| It is much easier to be a vegan athlete in 2012 than it was say, 20 years ago. There are countless articles and blog posts that work as guideposts along the way for you if you are making the transition from a omnivorous diet to a healthy vegan diet. Even adding in Gluten-free requirements, this sort of active high protein lifestyle is not that difficult to follow, or even design from scratch on your own to suit your particular tastes and interests. Don’t think of these tips as only vegan bodybuilding tips. Adding and maintaining lean muscle is useful to every healthy vegan lifestyle, even if the primary goal is to lose weight and not really to gain muscle. The following list of 5 tips for high-octane vegan bodybuilding diet are in no particular order. Vegan Probiotics
- Do not assume that switching to a gluten-free vegan lifestyle will be an excuse to eliminate the healthy living habits that you had in place before you went vegan or transitioned to gluten-free.
- The dairy probiotics that you may have been taking before you when gluten-free vegan might have gone by the wayside, but it is still essential to continue to include these in your vegan bodybuilding diet. Coming from a situation where your body might have been getting damaged by gluten for years, you ought to do everything you can to help your gastro-intestinal tract work properly. Vegan probiotics will help reduce the harmful micro-organisms like Candida yeast than can overgrow in your intestine and lead to a wide range of health problems, especially for people with a history of intestinal damage.
Raw Vegan Protein
- A big vegan bodybuilding secret is to get a big energy boost an overall healthy vegan lifestyle boost by increasing the amount of live enzymes you are including in your vegan bodybuilding diet. Ideally, vegans should have more energy at the gym, not less, especially if they are on a raw vegan diet.
Vegan Meal Replacement
- It is really important to make sure that you are getting adequate doses of easily-digestible protein at certain times of the day if you want to gain muscle quickly and not squander your time spent in the gym. Vegan meal replacement supplements taken in the morning are a huge part of making sure that you get your 30g of gluten-free vegan protein within 30 minutes of waking up in the morning. This is the time when your body will have gone without food for 8-11 hours and your energy reserves will be at their lowest. Your muscles will be “starving” so adding a Vega shake blended with fresh organic fruit, will give you some enzymes, micro-nutrients, vegan probiotics, as well as essential macronutrients like protein. Just because you drink a morning homemade protein shake does not mean that you should skip a balanced healthy vegan breakfast.
Vegan Diet Foods
- Vegan protein supplements and vegan protein powders will give your vegan diet weight loss a bump, just by boosting your metabolism. Remember that lean muscle is the furnace that will burn the fat off of your body. Vegan probiotics will make your digestion and intestinal flora healthier and will aid with the process of waste removal , as will the live enzymes and fiber found in a raw vegan diet. Even if you are not switching to a raw diet, you should certainly add in as much live food into your gluten-free vegan diet as you can, especially in the morning. If this sounds like it is recapping the above points, it is. If you give your body the right raw materials (if you will pardon the pun), it will do its part and just naturally be more efficient at eliminating excess fat, especially if you are overweight to begin with.
- I recommend steering clear of the hundreds of scam health fads and products that constantly flood the market. Focus on a balanced vegan diet plan and good results will follow over time.
- Perhaps the one “diet aid” that I like is green tea. If you are a coffee drinker, this switching to green tea is not only healthier and easier on your digestion and skin, but will work wonders in boosting your metabolism. I have lost many pounds in a month by doing nothing other than switching to green tea from coffee.
- If you are serious about gaining lean muscle you do want to get protein from every source in your diet including ancient grains like quinoa and teff, as well as fruits and veggies like fresh corn. At the same time you really need to master the art of homemade protein shakes.
- There are dozens of ingredients that you can add to your homemade protein smoothies that will add a huge nutritional punch. Don’t be afraid to add in fresh organic fruits and green vegetables.
- Even if you are using a vegan meal replacement supplement like Vega, and even if you make homemade protein shakes out with it, you should still add in a high-protein powder shake after your workouts if you want to maximize muscle gains. I like to blend brown rice and hemp protein powders mixed with juice or coconut milk.
- As a rule of thumb try to shoot for a gram of protein per pound of bodyweight each day if you are shooting for serious gains on your vegan bodybuilding diet. You can do more, but that is the minimum. Remember that you can combine vegan meals, gluten-free vegan meal replacement powders, as well as homemade protein powder shakes to reach that target.
Go for a Generic Cheap Protein Powder- Many of the big brands of dairy-free protein powders and Vegan Whole Food Supplement?” href=”http://gfdf.net/vegan-protein-powder-vegan-food-supplement/” target=”_blank”>vegan protein powders have generic knock-offs that have almost the exact same nutritional profile. If you are dairy intolerant and need to stay away from the whey without breaking the bank, try supermarket and bigger health food stores to see if they make or stock any generic brand dairy-free protein powders. I will warn you that even though you might save 50% or more, they may taste horrible.
Make High Protein Smoothies with Other Ingredients- This is also a solution to the horrible taste and consistency that many of the generic vegan protein powders will have. Add organic produce like fruit or green veggies to your homemade protein powder smoothie and not only will you mask the aftertaste of the imitation dairy-free protein powder, you will add nutrients and protein if you pick the right add-ins, leaving more of the cheap protein powder for later.
Get a Volume Discount- Surf the web for wholesale deals on dairy-free protein powder. Even though protein powder containers tend to be pretty huge sometimes, you can go through them very fast. If you can find a good protein powder online or from a local distributor and get a wholesale protein powder discount you should jump at the chance. Buy as much good protein powder as you can consume by the best before date.
Stock Up If You Find a great Dairy-free Protein Supplement Sale- If you find cheap protein powder on sale do not be afraid to stock up. Living with a food intolerance is expensive enough even if you are not a dairy-free bodybuilder or vegan athlete. Take as much as you can carry.
Make Your Own Organic Homemade Protein Smoothies- Your dairy-free protein shakes don’t have to be made from store-bought expensive organic protein powder. If you are planning to make dairy-free protein shakes anyways, think about creating your own homemade protein shakes out of vegetable protein, soy milk, teff or quinoa flour, or whatever else will get you to the total grams in your high protein shake. You may surprise yourself how effective and tasty this can be.
<!–NoAds–> Let us know if you want more articles like this by using the social buttons above! Thanks and enjoy! I have the answer for you. Justin Bieber does not have a secret contest for you to win a date with him but I want you to know that there is a path to anything you want to get in life, even if what you want is a date with him. Especially if you want a date with Justin Bieber. Here are my 7 Challenges that will guide you to sweet, sweet victory.  Justin Bieber's Smash Hit MP3 
1.) Don’t Be a Stalker - This is rule number one. You automatically lose any chance you could ever have if you cannot avoid stalker mode. You have to find away to see Justin Beiber after he is aware of your existence already, and not because of your illegal behaviour. Can you think of a bigger turnoff? C’mon, make sure you have a handle on your own business first.
2.) Be Big - If you can meet Justin Beiber on a level playing field because you just happen to be great at something like acting, sports, or humanitarianism, you can vault yourself right into the eligible potential date category, all by your lonesome. Even though it is not the only way, be great if you can and it will go a long way.
- There are a million ways to be great. Part of it means being different. That means not following the herd, but following your heart and your gut when there is something you want more than anything. Do something better than everyone else, something that you are passionate about. Just make sure that it is not stalking.
3.) Take Care of Yourself - Justin is the top of the food chain when it comes to teen men. King of the teen heart-throbs. That means that he can sorta have his pick of the litter when it comes to the young ladies.
- Don’t get me wrong here. This is another chance for you to show that you are NOT nuts, just like the Don’t Be a Stalker challenge. You MUST like yourself. A healthy ego is good. That also means not beating yourself up about having the occasional negative thought about yourself. Just keep these things in check by being mindful of what self-talk is going through your head.
- At the same time that you are taking care of your mind, do take care of your body. You don’t need to be a supermodel (why would you want to be, right?). Be real. But eat right and exercise and sacrifice to improve yourself if you really what to be your best self mind, body, and soul.
 Get a Temporary Tattoo of Justin! 
4.) Use a Charity Project - It has worked in the past to get the attention of hot celebs and it will work in the future. Sometime you can get a heck of a lot of attention for yourself when you are getting attention for a good cause. You can get celebrity endorsements, appearances, and donations. You can get press, articles, and interviews.
- Make sure you really have an interest in whatever charity you choose.
- Be original and be bold. If it truly is for a good cause you will only get good karma from being outrageously creative and loud so that you can raise awareness for something or someone that really needs the help.
- It can be really difficult to say no to someone who is sacrificing all they can for a incredibly noble and important cause. That could be you.
5.) Handle Crowds and Paparazzi - Justin Bieber won’t want to be with someone who cannot be tactful and discreet. He won’t want to be with someone who will freak out when they are bombarded by the press. Make sure this is what you really want. You will lose all the privacy you have ever had in your life. Your entire life, including your past will be put under a microscope. There won’t be any way to escape from this, so make sure you are prepared. It is way harder than you think to keep your cool.
6.)Know Justin Bieber if You Want to Date Him…and Know Yourself- Your time with Justin Bieber will be valuable and precious. He is a busy guy, so don’t waste his time. Try to know what might offend him and impress him so that you know what it will mean to be on your best behaviour. Just don’t try too hard.
- Load your Apple Ipod Nano and Iphone up with all of Justin’s music. You don’t want to sing his killer Christmas album to him, but it might help you know what makes him tick.
- Think about make-up and fashion. You want to be stylish if you get a chance to meet him. Look at all the red carpet photos from the Grammy’s and the Academy Awards. You don’t have to dress like you would on your off time. You are supposed to dress to impress. You should be able to act comfortable in your clothes, even if you don’t feel that comfortable. It is okay if you have to read Seventeen Magazine and Teen Vogue to get teen fashion ideas. Remember that you are not trying to look like you are 30 years old, too.
- As for your make-up, it should look natural and age appropriate. Skin care is really important. It is better to have gorgeous skin inspired by Chanel and a natural beauty than to be covered in gunk and flaky foundation.
- Know how to accessorize. You don’t need a Louis Vuitton handbag, and Sephora or H&M accessories to impress a teen heartthrob. Prada and Sephora or Louis Vuitton aside, you should wear what accessories make you feel comfortable and attractive, not what you have to pay the most for. Do think he will really care about that?
- You want people to gossip about how chic you are out of envy or jealousy, not about how you look like you are trying too hard. Remember, if you are lucky, there will be Twitpics and Youtube clips viewed by millions of kids around the world, including everyone you know. Don’t let it go sideways on you.
7.) Be Like Bieber - They say that opposites attract, but having things in common really does help. If you only get one chance— one date with Justin Bieber, you need to make it count and be mostly on the same page with him (while still having your own personality and interests) since you won’t have weeks and many dates to get to know each other, unless you do well on this first date.
8.) Don’t Worry About the Details like His Girlfriend - Some things you can change or do something about, others you can’t. If you own all the other points on this list then the last thing that you should do is worry about Justin Beiber’s present or future girlfriend. Worry about what you can change and don’t sweat the rest.
- Just being on an intimate one-on-one outing with him is so much better than nothing. Then you will be in his life. You will have the chance to do something, to do anything to let yourself shine. Hopefully, you will have rocked out the charity challenge and excellence challenge so that you will have boost your cred and confidence. Justin may just be impressed by you. Now you have real odds and a real path to unthinkable glory.
The best budget laptops are not always refurbished laptops for sale. Sometimes you should consider acquiring an inexpensive notebook computer by borrowing it, bartering for it, or some combination of cash and trade. Borrow Cheap Laptop ComputersThese days most people have more than one computer at home. Often, older notebook computers are not thrown out or recycled. If you ask around, there is a good chance someone might a have a computer that just needs a new battery. Never mind laptops under $100, how about getting a portable computer for the price of a $25 new battery on Amazon.com. Other times you can borrow a computer and upgrade RAM for next to nothing since it probably will not take that much memory. Again an inexpensive notebook computer might require nothing more than a cheap upgrade and the owner probably won’t need the notebook computer back anytime soon. Score a Free Older LaptopThe next logical step in finding cheap laptop computers is getting a free one. You might find that the older cheap laptop computer that you borrowed becomes a gift one way or another. If you are looking for affordable laptops for students, older units will often fit the bill, if the requirements are mostly word processing and surfing. You can also for free computers online. Take a look on Craigslist and Kijiji especially if you are willing to take a older desktop that might be less portable. The best laptops for students can come from friends on Facebook or Twitter, or friends and family in your neighborhood. Trade or Barter to Get the Best Laptop for CollegeIt is often possible to get laptops under 100 dollars by trading with something you don’t want anymore. IF you have old electronics or appliances you might want to post your own ad on Craigslist asking for the cheapest laptop deals or the best laptop for the money that you have to spend combined with your trade. There is no reason you can’t put together a hybrid offer to get the best laptops for students or anyone who needs the cheapest laptop deals because money is tight. There are millions of students living on a budget who are not focused on the top rated laptops of 2012 but instead for inexpensive laptops for sale or student discounts on laptops under 300, maybe even cheaper. The truth is that the prices have been falling for a while and finally they have bottomed out. Buy Now Pay Later LaptopsYou don’t always need to look for cheap refurbished laptops or used Craigslist deals from someone you do not know and might not always be reputable. There are lots of companies that will offer by now pay later laptops, or else notebook financing for perhaps a dollar a day or less. In Canada, Visions offers financing on pretty much anything, and MDG is available with daily payment breakdowns. If you are looking for the best budget laptop, but have a small steady stream of income, this might be an option for you. If you are looking for a deal on a gaming laptop or pricier laptops under $1000, you might want to think about financing it. Just keep in mind that you will have extra charges for interest and perhaps finance surcharges. Find Mini Laptops under 100 DollarsThere are dozens of ways to determine what are the best laptops for college students. If your main needs are note-taking and websurfing, along with the ability to play some mp3 files, and possibly cd and dvd discs, you can find laptops cheap under 200 or so. If you can do without a disc drive, you can easily find mini laptops under 100 dollars if you are willing to use a compact 8.9 or 10 inch netbook computer. These might be refurbished laptops for sale that are a bit older like 8.9 inch solid state eee pcs by Asus. I have one of these that I could not even sell on Craigslist for $100, even though it was in good condition. Basically, you should be able to find tons of cheap laptops for students online if you live in a city. Even if you are in a smaller town that does not have an active Craigslist or Kijiji bulletin board, you can still find similar deals on Ebay. You just have to factor in shipping and handling. How to Choose a Laptop to Lease or RentSometimes, the best laptops for college students might not be refurbished laptops for sale or used notebooks from Craigslist. We often think about businesses leasing or renting laptops, but there may be options for the rest of us, too. You can find rent to own and financing options, or sometimes older units that are still serviceable like Dell Latitude notebooks that have been leased in the past. It is also worth a shot to inquire at your local computer store to see it they will offer you rent to own or lease options. If business hasn’t been great, they might be willing to offer that. Keep in mind that you might need to put up a deposit or collateral, or else pass a credit check to choose the best inexpensive laptop to lease. Laptop Deals Under Your Nose Finally, remember that if you are looking for computer deals or laptop coupons online whenever you are reading an article or reviews about discount notebook computers, for example, there will usually we banner and text ads about those things already on the page. These may be ads and deals from major companies that can offer savings or companies that have just what you are looking for. We tend to be blind to advertising on webpages but if you are looking for a deal, that is just another place you might find one. Related Posts: Cheep Laptops Under $200 Computer prices have dropped a great deal over the past ten years, so that cheap laptops under $200 might have gone for $2000 before. Add to that the fact that desktop computers used to be the easiest way to buy an affordable computer online, but now that difference is mostly gone. People may buy desktop computers for gaming and large LED screen sizes (I like the dual 30 inch LED LCD setup). That market is shrinking now that even discount notebook screens go as high as 17 inches with an HDMI port for an external monitor connection. Cheap Factory Refurbished LaptopsFinding refurbished laptops for under $500 is very easy, and there are even lots that you will find for under $200. The first place that you will want to look is for places that have price protection or Vegan Whole Food Supplement?” href=”http://gfdf.net/vegan-protein-powder-vegan-food-supplement/” target=”_blank”>price match guarantees that extends to factory refurbished units, not just new inventory. There are many HP laptops that are older but still powerful that can be found for under two-hundred dollars in like-new condition (eg the DV series by HP). Many stores may carry them if they are a big brand and if they price match, you will get an even bigger deal. The first stores that I would shop around at are Best Buy, Futureshop, and Visions (for those of you in Canada). Scratch and Dent Laptop DealsEven if a Company does not have any factory refurbs, you may still be able to get a cheap laptop for under two hundred bucks if they have any scratch and dent laptops in stock. These may be floor model computers, or returns that are not refurbished. I recommend that you make sure that these are not final sale, since they usually will not have any recertification of quality and working condition. Even if you find a scratch and dent computer with a 7 day buyer’s remorse period or return policy, that may be enough time to get a good idea whether it is in good working order, or if any of the hardware components are defective. With used laptops, especially if they are heavily discounted, a hardware defect is the worst thing. You can fix software more easily in most cases, even if it is the operating system that is malfunctioning. Local Computer Repair Centers and OutletsAnother great way to find low priced laptops for under 200 dollars is to visit your local small computer stores. They may have generic models they have built themselves or they may be willing to negotiate with you so that you can get a lower priced notebook that if you went a big corporate website like Dell. The exception to the corporate higher price tag is the case when you find off-lease laptops that although well-used, are very affordable and in good working order. Check the battery to make sure it holds a charge, though. Used Laptops under $200 on CraigslistFinally, buyer beware, but you can find name brand affordable used laptops on Craigslist and Kijiji. Make sure that you are able to take your time and test it well, as well as checking the specs before you purchase it. You can sometimes even find Gateway gaming laptops for good prices on Craigslist. If you don’t find anything that you like, remember that you can always by a Dell Mini or a Asus eeepc netbook for low cost if you are okay with a 10 or 11 inch screen. There are lots of reasons to look for scratch and dent appliances such as finding out you are gluten intolerant and now want to replace several, or get an extra dedicated set without breaking the bank. Why pay retail, or even wait for a 10% or even 20% off sale when you might be able to get 50% or more discount? Scratch and Dent Locations for Small AppliancesScratch and dent small appliances like grills, sandwich makers, toasters, and bread makers are strongly recommended. You are playing with fire if you try to clean the gluten residue out before you use them. I recommend calling the customer service desk and asking if they have a scratch and dent appliances section or small appliances isle. I have seen these in Sears and Zellers, but sometimes it is store-dependant, as well as time of the year dependent. If a department store has a “spring cleaning” event that is a great time to look for scratch and dent furniture and appliance deals. You can also check any larger local store and ask if they have any discount floor models or clearance merchandise that they may be keeping in the back. If a store is not that big they may not have the one or two scratch and dent appliances they have in stock on display, so make sure you ask. There may even be a storage or warehouse space that has extra scratch and dent inventory. Even if you go to one of the major departments stores, remember that you are looking for irregular merchandise that is on clearance. There is no reason you cannot bargain or haggle with the supervisor since any official price tag will no longer be valid and any hand-written one is naturally less firm. Try to speak with a supervisor, manager, or owner wherever you end up shopping. Try not to take the sticker price if it is a regular sale sticker and not an “extra-discount” or hand-written tag. Scratch and Dent Refrigerators and FreezersIf you do not live alone, I think it is a wise idea to have a dedicated gluten free refrigerator and freezer (or combination unit) and buying this hardware from a scratch and dent location can save you a lot. If you just found out that your food cost will be going up since you will be buying a gluten-free grocery selection, I understand wanting to save money. You may also have to buy all new condiments and kitchen utensils and whatnots. Online Options:Amazon and ebay are so huge they they will almost always have some scratch and dent inventory, or will have partners that do. Just search by keywords to look at each site’s selection. If you have recently adopted a vegan lifestyle it can be difficult at first to figure out what supplements are best to take, and to figure out what products are excellent and what is just marketing hype. This article breaks down some of the differences between types of powdered vegan supplements. What changed in your diet? If you have recently gone vegan or strict vegetarian, you also have to look at what you have cut out and make sure you are still getting all of your essential vitamins and minerals. Adding a whole food supplement can make this transition so much easier as it will guarantee that you will not develop a deficiency. Do you know what foods have B12 or phosphorus in them? Most people don’t figure out what contains what mineral (even if they know a couple of facts about fruits and veggies). How high is your activity? If you are a vegan athlete or want to develop a vegan athlete diet plan, you should add a protein powder shake, not just the whole food. This will allow you to take more scoops as needed. Since there are limits to how much vitamins and fibre you want to ingest, the whole food powder does not make sense as a mass building supplement. It can improve your protein consumption for the day by a lot, as well as protecting your muscles in the morning or night time. Do you have any health conditions? For some people it will be even for important to make sure that they are fulfilling all of their macro and micro-nutrient requirement every day, make a full dose of vegan whole food powder such as Vega brand (which is the best tasting by far in my opinion). Also, some people may want to limit either their fibre intake or certain types of proteins, if they have digestive issues like IBS or colitis. The best bet it to visit your doctor before beginning a new diet, and also start slow if you are concerned with how your body will react. It can be normal with just about any of the major types of vegan protein or whole food supplements to experience some gas and bloating at the beginning as your body adjusts to the increased fibre, in particular. In addition, some people with digestive conditions my experience a range of digestive complaints like stomach cramping and abdominal swelling if they consume too much soy protein and discover they have an intolerance or sensitivity. How much can you afford? There are very inexpensive types of vegan protein like hemp and brown rice, while whole food supplements like Vega tend to be more expensive. The latter is providing full nutrition, so the extra cost makes sense and can contain things like vegan probiotics, as well as being an effective tool for vegan diet weight loss goals. In any event, I recommend trying whatever is most suitable for your lifestyle, and then look for a generic brand to manage the cost. Personally, though, I never buy generic vegan supplements just because the taste can be so poor. When I find one that I really like, I don’t gamble anymore. If your powder tastes like manure, it certainly won’t go well in your vegan protein shake ice cream. Listen, Tens of thousands of men and women in more than 121 countries are now enjoying the lasting freedom from acid reflux and digestive disorders they never believed they could have. The best part is, they did it without drugs, antacids or over the counters, and without any side effects… Continue reading “Are Acid Reflux Cures All Scams?” » One of the most serious challenges facing many people who suffer from food intolerance such as gluten intolerance or dairy intolerance (or even if you are a strict vegan ), is the big bundle of issues surrounding work. The first concern for many individuals who suffer from serious symptoms on an ongoing, daily, or unpredictable basis, is when or whether they will be able to work. The vast majority of those who suffer from a serious food intolerance would like nothing more than to not have to worry about issues such as sudden and unpredictable or ongoing illness. Who would not thank their lucky stars for an opportunity to never have to worry about embarrassing situations in the workplace? This article will cover the challenges we face in the work arena when living with the effects of a food intolerance. It will offer tips and suggestions, as well as practical living advice that I hope will make your work life just a bit more bearable. You never know, it could make all the difference. One of the most obvious problems with living with a food intolerance is the large number of situations where an explanation is required. I know from experience how frustrating it can be for so many of my conversations with everyone from relatives to new friends and acquaintances to revolve around the long and drawn-out particulars about how I live and stay well given my serious gluten and dairy intolerance. Many people will have no reference point or awareness of what I am talking about. Some will think I am referring to lactose intolerance (I am lactose intolerant, but I am also casein intolerant, which is a much more severe condition, in my opinion.) Others will think that it is an allergy that I am talking about. Of course, even many of the people who know practically nothing of my condition and what it entails invariably think that they know best. How many magical folk remedies have you heard. How many blank stares and then ‘keep your chin up’ style advice. I could go on here, but you get the idea, I am sure. Food intolerance discussions can practically engulf your life and all other concerns and conversations if you let it. My solution, and first food intolerance tip is for you to have ‘pat answers and descriptions’ for you condition. Go ahead and practice them. Learn how to describe your condition is quick and easy language, then learn how to move on to a different subject. It really is important to know how to be firm but courteous at the same time. I am sure most of you encounter people who think they can put together a meal plan for you on the spot, throwing out well-meaning dish and side and ingredient, one after another. Sometimes you have to use my “bombshell approach” and just say “no.” “No, thank you so much for your suggestions and thoughts but no, it is not possible for me to explain how to prepare a safe meal for me in a few minutes. It took me several years of concerted study and vigilance to regain my wellness.” I will offer a potluck or to prepare a meal together if they are particularly insistent. The unfortunate fact for those of us living with serious food intolerance is that most people will not understand how we live. They will not grasp how close some of us are to being bed-ridden or unable to work, or suffering from debilitating symptoms. It does not help if you appear sound and fit the vast majority of the time as I now do. No, many people will have the natural reaction that it is somehow about them, some sort of personal rejection. Most people will think they will have no problem making a meal for you with your instructions given to them in five memorized bullets or on a cocktail napkin. They will take offense to your declining a dinner or meal invitation. All we can do is live as gracefully and tactfully as possible. If you have wrapped your mind around social issues surrounding food intolerance, even better known ones such as lactose intolerance and gluten intolerance, next we can think about those points in terms of the workplace. We can use the same tact and grace in talking with our co-workers. Even though they may have the same responses as friends and family, the upside is that it will be that declining an invitation is usually not offensive, and it is usually easier to end a conversation. Compare sitting in a coffee shop or a relative’s living room with the water cooler at work or a bar stool after work. In the latter cases, you can usually change the subject more easily or even leave anytime you want with thin excuses and not really offend your co-workers. The expectation, and the bar, if you will, is much lower. You can also reserve the right to keep the particulars of your condition secret. You do not have to disclose anything or everything to everyone, especially at work. This is true even if what we are talking about is a serious food intolerance that pretty much runs your life sometimes. Truth be told, there have been times that when a co-worker listened to my pat explanation and then replied “Oh, I have a cousin who is lactose intolerant like you… isn’t there pills for that?” I just let it stand, skipping the education foray. Here is the upshot: you do not have to embody the role of some strange hybrid teacher-victim. Be yourself, be mysterious if you need to. Consider only revealing or announcing major details of your condition in situation where a basic excuse would not serve properly. Your life does not have to be a medical textbook. Your mouth does not have to be a learning annex. It is called tact. In a second part of this article, I will be covering all the work situations where you might have to explain something or you may have to figure out special circumstances just to get by, or just to keep your job. | |
