Soy and co-worker

R

run4fun

Cathlete
Hi everyone
I guess that I have a couple things today. I was wondering what you all thought about Soy? I have been reading about how good it is for us, but not sure why exactly. I tried a GeniSoy, soy protein bar yesterday. It was actually really good.

I also have this co-worker who seems to mimic everything I do or buy. It is really getting stressful. It is down to the exact outfit and colors sometimes. I got a new purse from my mom for my birthday and she ran out and bought one. It has me really down and wondered if anyone had any suggestions. Here I am with a psych degree and feel helpless.

I also am on week 3 of my rotation to firm my fanny. I am actually doing weights 3 times a week. I feel good. Is doing leaner legs twice a weed okay? or should I stick to once and MIS legs or circuit with legs?

Thanks for any info..
 
Hi Run4Fun!

It's funny as I have a student that does the same thing as far as clothes. If I get a new pair of aerobic shoes, she wants to have the exact same ones. Same with sox, shorts, tanks & T's! I have just told myself it must be a compliment that she likes what I wear! I know that probably doesn't solve your problem, but I catch myself wanting ALL of Cathe's clothes too! LOL! Guess we think if we dress like her, we'll LOOK like her! Ha! Like I said, I know I haven't helped you much but I am not one to have a comeback to someone about what they do, unless of course someone is getting hurt in the process. It's better for me to think on the positive side. :7

Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
RE: Hi Run4Fun!

Thanks for the response. I am glad it just isn't me. I guess it is just wearing me down, I really thought it would taper down after a few months. I am normally a very positive and optimistic person. I am going to be the stronger one here. 9 hours a day of her in my business and stuff is stressful...
Thanks for listening.
 
Your co worker is a trip..

Have you ever read Amy Tan's books?
the chinese have such polite ways of putting people in their places.
. for example if some one is being a big nosey body...
a character in the amy tan books might say with great politeness:

"Oh thank you soo much for your kindness, but you worry way too much about my silly little problems..."

For those familiar with the culture this gentle sentence translates into a straightforward statement of:

" Go mind Your own business !! "



Perhaps there is chinese way to tell your co worker you are noticing her behavior.

Can find a way to tell her how "flattered" you are by her efforts?
Somehow letting her know you are aware might make her selfconscious.

or
Can you innocently look at the bag she is carrying and remark with astonishment that you have one JUST like it at home... as a matter of fact it seems you also have that same dress she is wearing too!


I have a few psyche degrees myself .... but i think a counselling degree is really what would be useful here!


On soy... there are great reports on soy...but recently on NPR I heard big question marks being raised about soy and in what form its taken in and health risks ... cancer .......
I cant remember any details except that it made me really concerned about using soy...


I always get annoyed when they say women in asia have easier menopause because they eat tofu.

asian women have very different lifestyles and eat many different foods than we do ... they have different genetics, ...prepare food differently too ... and they get more stomach cancer in japan...

It isnt like they are just like us except they eat tofu!!

then who knows what effects us in our environment....I noticed excercise has effected my perimenopause.....we have influences too....

(my psyche degrees were in scientific research .. i love challenging information... )

yak yak yak..
 
Hi! Great response. I need some nice, but not to harsh ways to let her know she is acting childish. Asians are very neat people. I lived in Okinawa Japan for three years and then went to the Azores for two years. What a shock between the difference of Portuguese and Asians cultures.

Thanks for that Soy information too. I was wondering how it pops out of the blue to be so great. Probably like another ephedra thing. To much of anything, probably is not to good.

I actually started my Masters in Counseling and switched to Health Services.
I find research really interesting. Do you work in your field right now?
 
nope i dont work in my field...i had a bachelors and a masters and was working on my phd in clinical research ... but a bad marriage derailed my plans and threatened my son's well being if i continued....so i stopped... funny how that works.

.... At the same time I also suffered physical injury that now makes it really hard for me to concentrate or apply myself to anythng sitting down !
Such as writing on this forum... it kills my arm and back to type....but i do it anyway for short bits.


I work for an engineering firm.. officially as an "inspector"...I get to go out in the field and watch those contractors and guys in hard hats work.. i make sure they are doing what they are supposed to be doing !
Can you imagine what those contractors and workers think of having some "chick" with an evil eye watching their every move?


}>
 
soy

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jul-25-01 AT 09:11PM (Est)[/font][p]There's enough research supporting the consumption of soy that the American Heart Association made it a dietary recommendation. It apparently lowers LDL (bad cholestrol). It is a great source of plant protein.

The jury is still out on whether the plant estrogens in soy will reduce the side effects of menopause but as my OB-GYN says, there's no harm in trying. Cinza made a good point about lifestyle factors in Asian cultures that contribute to their longevity & lack of menopausal side effects. And if soy is responsible, it's unknown whether suddenly adding soy to the diet at 30, 40 or 50 will have any benefit. But again, what's the downside of adding soy to the diet since there are nutritional benefits?

If anyone does use soy milk instead of cow milk, be sure to get a calcium fortified version.
 
You already got great advice but here's my 2 cents:

about your co-worker:
I would just be polite and ignore her...It really is a great compliment to you though ;-)

about the soy issue:
there are debates out there on whether soy is helpful or dangerous
http://www.drweil.com/phorum/search.php?f=2&search=soy&match=1&date=30&fldsubject=1

http://thyroid.about.com/library/weekly/aa083099.htm


some say that we should not consume soy isolates, but rather fermented soy such as miso, tempeh and nato. I think that moderation is the key...Drinking soy isolates powder drinks everyday may not be a good idea....but who knows... I'm certain we have not heard the end of the soy phenomena.

hth,

Josee
 
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jul-25-01 AT 03:34PM (Est)[/font][p]I think that your co-worker isn't acting childish but that she could possibly have low self-esteem and doesn't know how to pick stuff out for herself. I think its a compliment to you that she thinks you have good taste. I don't understand why it is getting stressful or getting you down. I think you should be the mature person and just ignore it or you could invite her shopping sometime and suggest types of outfits and colors that you think she looks good in. Maybe with your help she can develop some self confidence and pick out her own clothing. I had a friend years ago who used to do that and it really didn't bother me but I weighed about 100 lbs and she weighed about 150 lbs so what I looked good in she didn't. So I would help her shop and after awhile she quit buying the same clothes.
 
I had an off the wall idea, but it would require the help of some of your other co-workers. Some day you could come in wearing some outrageous outfit like purple tights and a red dress with a green bow in your hair, you get the idea (with extra clothes in the car to change into later). Then have one of your co-conspirators very sincerely compliment you on your lovely outfit within earshot of your copy-cat. We'll see if she comes in the next day with purple tights, a red dress, etc. It MAY give her a different idea about whether she wants to mimic your way of dressing.

OR, you could offer to clean out your closets and give her all your old clothes since she likes your stuff so much! Say, "You were the first one I thought of when I decided to clean house....I KNOW you like my clothes! Or just pack the stuff up and present it to her.

I'm very BAD, so just ignore me!;-)
 
bad honeybunch

honeybunch---bad girl.
actually, i was thinking of suggesting the same thing but i've been trying to be more empathetic. sorry, i don't have any advice to offer you about your coworker. i can see why you find it annoying, but i suppose that taking the high road is the best way to deal with it. also, "do unto others" really is a good way to live your life. obviously, this person thinks you are someone worth emulating! just be yourself and try not to give her the power to stress you out. suzanne
 
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jul-25-01 AT 05:24PM (Est)[/font][p]About soy: I'd say 60-percent of what I eat on some days contains soy: tofu (be sure to get the "non=aseptically packaged" tofu for stir frying and scrambling and marinating. The aseptically packaged stuff is great for blending for pudding or dips, but the texture is all wrong for most other uses--I think perhaps people who "hate tofu" may be using the wrong kind. I was served the aseptically packaged kind at a chinese restaurant once---you think they would know better!--and thought it was pretty bad--like curdled egg whites in texture); tempeh (I like bacon-not strips); edmame (green soybeans shelled or in the pod), soy milk (my favorites are Edensoy enriched or, especially, Pacific Ultra soy (enriched with vitamins and minerals and acidophilus); soy protein shakes (Spirutein or peaceful planet), meat analogs, etc. There is a lot of info on soy (and soy products to buy) at dixiediner.com Recent US government recommendations are to eat at least 25 gm. of soy protein a day (dixiediner recommends whole soy products, not isolates or pills), and near 100 mg of isoflavones (which are in soy).

As for your co=worker, it would really bother me, too. About the purse, could you take her aside and tell her how you feel about it? It would probably be difficult, but may save a lot of stress further down the line. Also, make sure she's not showing any signs of being a sociopath (Single White FEmale-type) --she may be wanting to take over your life! (Just joking---I hope!)
 
Single White Female

I was thinking of that movie too but it didn't sound like the co-worker had the same hair cut & color! Guess that might be when hero worship crosses the line.
 
Interesting topics

On Soy: yes, I've added it and yes it has eliminated hot flashes (for me) and has helped with the insomnia of peri-menopause. I can't take HRT, so, soy is my only option and I think it helps.

On the co-worker: I would say she needs her own vision of herself. i wonder if you could take her to lunch and ask her to describe her favorite things, what she would do if..., where she sees herself in 2 years, what 5 things she would like to change (improve)about herself, etc.--this would get her thinking about Her and not just you.
 
RE: Uh, HB...

I have a confession to make....I think in terms of sit-com situations. I used to belong to Toastmasters and all my speeches were of the humorous variety. I guess I'm a frustrated comedy writer. I would never REALLY do such a thing, but it might make a good plot for a TV show. I know Mary Tyler Moore would NEVER do such a thing....now-a-days I don't know who would because I don't watch any TV except the news channels. I actually pictured someone coming to work dressed like Cindy Lauper (remember her) used to dress.

I think like this even without benefit of chocolate, by the way!
 
Without knowing more about the co-worker who is copying you, I'd say that if it's bothering you, then I would just distance myself from her as much as possible, especially regarding anything personal or non-work-related. It sounds like this woman has some psychological issues to deal with, and I've learned over time that it's better to not try to be someone's therapist(although I also have a psych B.A.). If the person is a close friend, then that's a different situation, but the woman is a co-worker, so I'd keep things as cool as possible. If her copying behavior is extreme and continues to bother you, then maybe someone in charge at the office could have a talk with her. That way it would not seem like a personal confrontation between the 2 of you. In my opinion though, I would just take it as a compliment and remember that she's not you, no matter what external thing she tries to copy. Hopefully, you both won't show up at the Christmas party wearing the same dress!:)
 
Thanks

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to say thanks for all the great advice. I am going to try to add soy to my daily diet. First, I am going to go to some of the sites that you all suggested.

About my co-worker, I am going to go on about my life and not let her get to me. She has tried to get close to me as a friend and that seemed to make it worse. My supervisor has also brought it to my attention and even realizes what is going on. My co-worker likes to be the center of attention. She has worked here for 10 years and I think maybe she thinks I stepped in and ruffled things up. I have been here for just over a year. I don't really know. I have talked to her about goals and life. She would really like to go to college. I encourage her to go. I got hired through the government on an outstanding scholar program. I am in Inventory Management, but am currently trying to get on in the health field. I would like to remain working for the government though.
My husband is active duty and we are stationed at Hill AFB. He is TDY this week and my kids are visiting grandparents in Indiana and here I am with PMS and all alone. Life got the best of me. But, doing better today.

Thanks for all your support and great advice.

P.S. Honeybunch, I don't have on purple and orange today. I did get a laugh out of your post though. I am smiling now.
 
Hey, run4fun

When you mention Hill AFB I thought that is just down the road. I live in Idaho (Pocatello to be exact) so you only live about 2 hours away. Are you going to any of the Olympic games? If I lived near SLC I would rent out my house for alot of money. Its nice to have someone else out West on this site.
 
RE: Hey, run4fun

Hi!
We are just down the road from each other. Neat!!
Lots of people have been talking about renting their house out. I don't know if I could do that.

My husband is volunteering to help with the Olympics. I think I will watch them on TV as usual. Have you been up to Park City lately? It is neat to see the bobsled thing they are going to use. I think it is the bobsled. The outlet mall is fun too. They made it bigger!!!

Nice to meet you.
Beverly
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top