Im Dreading This Week

[jasonD2]

i work in sales and am usually able to maintain my diet and regularity, however, this week i will be attending sales training and will have no say over where I eat cause I will be dining out with a large group of people. also training will begin very early in the morning, so as a result I will have to get up early and rush out and wont be able to relax and make time to go to the bathroom..so i will be backed up and uncomfortable all day & wont be able to give 100% of my attention. whenever i travel my colon seems to literally shut down,,,if im on my own and can make my own schedule im ok, but this week is gonna be hard on me. just venting

[JRock]

J,

I know exactly what you mean - I'm supposed to attend my first out of state conference in a few weeks with people who don't know I have celiac. All day conferences, few bathroom breaks (and of course all the ladies will be in the bathroom on the few breaks) ugh... how do you tell people you work with, "hey, I can't eat there" without explaining the whole situation? It's so embarassing and I feel unprofessional when I do explain (and nine times out of ten they don't understand anyways). You have my support and empathy, let us know how it goes. Just do what you need to do to be comfortable - if they don't understand, screw 'em.

Jen

[ang1e0251]

Can you find out in advance the restaurants? You could e-mail or call them before you arrive to get a clue about the eating situation. You know you don't have to explain your personal medical history to anyone. If you are calm and matter of fact about ordering your food, they will be too.

Would you treat someone on a special diet badly? No, so don't assume they will. You wouldn't force feed devil's food cake to a diabetic. Most people don't want to harm another person. They most likely won't have any idea about celiac disease or it's requirements. Just quietly look after yourself and you'll get by.

[Fiddle-Faddle]

You CAN make it work if you plan carefully and stand up for yourself.

Bring canned food with you if you need to! Hormel makes some gluten-free shelf-stable entrees, just read the labels carefully. Bring whatever foods sit well with your tummy in one of those large lunchboxes with a shoulder-strap, and put a freezer pack or blue ice in.

Call the training staff and if necessary, the restaurant in advance and explain (nicely) that you have a severe food allergy and that you will need to bring your own food with you. Then pack up whatever you need and bring it with you! Email is even better--that way there is a paper trail, and they will HAVE to accomodate you or risk legal trouble. (Not that you would give them legal trouble, but there will be a record of how they handle it.)

Imagine that you are the person on the other end of the phone, and try to talk the way you would want someone else to talkto you if you were the one in charge. Don't whine, don't complain, don't beg, just be calm and matter-of-fact--this is the situation you are in and this is the way you need to handle it.

If you want it to work, you will find a way to make it work. It's your life and you are in charge of it!

[wschmucks]

Totally uncomfortable I bet. I would try call the resturants ahead and tell them you have severe allergies (just way simplier to say you have a life threatening allergy-- they wont ask questions and people will understand right away). Tell them you'll need to bring your food. Just tell your co-workers that you dont eat out due to severe food allergies, dot act like its a big deal. If you feel uncomfortable eating your food with them there then excuse your self and eat it outside if possible. Or bring a meal replacement bar (ThinkThin is a great one-- gluten free, lots of protein and yummy). Eat it on the way to the restuant and order a soda to enjoy during the meal.

Bottom line: dont make yourself sick because youre embarassed. Just plan ahead and be very matter of fact when questions arise. Dont get stressed out and try to have fun :-)