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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Skinny office feeder

578 replies

Weallloveted · 02/08/2021 08:10

I can't work out whether I am being unreasonable over this. I have always struggled with my weight but have generally kept it reasonably close to normal BMI (but always at the top end). A couple of years ago, it crept up by about 3 stone and I was obese. I have lost that since but it's a battle to keep it under control and I really struggle with food cravings but I accept that this is my lot in life and if being a reasonably healthy weight means being careful my whole life then so be it. I don't foist it onto anyone else.

My issue is with a woman I work with. She is what most would call skinny. Maybe not medically underweight but very close to it. Probably around a size 6 or 8 or so. She is a self-declared 'cake addict' and claims that no work meeting can be complete without cake. She will bring in proper big iced cakes that she has made and will share it round at meetings and will comment if someone refuses and say something like 'life's too short not to treat yourself' and it will get really awkward. The thing is that I am not one of those people who can have just one slice. If I eat a huge piece of carrot cake in the meeting, it then sends me spiralling. I have to avoid sugary treats altogether. Maybe she has amazing willpower or a super-fast metabolism but I gain weight so easily and binge eating is a real struggle. I have considered lying and saying I have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes but I'm not sure anyone would believe it as I am not really overweight.

I just find this sort of thing so difficult. Why do people feel the right to have a say over what others put in their mouths? And why is it a personal insult to her if I refuse? Part of it is also that I don't feel 'thin enough' to refuse, as in my body looks like someone who doesn't strictly control food, but I have to. I haven't spoken to anyone else at work about it.

AIBU? Oh and the reason I mentioned her size is that I don't think she has ever had a weight problem so she can't understand how much of a struggle it is for those of us that do.

OP posts:
Scarby9 · 02/08/2021 09:31

Our office feeder was painfully thin and got more and more desperately generous with us as her anorexia really took hold.

Cakes (multiple) for every meeting, however short,; sweets or chocolates on our desks each morning, beautifully wrapped up with handwritten motivational cards; gift bags for anyone who visited the office.

I never saw her eat anything at all while she worked with us (about 8 years), during which time she went from stunningly beautiful and amazing at her job to absolutely skeletal and unable to cope. Eventually, she had to leave on medical grounds.

After the first couple of years, she was very open about her issues with food and we all tried in our amateurish ways to help. But we could not stop her feeding us! We tried everything suggested on this thread, but she had a compulsion, and it is hard to resist a (completely delicious) chocolate cake when you are still in the office at 6.30pm.

Amazingly, three years on from leaving us, and having refused hospitalization, she has put on some weight and now looks thin rather than dying, and has a new part-time job which she loves and I'm sure she is brilliant at. We honestly feared she wouldn't survive.

We now manage with no cakes or sweets at work and are much happier for it.

Manista · 02/08/2021 09:31

'life's too short not to treat yourself'
It's not really a treat if I don't want to eat it.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 02/08/2021 09:31

So sick of people thinking they can say what they like about thin people. Skinny is just as offensive as fat

Oh sure it is Hmm if someone called me skinny I'd kiss them,if they called me fat I'd probably lamp them.

JhsLs · 02/08/2021 09:32

Say you’ve cut out flour as you think you have a gluten intolerance

ChargingBuck · 02/08/2021 09:32

@OneMillionSteps

That sounds so annoying. Bringing cake to a meeting is fine, but guilt tripping everyone into eating it is not fine. Not sure what I would do. Could you start by saying you’re not hungry one day but taking a piece “for later”. Keep it wrapped up all day then if she asks say you’ll take it home, then dispose of it on the way back home so it’s no longer a temptation.
Why? In the name of all that's holy, why on EARTH would you advise someone to go through all that palaver, just to appease a bully?

Because the Feeder is a bully, make no mistake.
She has food issues, & is foisting them on everyone else by introducing her controlling agenda at every meeting.
Make no mistake - she's not bringing cake in every day to be nice. She's doing it to feel in charge, to wordlessly stealth-boast about her own slim body, & to shame other people into accepting food they do not want.

The insistence gives her away, It is downright rude.
If I were the boss here, I'd ban her fucking cakes - OP's annoyance & discomfort must surely be evident to anyone with half a brain, & she won;t be the only one.

Keepmekeeping · 02/08/2021 09:34

I would ask her was she never told no means no right infront of everyone and if she keeps going ask her why she's so obsessed with what you eat. People like her usually need put in their place im sure you won't be the only person feeling bullied.

MaMelon · 02/08/2021 09:34

Individuals can bring whatever they like, my point was in response to a suggestion the OP brings a healthy alternative to cake like a fruit platter. Why should the OP have to cater for everyone?

I totally agree - the OP shouldn't have to cater for everyone, but equally a drink is not adequate for most meetings if people are hungry or just fancy something to eat, nor should everyone have to break for lunch just because the OP doesn't want to eat some cake (as she's perfectly entitled to).

Can't believe there are six pages of various strategies and scripted responses over how to not eat a slice of offered cake

This. Jeez, just say no thanks and eat a banana instead.

Ilikeknitting · 02/08/2021 09:36

Just stand up to her when she pas-agg tells you “life’s too short” and remind her that ‘nothing tastes as good as skinny feels’ and you are still working on your weight.

If that doesn’t hit the spot, ask her if she’d force a glass of champagne onto an alcoholic? Tbh, I’d tell her to fuck right off! But I’ve never considered myself to be a diplomat.

Stand up for yourself.

PattyPan · 02/08/2021 09:37

Tell her her cakes are rubbish and you don’t like them 😇

eightyfourandahalf · 02/08/2021 09:39

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor

So sick of people thinking they can say what they like about thin people. Skinny is just as offensive as fat

Oh sure it is Hmm if someone called me skinny I'd kiss them,if they called me fat I'd probably lamp them.

actually, when the actual full sentence was

She is what most would call skinny. Maybe not medically underweight but very close to it.

it's is rather rude frankly. It's clearly not a compliment. Why is that acceptable in any way?

Candleabra · 02/08/2021 09:40

If I were the boss here, I'd ban her fucking cakes - OP's annoyance & discomfort must surely be evident to anyone with half a brain, & she won;t be the only one.

Yes, on reflection, I think I'd do that too. On covid grounds. Which, as I said earlier, I'm surprised hasn't been an issue. Our office has been very clear that "sharing/communal" food is not allowed now.

eightyfourandahalf · 02/08/2021 09:40

Can't believe there are six pages of various strategies and scripted responses over how to not eat a slice of offered cake

and this is why so many of us want to WFH forever!

Who has the time and energy to deal with the drama over a slice of cake...and most of your day in an office is wasted with random crap like this.

robotcollision · 02/08/2021 09:42

Just tell her you don't enjoy cake so it's not deprivation. That's actually true because you don't enjoy how it spirals you into sugar addiction.

I don't ever join in office feasting. I hate it. I just don't associate working with sticky, sugary food so always say no. People get the message in the end.

ActonSquirrel · 02/08/2021 09:42

@eightyfourandahalf

Can't believe there are six pages of various strategies and scripted responses over how to not eat a slice of offered cake

and this is why so many of us want to WFH forever!

Who has the time and energy to deal with the drama over a slice of cake...and most of your day in an office is wasted with random crap like this.

My colleagues are great pity yours aren't

We don't all want to wfh forever, far from it.

PalmsandCharms · 02/08/2021 09:44

I'm sorry, but your issues aren't her problem. You need to take responsibility for you own actions.

Just refuse the cake. It really is a non issue.

ChargingBuck · 02/08/2021 09:45

Thanks. I need to be brave. It's just that it happens so frequently. I do say no nearly every time but it always comes with some form of comment about how I am depriving myself.

You need to bring yourself out of the passive zone this woman has forced you into OP.
She is relying on the social contract to not get called out on her bullying.
When she offers cake - just say no thanks as you have been doing (& well done with sticking to your guns).
Do not smile, do not excuse, to not give 'reasons'. You do not need a reason to not want to eat cake, & you do not owe this bully ANY leeway.

When she makes her inevitable additional comment, comment right back.

"I've said no thanks"
[Oh, but life's too short etc]
"I said no thanks because I don't want any, not because I want you to keep offering."
[but ... cake! etc etc]
"I don't want any cake, & it's rude to insist other people eat things they don't want."
[inevitable passive-aggressive huff etc]
"I am ridiculously bored with you foisting cake on me, I'm here to work, not fend off your persistent cake-pushing."

or

"Why are you being so rude? Can you not understand that no means no?"

or

"This is the third time you've refused to listen - let me spell it out to you - I do not want cake."

There will be some awkwardness but - so what?
You didn't cause the awkward, you just called it out - & you should not have to put up with someone deliberately ignoring your wishes.

Backtomyoldname · 02/08/2021 09:45

Saying that you could be pre-diabetic and so have to watch what you eat wouldn’t be lying.

Depending on your family genetics it could well be true.

Then accept the smallest of pieces or have a small bit and take the rest home to eat/feed to the dog etc dispose of at your leisure.

Do this a couple of times and it’ll be accepted.

ChargingBuck · 02/08/2021 09:46

Why is it so important to you that I have some?

@FlorenceWintle - this is perfect. And brilliant.
OP I really hope you do this, it will be a game-changer.

eightyfourandahalf · 02/08/2021 09:47

ActonSquirrel

I don't confuse my workplace with a social club, that helps. Each to their own.

But if you managed to work in the only work place in the country without any office politics or time wasting, well done you Grin

TheSockMonster · 02/08/2021 09:48

@JhsLs

Say you’ve cut out flour as you think you have a gluten intolerance
The problem with this is that if she does have feeding issues, she’ll turn up with a gluten-free cake for the next meeting Grin
BeenAsFarAsMercyAndGrand · 02/08/2021 09:48

Depending on your family genetics it could well be true.

Eh? So we can all say we're pre-diabetic on the basis that we might possibly have a gene that makes diabetes more likely? Can we all equally claim to be pre-cancerous or pre-alzheimers? What a load of shite.

Then accept the smallest of pieces or have a small bit and take the rest home to eat/feed to the dog etc dispose of at your leisure.

The OP has specifically said that she isn't someone who can just have a small bit.

Just say no. No lies, no excuses. Just no.

fucketyfuckwit · 02/08/2021 09:49

Just say no, if she pushes just ask her why she feels the need to force you to eat it.

Backtomyoldname · 02/08/2021 09:49

Lets say you were truly pre-diabetic and/or lost your battle against your weight.

Thanks. I need to be brave. It's just that it happens so frequently. I do say no nearly every time but it always comes with some form of comment about how I am depriving myself.”

It’s really depriving yourself against…. Loosing a limb, blindness, early death, heart problems, excess wear on knees/hips, leg ulcers etc etc.

MyShoelaceIsUndone · 02/08/2021 09:51

You need to be assertive and constant and say no thanks, she needs to be respectful of your decision.

LindaEllen · 02/08/2021 09:52

My next door neighbour is like this. She is absolutely lovely, but super skinny, and never seem to eat anything. We socialise with them a lot, and whenever we're at theirs she's constantly putting snacks on the table, baking, bringing us burgers she's cooked at 11pm .. it's bizarre, but I struggle so much to say no to food (I'd be fine if it just wasn't offered) and even if I do say no she badgers and badgers, and when I say I'm trying to lose weight she says oh don't be silly there's nothing of you! (My BMI is 30, for reference..)

I've actually stopped going round sometimes with DP because I know what she is like.. even though she's actually a lovely person!