Monday, December 19, 2011

Is Blunt Better?


I have a friend who has been spinning a lot lately at a local studio.  She told me about a pal of hers who has lost a significant amount of weight; I believe it was 100 pounds. We’ll call my friend B and B’s friend N (I’ll explain reasoning later). Before a recent workout, B reached into her bag and took out a banana. N, as in Nazi, looked at B and said, “if you’re going to eat that you may as well not spin.” B relayed the story to me and asked, “isn’t that the meanest thing you’ve ever heard?” It’s not but before I gave my two cents I asked, “so what do you say or do?” B told me she switched her pre-workout snack to an apple.

So let’s first look at the accuracy of Fruit Nazi’s comment. While the banana is a higher carbohydrate fruit, let’s bear in mind it’s still a fruit. One medium banana is around 105 calories. Forty-five minutes of spinning will burn four to five bananas. So even if ¼ of B’s class was spent burning off her banana she still has over 300 net calories burned, endorphins pumping and a great start to her day. N may have cut bananas out on her road to weight loss, she may work out on an empty stomach but her advice to B wasn’t correct and, as mentioned, B found it hurtful.

Due to my profession, I rarely offer face-to-face unsolicited advice. Even when asked or when I have a strong opinion, I’m usually pretty diplomatic (real life is different than the blog). At the end of the day you don’t want to discourage anyone from trying to get fit or eat better. I feel differently when it comes to food companies and organizations I feel don’t have consumers’ health in mind.  I also have trouble being tactful when it comes to processed food, sweeteners and the “s” word, soda. The interesting tidbit with the banana example is that B, though offended, was impacted enough to make a change.  She switched her pre-workout ritual and I would bet will not eat many bananas going forward.

Sometimes blunt is better and certainly sticks with us. I sat in a lecture on organic food once and the speaker said, “I would never, ever eat a conventional grape.” I don’t think I have knowingly consumed one since. I would bet many of you reading have your own habits you can trace to someone who told you something about food or exercise with such conviction that you followed suit. For the record, I bet that if I were to inspect what Fruit Nazi ate in a typical day we’d find some things tweak-worthy, maybe even sweeteners or soda (blech).
Do you think blunt is better? Any behaviors you recall changing based on directness? Do you eat bananas?  

30 comments:

  1. Blunt is better in cases when the person is clearly misinformed. I always have to comment whenever friends and family comment on how healthy granola is! Recently met someone who raved about the weight loss she noted while donning a sauna suit. I had to try very hard to hold myself back from commenting since I did not know her!

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  2. I love bananas. I eat one a day - sometimes in a post-workout protein shake (for a balance of carbs and protein to refuel my body) and sometimes with my oatmeal. I have been spinning 2-4 times a week for two years and (though I've since given up morning cereal because without hot tea afterward, it gives me a sick tummy) I used to eat a heaping bowl of carbs before every morning spin - and I still lose 25 lbs and 4% body fat during that time.

    Do I thinks someone should eat a three bananas a day? Well, no - but I would rather see someone eating a banana ANY time of the day than eating a heavily processed faux granola bar (complete with HFCS) or something of the like. And yeah, completely rude to say "Well, you might as well not even spin" - forget calories burned - with that fuel she is also BUILDING MUSCLE in those legs!!

    When I teach spin, it's all about the heavy climbs. ;)

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  3. I'm not into the blunt thing. I feel that soooooo much info is out there that it's either 1) too much for less-interested people to remember or 2) too easy to find yourself if you are interested. I could preach nutrition to my parents for days, but they just aren't interested in such things. If they were, they'd look it up themselves.

    Oh, and I definitely eat bananas. If I eat pizza on the weekends, I'm pretty sure a banana isn't going to be the straw that broke the camel's back. haha

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  4. While that comment certainly wasn't the meanest thing I've ever heard, I do think it was unbearably obnoxious and I'd seriously consider finding a new spin buddy. Either that, or I'd make a big show out of eating a banana after spinning. (Not that I'd EVER spin, of course. Gah. I hate spinning. Just not for me.)

    I think that unsolicited advice about food or eating habits is always obnoxious. I remember drinking a smoothie at work once, and people asked me what was in it. Several people - most of them eating frozen Lean Cuisine "meals" and sugary "health" bars - jumped all over me about the coconut oil in my smoothie, telling me that it was bad for me. It was annoying and completely uncalled for (oh yeah, and also UNTRUE).

    I think that blunt advice is good IF a person WANTS advice and IF you actually know what you're talking about.

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  5. Stephanie, agree it wasn't that mean. I bet N eats Lean Cuisine, just a hunch. Tiff- I eat bananas too. And Sam maybe blunt is ok when people are doing insane things: sauna suits and pounding granola.

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  6. I tend not to be blunt face-to-face. I'll tell people my beliefs if they ask though.
    I can't stand when people tell share bad nutrition advice... like "don't eat bananas, potatoes, or carrots because they're too high in sugar." It's hard for me to bite my tongue after those comments.

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  7. Your post made me think about bananas and resistant starch... (Check out The Morning Banana Diet on Web MD). I love bananas and eat one almost everyday (love blended with kale, almond milk, cinnamon, and lots of ice). Perhaps the impact of being blunt comes across more when it's from someone who isn't ALWAYS telling you what to do. I'm like you, in that I rarely offer unsolicited advice, but I do nag my husband about his diet soda consumption. I know he pretty much just hears "blah, blah, blah...", but he's down to one a day, so I guess that's progress!

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  8. I love bananas, too. Lauren, is there a post on the blog that lists fruits/vegs that you should always buy organic? The grape story has me curious. If not, do you think you would be able to post one sometime in the future? I trust your advice!

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  9. It's all in the tone behind the comment. If someone wants good for me, I can hear that. If someone is getting a dig, I have a clue and it doesn't set as well. I appreciate a straight shooter. Most of us want to grow and improve. A know-it-all who doesn't really know it all? Someone a little over confident in what they're expressing? I'm thinking this is a case where it wasn't as much what was said as how it was said.
    Of course, I do love bananas, so perhaps I'm a bit biased:)

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  10. I eat french fries with mustard and never with ketchup. I was the new girl in jr high school standing in the lunch line when a girl started to make fun of me at the top of her voice. She was saying things about my asking for mustard for my fries. A nearby teacher bluntly told her that criticizing someone else's meal was incredibly rude. I've never forgotten it. I don't see how "Ewww, you're eating THAT?" is ever appropriate.

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  11. Agreed Caron, "Ewww" doesn't work ever and is mean, especially in jr high. Amy "a know it all who doesn't really know" good call. As for produce to go organic for an easy rule is thicker skin conventional *ok*. Otherwise go organic for produce you eat most often or consult EWG's dirty dozen app or list. EA, I think all my husband hears ever is "blah blah blah".

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  12. I see two different issues here: being blunt and being a misinformed know-it-all. Personally, I prefer blunt. I'll never forget the time you said to me, "You need to quit eating like a teenager and start eating like an adult." Blunt, and totally worked. But I trust you and your advice. Sounds like Banana Nazi is over eager to share bad advice. I think that people do this about food/nutrition a lot. My in-laws will be here for the holidays (lord, give me strength), and I'm going to hear all about why my pork is undercooked, why we should only eat fat-free, and why diet soda is better than water. I'll bluntly correct them.

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  13. Being blunt to someone about what they are eating is a touchy situation. Personally, I think unless you know a person, and their eating habits, really well then there is no reason to make comments about what they are eating. We have no idea if the person we just made a comment to has food issues and how that will ultimately affect their day. Or how that comment will affect a stranger who may have overheard the conversation. Food is such a sensitive topic for some people and I think those kinds of comments can be triggering for someone who has disordered eating. The thing is, we never really know who those people are. If I was in that room, and overheard that comment, I would have a hard time not saying something to N. It's a banana for crying out loud. Have some tact.

    Being blunt about food has a time and place. A public space where everyone can hear is not it.

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  14. To be completely blunt (ha), i don't think it hurts to be honest about what constitutes as good, healthy food... (as long as you know what you are talking about!) what bothers me more are "blunt" people that critique/mock healthy eaters.

    Case in point: our office goes out for a holiday party -- no one tells the girl that orders the fries (+ pizza) that they are the #1 weight-gain food, but my salad sure gets a lot of unwarranted comments...

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  15. Tough call. I prefer people being blunt. But I also notice when I am particularly blunt it can come off condescending and that's no fun for anyone. I guess it comes down to choosing my battles wisely and knowing when it's worth it to keep my mouth shut.

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  16. Yeah, I'd love to see what the Nazi ate! That is always the funny thing..people love to criticize others when they often should be focused on themselves.
    I do think being blunt can work better sometimes..I guess it just depends on the person and situation.

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  17. 100% Kristen, none of us "know it all" nor should claim to.
    Cameo- it is hard, I guess since was a silly comment here easy to pick apart. Would it be different if she was having a 600 calorie muffin?
    Jessica- be blunt here, I'm tough. Agreed there are as many rude comments about healthy eating that are totally not ok.

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  18. I don't mind blunt. I even like blunt. It makes me think more about it.

    I once ate a banana before exercising. I had not eaten in 3-4 hours so my stomach was pretty much empty. I cannot remember if it was zumba or spin, but I do remember that it ruined my workout. Way too heavy for me on an empty stomach, and I don't have reflux. Maybe N meant it that way? I will never ever eat a banana before working out again. I like bananas better topped with melted dark chocolate anyway! :)

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  19. Pre workout eating is very individual and takes trial and error. So what's heavy for one person way work for another. Sometimes when people lose weight they feel their rules are universal. I don't mind blunt either when correct.

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  20. Well considering the name of my blog; "The Candid RD", I do think blunt is better. IN fact, I almost called my blog the blunt RD, but I was afraid people would think I was a stoner :)
    Despite this, I do think there is a line that needs to be drawn. I'm blunt only to those clients that I think can handle it. Some other clients I really have to "baby" and I don't always act so honest and blunt with them (As in I hold back my true opinions often).
    I don't think the person in the story above had any right to say that about the banana. If it was a cupcake, maybe, but a banana?! Come on!

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  21. I see what you're saying Gina and like your advice. I certainly don't shy away from blunt when I feel it's important. Maybe N thought this was important but it really isn't. I would choose advice like N's though over "everything in moderation" or "there are no bad foods" type nonsense.

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  22. I love bananas. I eat one a day too.. I have educated myself enough that I would have just smiled and ate it anyway.. but I am not someone who cares much about other peoples opinion.

    To me, it is not about the calories of the banana vs. the calories burned, but the number of calories over the entire day.

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  23. I think "everything in moderation" has a very important place in changing your lifestyle. It is one of the stepping stones towards a healthier life. Getting to moderation in the first place is a huge step. In time you can remove the crap completely.

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  24. interesting as ever i would do as bzybee said just smile and eat it

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  25. Bzybee thanks for commenting/stopping by, I think moderating certain things and some things don't need to be consumed, even in moderation. rebecca, the smile always helps.

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  26. A banana is my go-to when I have to run in the am and I don't have time to digest a full breakfast. I think America has way more problems in their diet than eating too much fruit!

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  27. Agreed, if we all ate a banana instead of splenda we'd be a lot better for it.

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  28. N is the standard "I know it all and am a self proclaimed expert here to give you advice". Ok maybe that is a little blunt but N is the same person who give my clients advice and they come in to my office saying "Well my neighbor said this...." and so on. I am like you, never offer unsolicited advice. That banana may have been a million times better than what B was having before!

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  29. I think there's a place for blunt comments, and coming from people I trust I value them. Coming from a stranger, though, they're pretty rude (as well as misinformed, in this case).

    I love bananas but I don't eat them often. This isn't for nutritional reasons, though - there are some production issues with bananas both from environmental and human rights perspectives that mean I'd rather have them as an occasional treat than a staple.

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  30. People say the darndest things. Blunt is good when it's coming from a credible source depending on the situation. I eat bananas often, they are great for activity! It would be interesting to see what N eats.

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