Need some tips for avoiding the office treats

All_The_Bacon

jessielil wrote: »

The baker in my office doesn't eat any of it. She's training for a figure competition! When I asked her to slow her roll (and cakes, etc.), I thought she would understand because she also has a very strict diet. Unlike me though, she is a master of self control.

Honestly, this sounds less like self-control and more like an eating disorder to me. It's not uncommon for people severely restricting their own food to become obsessed with cooking and feeding others the food they don't eat. Voice of experience here.

Either way, her issues are not your worry. Good luck finding your own most effective mechanism for dealing with the temptation.

Verdenal

hollyrayburn wrote: »

I have a coworker who not only brings in treats all the time (and not the yummy homemade kind, but generic store brought crap), who tries to pressure me into eating them with the "youll hurt my feelings" crap, but ALSO critiques my lunch choices, saying im not eating enough, I should eat more carbs, etc etc.

I had a passive-aggressive "friend" who kept undermining my weight-loss efforts by offering me Kind bars even after I explained that I needed to watch calories. She was overweight, possibly obese. I'm so glad she stopped talking to me after some other petty nonsense. Some people take it as a rebuke that you are trying to lose weight, even if you say nothing about their weight, never offer advice. There's nothing you can do to satisfy that type.

We are in an obesity epidemic. I think that offices should impose rules about bringing in food if most employees agree. It's not everyone's idea of a good time and most people do not need the additional calories.

Verdenal

dbanks80 wrote: »

Flip over the table.

You cannot tell her to stop baking treats. It is your responsibility to control your own temptation. Eat some fruits, veggies or protein to help you feel not hungry.

Baking is not part of her job. She doesn't have a "right" to bring in food that others may find difficult to resist. They may be eating out of obligation or boredom, not enjoyment. There's nothing wrong with imposing restrictions on how often she brings it or where she serves it. We're not talking about settings in which people are starving and in need of food.

Verdenal

TavistockToad wrote: »

skymningen wrote: »

jessielil wrote: »

. I have previously asked her decrease how often she was baking and she did for a few weeks.

Decide how often you want to have a treat or which of the stuff you would definitely not want to miss out on. She seemed to be understanding before, so just explain to her, that you think her stuff is delicious but that it is too much of a temptation for you as you are trying to limit your calorie intake. Ask her to only offer you something as often as you decided you would want it (like once a week, twice a month, whatever), and maybe preferably on your favorite stuff (so you would not miss out on that). She hopefully will be happy that there is some of her stuff so awesome even a weight conscious person does not want to pass on and that she can help. And she hopefully will remember to not tempt you too often.

its not up to the person baking to stop OP from eating it...

We're all familiar with the person, often obese herself or himself (although it's usually a woman), who guilt-trips people into eating food they either don't want or know they shouldn't be eating. Structure is as important to weight loss as willpower. A setting without unnecessary food temptations is healthier for everyone. If you want a treat, fine, go out and buy it. If people are to get control over their weight, the way they live and work has to change too. There are many things you can do to connect with coworkers that don't involve food. You could have a brief chat, go for a quick walk, etc.

Verdenal

Derpy_Hooves wrote: »

MichelleSilverleaf wrote: »

Just curious why you feel you have to say no? Is it possible to budget in an occassional treat?

That's what I do. This morning I moved my prelogged afternoon snack to tomorrow and instead I had the treat.
I couldn't say no, the lady who brought it in today brought it baked it because it's her last day.

--Not everyone can stop at just one. It's better to be realistic than pretend this time will be different.

--Not everyone can afford extra calories. For some, even an extra 200 calories is too much.

--Not everyone can commit to an eating plan in advance and stick to it.

--Why should you have to budget for food you don't want in the first place?

This all takes needless energy.

jennifer_417

I don't really think it's appropriate for you to ask your coworker to bake and share less just because you're on a diet. You can't expect others to change themselves because you want to change yourself. If you want to succeed, you will have to learn to cope with temptation, because the world isn't going to change for you.

dsboohead

jennifer_417 wrote: »

I don't really think it's appropriate for you to ask your coworker to bake and share less just because you're on a diet. You can't expect others to change themselves because you want to change yourself. If you want to succeed, you will have to learn to cope with temptation, because the world isn't going to change for you.

I totally agree....to ask someone to stop what they enjoy doing to fit my needs is just plain wrong!

dsboohead

Verdenal wrote: »

dbanks80 wrote: »

Flip over the table.

You cannot tell her to stop baking treats. It is your responsibility to control your own temptation. Eat some fruits, veggies or protein to help you feel not hungry.

Baking is not part of her job. She doesn't have a "right" to bring in food that others may find difficult to resist. They may be eating out of obligation or boredom, not enjoyment. There's nothing wrong with imposing restrictions on how often she brings it or where she serves it. We're not talking about settings in which people are starving and in need of food.

Nope....not your place to place restrictions because you think EVERYONE doesn't need it! Who are you to impose your will in a free world!?

Danp

There's really only a couple of options
1. Fit the calories in (that's my favourite option)
2. Say 'Thank you, but no thanks'

If someone is giving you grief about saying 'no' then I'd turn it back on them. Let the know that you feel it's in appropriate behaviour and you don't appreciate being bullied and pressured into doing something you don't want to do.

If confrontation isn't your thing then just say 'Thank you', take the cake and toss it. Failing that tell them you're allergic (wheat, sugar, food colouring, whatever) or some other medical excuse.

Really though, if someone is bullying people into doing things they don't want to do that's something that needs to go to the managers/HR.

malibu927

You ultimately have to decide whether or not it's worth it to you. Yesterday there were a ton of cupcakes in our break room (I work at a grocery store...one was a bakery order that was never purchased, the other was from a girl who bought them for her final day). I decided I didn't want to spend the calories on either one. Now, next month when one of my coworkers retires and they order a cake for her? I will likely accept and have a slice.

elisa123gal

make a hard and fast rule to not eat them...and don't. have your own healthy low cal snacks on hand so you are never left hungry and without something to eat..becasue then you'll justify eating her treats. Also..tell her you are not eating them until you reach your goal weight.

simplyhannahm

I know your co worker is probably clean, but you don't really know where the food is from. That might put you off.

jesspen91

For the people advising fitting it into your budget. How do you even begin estimating that? You don't know what amounts of each ingredients are in the home baked treats, whether they have used any substitutes, how much the piece you've taken weighs (unless you have scales at work). What is your advice in this regard? Is it weird to ask the baker for the recipe?

MushroomLadyJR

I just decided that I prefer to plan my own treats since that puts me in control. Also, realistically, if I didn't say no to office treats I'd be faced with either having to limit the quantity of food I eat in order to fit it into my goals, or deal with eating as normal in addition to the extra treats. The latter leaves me faced with becoming obese again, and the former leaves me hungry and probably unsatisfied throughout the day. That's why I usually pass on it.

indiacaitlin

I have this pretty much every day and honestly I just have learned to restrain myself. If I do have something then I'll track it. It's hard but the feeling of achievement is much better than the few seconds of pleasure from eating the food. Occasionally though I'll treat myself, because we all deserve a treat every once in while

xWintersKnightx

At my work I dont think I've ever seen any of the fit people, or really anyone who isnt already overweight and more often than not obese, bring in the "treats" everyday.

That is my first clue to show restraint...

orangegato

Brushing your teeth and having some water helps reinforce your mind that you’re done eating