly she seems nice and I thought she was great the first few days after I met her.

She's invites me on all her visits, gives me advice etc. However, she comments on little things I do. I feel I am being watched.

I don't eat much in the evening but eat at my desk. I'm a healthy weight but eat little and often.

Three times now she has commented that I 'never stop eating'. She says it jokingly and first time I thought it was banter but third time when I've only been here two weeks. She several stone heavier than me so I don't know why she's commenting on my eating habits!

She also gives me several compliments a day but hey don't seem quite genuine.

So am I being ridiculous?

I'm really self conscious of eating now! I can't even eat in peace!

We work in a profession where everyone eats whenever they like. It's not considered bad in any way.

Could you be a noisy eater?

Couldn't you just say what you've said here? "I don't eat in the evening so I eat a little and often during the day."

are you eating mackeral? or something that smells else

Are you eating when you should be working?

Could you be a noisy eater? oh sh*t now I've got a complex! Good point though.

are you eating mackerel if you're eating offensive foods then she's definitely politely telling you you're not following office etiquette.

Are you eating the printer paper, OP? Maybe she's just politely letting you know she's concerned about office supplies. Don't judge her, she's probably lovely and just wants to be friends!

(no, she's being weird. Just shrug it off.)

I'm not a noisy eater.
I'm eating cold food that doesn't smell.

I've since taken note of what others eat and everyone seems to eat at their desk/nibble throughout the day.

I'm on the other side of the room. Even if I was a noisy eater she wouldn't be able to hear! I'm surprised she can even see to notice!

I will take it at least as a compliment that I'm clearly not overweight as I don't think she'd make the comment if I was.

I'm the only one she's commented on.

Even though everyone does it.

Maybe she's just trying to make conversation.

ThinkIlikeit "Are you eating when you should be working?"

While I don't think is happening in the OP's case, I have been amazed that some people can spend all day, every day at work, doing everything but working. I even knew someone who simply sat in front of an open file, day in and day out, but never actually doing anything. How she didn't die of boredom, let alone be sacked, is beyond me.

Irritating but I'd just make a joke of it - "avert your eyes Brenda, sausage roll coming out now"

Hahaha. orange.

I work very hard. No worries there.

didn't mean that to sound rude , substitute cheese sandwich for sausage roll

She sounds a bit like me and I do it in order to start conversationswhich I'm very bad at.

It could well just be social awkwardness - she wants to open up a chat but can't come up with anything else but food? And some people are far more food-aware than others, IYSWIM - they notice eating, they notice what you're eating, but they're not necessarily judging. If you're a normal size and she's "several stone heavier" then it's likely food/diets are on her mind in any case.

I'm the same as Sabine. Talk crap when I am trying to start a conversation or with someone I dont know well.

I think it could be what pp has touched on, that if she is significantly heavier with you she could be struggling with her own weight. I know that when I've been dieting what other people are eating becomes much more interesting to me that any other times.

As it's a new work relationship she could also just be trying to start conversation albeit clumsily.

If these are the only comments she's making I'd generally try to just politely dismiss them and move conversation on to something you're more comfortable with and hopefully in a few weeks time she won't even be paying attention and stop. If not maybe then mention it makes you a bit uncomfortable. She will probably be embarrassed to have made you feel this way.

Thanks everyone.

I'm hoping she's just joking.

She's made a few remarks. Another one is when I said I have placed my lunchbox in the fridge she said it was a 'lunch case' not a lunch box.

She obviously thought it was large. We have our own fridge so doesn't matter how big it was. I think the issue is it's the same theme of 'banter'