Rant: Office Work

Terytha
Terytha Posts: 2,097 Member
in Motivation and Support
I'm a desk jockey who attends many meetings. Every meeting comes with muffins and donuts. It's a rule that anyone driving through a certain place brings back fancy donuts. During summer we do pizzas and BBQs. People bring cake and pies and cookies for various events or just because.

I don't begrudge them their treats. It's not their fault I have a bad relationship with food. I'm just tired of fighting myself and my cravings. Plus I definitely eat out of boredom, and I can't even properly express the boredom involved in this morning's three hour meeting about inventory management, to which someone brought three boxes of muffins and two boxes of donuts.

Like torture. -_-

I did manage to limit myself to one muffin anyway.
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Replies

  • MikePTY
    MikePTY Posts: 3,814 Member
    Terytha wrote: »
    I'm a desk jockey who attends many meetings. Every meeting comes with muffins and donuts. It's a rule that anyone driving through a certain place brings back fancy donuts. During summer we do pizzas and BBQs. People bring cake and pies and cookies for various events or just because.

    I don't begrudge them their treats. It's not their fault I have a bad relationship with food. I'm just tired of fighting myself and my cravings. Plus I definitely eat out of boredom, and I can't even properly express the boredom involved in this morning's three hour meeting about inventory management, to which someone brought three boxes of muffins and two boxes of donuts.

    Like torture. -_-

    I did manage to limit myself to one muffin anyway.

    I hear you. I am pretty much almost always in control but my one weakness is office pizza. For some reason it's even tastier than regular pizza. I only have myself to blame as whenever we have office pizza, it's because I bought it for my employees, but it's really the only thing (along with donuts and muffins) that everyone likes to eat. Luckily we do it pretty infrequently and don't have very many in person meetings.
  • lauragreenbaum
    lauragreenbaum Posts: 1,017 Member
    This is one of the reasons I love working from home! Sorry for your struggles- maybe keep yogurt or fresh fruit at work if you have a kitchen there. Then when the donuts arrive you'll have something else to eat.
  • puffbrat
    puffbrat Posts: 2,806 Member
    This is one reason I appreciate my new job. I have so many fewer meetings now, and the people I work with generally bring a lot fewer treats than at my last 2 jobs. Pre-logging is my biggest defense against workplace treats. If I pre-logged my day and know those won't fit, I'm much less likely to indulge. It's still really hard though!
  • 88olds
    88olds Posts: 4,534 Member
    Muffin is just another word for cake. A donut is just a fried wad of goo. I became the office germaphobe. It helped.
  • Terytha
    Terytha Posts: 2,097 Member
    Being the office germaphobe is why I don't eat free candies or chocolates from bags anymore. Dozens of hands touch them, eugh. The donuts and stuff are less pawed at.

    Muffins being cake are why I love them so much. My sweet tooth is ridiculous. I love desserts more than anything. :(
  • 2baninja
    2baninja Posts: 518 Member
    Terytha wrote: »
    Being the office germaphobe is why I don't eat free candies or chocolates from bags anymore. Dozens of hands touch them, eugh. The donuts and stuff are less pawed at.

    Muffins being cake are why I love them so much. My sweet tooth is ridiculous. I love desserts more than anything. :(

    Any way you can sit in the chair that is farthest from the goodies, that always works for me, for as much as I want them, I won't get up and walk to them....
  • 88olds
    88olds Posts: 4,534 Member
    Less pawed at? Then wait. Watch your coworkers. That’s how I got over the donuts. I couldn’t believe it.
  • 2baninja
    2baninja Posts: 518 Member
    88olds wrote: »
    Muffin is just another word for cake. A donut is just a fried wad of goo. I became the office germaphobe. It helped.


    I watched an episode of CSI years ago, and the new DNA girl said she didn't eat out because of all the people breathing/spitting on her food while they talked....
    It was interesting and the more I thought about it, I realized just how true that was.

    As I watch people talk and watch all the spit that comes out, and if they are talking and spitting that much over any food I might eat... Kept me eating only "my" food for a while, too bad it didn't last long enough....lol
  • Terytha
    Terytha Posts: 2,097 Member
    I do watch my coworkers lol. Our office is snack central. Every treat ends up in the admin area, despite the perfectly serviceable kitchen.

    Sigh. I love my coworkers I really do, but watching calories around them is tough.
  • mstarks01
    mstarks01 Posts: 109 Member
    lauragreenbaum wrote: »
    This is one of the reasons I love working from home!

    This! Since getting my wfh gig, my diet is much improved.
  • amorfati601070
    amorfati601070 Posts: 2,890 Member
    Terytha wrote: »
    I'm a desk jockey who attends many meetings. Every meeting comes with muffins and donuts. It's a rule that anyone driving through a certain place brings back fancy donuts. During summer we do pizzas and BBQs. People bring cake and pies and cookies for various events or just because.

    I don't begrudge them their treats. It's not their fault I have a bad relationship with food. I'm just tired of fighting myself and my cravings. Plus I definitely eat out of boredom, and I can't even properly express the boredom involved in this morning's three hour meeting about inventory management, to which someone brought three boxes of muffins and two boxes of donuts.

    Like torture. -_-

    I did manage to limit myself to one muffin anyway.

    You know, theres is this handy trick to help eat less. Before a meal, drink .75 to 1L of water or no calories beverage and you'll eat less.
  • Terytha
    Terytha Posts: 2,097 Member
    amorfati601070 wrote: »
    You know, theres is this handy trick to help eat less. Before a meal, drink .75 to 1L of water or no calories beverage and you'll eat less.

    I appreciate the advice but unfortunately it doesn't work for me. I don't eat because I'm hungry. I eat because there's food and I don't want anyone else to have it. In the past I've eaten until I was in terrible pain as a result.

    Food and I aren't on good terms. It's a little better now but if I'm not strict with what I allow myself I'll just keep eating way past where I should.
  • ercarta
    ercarta Posts: 74 Member
    edited April 2019
    Terytha wrote: »
    I'm a desk jockey who attends many meetings. Every meeting comes with muffins and donuts. It's a rule that anyone driving through a certain place brings back fancy donuts. During summer we do pizzas and BBQs. People bring cake and pies and cookies for various events or just because.

    I don't begrudge them their treats. It's not their fault I have a bad relationship with food. I'm just tired of fighting myself and my cravings. Plus I definitely eat out of boredom, and I can't even properly express the boredom involved in this morning's three hour meeting about inventory management, to which someone brought three boxes of muffins and two boxes of donuts.

    Like torture. -_-

    I did manage to limit myself to one muffin anyway.

    @Terytha, if I may, what on God’s green earth could your team be discussing for three hours with respect to inventory?

    Its received, stowed, cycle counted,...
    ...pulled, transferred, consumed OR
    ...pulled, & shipped.

    I can’t imagine this whole conversation going on longer than a half hour, forty-five minutes tops. I can see why’d you be bored stiff and diverting your attention to said munchies. 😜

    I digress, I’d suggest you bring baked/boiled potatoes to work and eat them before meetings. They’re only 110 cal a piece or so (at least a third the cals. of pizza, a muffin, or a donut) but they’re so filling I personally can usually skip the next meal. At the very least, you’d be able sit in a room with snack food and be disinterested.

    That’s not your problem though as you stated you eat so no one else can get at the food.

    Perhaps you want to think on your intrinsic motivation for better eating habits, your “why” that is. It may be a “nice to have” currently but not necessarily be a top of the list, A number one priority for you.

    Think on it and keep talking to others about the issue. Figure out why it’s important to correct (to you). When it bugs you enough you’ll know what to do.

    All the best in your efforts! 😊👍🏼

    Eric
  • Yivs_87
    Yivs_87 Posts: 246 Member
    edited April 2019
    I can relate. We have an open floor kind of office and everyone in the office is a foodie. There is hardly a day that there isn't something delicious brought to the office. What I do is I either make some calorie space in my daily allowance for one or two pieces of deliciousness (and I chase after my colleagues for the recipes so that I can log it somewhat accurately) OR I simply stay away as it would blow away my allowance in just a couple of bites. It's actually hard, especially when you are "locked" in a never ending meeting, but in the end it's all about me and what I'd like to achieve.

    And with all due respect to Ercarta, I fully disagree with him. The fact that I cannot control myself is no reason to make other people limit themselves as well. I'd rather learn how to control myself and how to live with food surrounding me rather than to make everyone else dance around me as if I'm a special person.

    The only issue with that whole story would have been if they were forcing you to eat, like physically and emotionally blackmailing you to eat the food they bring. Which isn't the case. And even if it was I think that announcing to people around you that you are restricting your calories and you don't want to blow them on a couple of bites will make wonders. People are understanding and they would stop pushing. But again this isn't the case.

    P.S. I might have misread/misunderstood Ercarta - Sorry if that's the case, it's too early in the morning & I'm cutting coffee off. ^^;
  • Terytha
    Terytha Posts: 2,097 Member
    @ercarta, it was actually an inventory management software bundled with accounting and other stuff that management is considering buying. So it was like a three hour demo/sales thing. Exhausting.

    I am actually better than I was. I can resist over eating the usual dinner suspects like pizza or pasta. Sugar is just my kryptonite I guess.

    @Yivs_87, I very much want to be able to coexist peacefully with food. It's so hard and I don't really understand why.
  • jamiedowling1
    jamiedowling1 Posts: 1 Member
    I struggle with this too. I'm back on the wagon after starting a second round of Adipex. It's not as effective this time but I want to continue losing and am scared to death of regaining any of the 60 lbs I've lost.

    Yesterday there was a GIANT cookie cake in the breakroom. I walked by it a dozen times. Even tried a little (postage stamp size) piece to see if the calories would be worth it. It was just ok. I broke down later and had a large piece.

    I so struggle with sweets. :(
  • TonnnnUK
    TonnnnUK Posts: 132 Member
    edited April 2019
    Terytha wrote: »
    I don't eat because I'm hungry. I eat because there's food and I don't want anyone else to have it. In the past I've eaten until I was in terrible pain as a result.

    What is the reason for not wanting others to have the food?
    That seems odd, especially if there's enough to go around for everyone which is generally the case for office food culture.....

    Maybe it's a deeper psychological issue that should be discussed with a health professional.
  • sammidelvecchio
    sammidelvecchio Posts: 791 Member
    My previous work environment was like this. I asked a friend/colleague to help me stay accountable. Worked well!
  • elisa123gal
    elisa123gal Posts: 4,324 Member
    My husband makes calls on his business clients.. and one company made a rule..no more sweets and junk food gifts from clients allowed or in the break room. They were told please bring fruit ..nuts and healthy snacks or nothing.

    I really think businesses should adopt this policy for the health and well being of their workers. the same company also had a group yoga class for employees.. I'm thinking they must have gotten a break on their health insurance plan implementing these new policies.
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    maybe consider some kind of CBT (cognitive behavior therapy) to help with this - i know a lot of ppl scoff at that thought, but it has helped me in the past for key issues - it teaches you coping techniques and habits
  • flintflash1
    flintflash1 Posts: 1,066 Member
    The Ol' "Work Buffet" as I call it, is ALWAYS a struggle, because it's right there in your face, typically at a time when you are stuck staring at it. One muffin is no big deal and can easily be adjusted for in your later choices or a little extra in the workout. You did well, considering the temptations beckoning to you for 3 hours (NO meeting should EVER be 3 hours....BLAH). I'd say you earned a BIG "ATTA GIRL"!!! Well Done!! :)
  • Terytha
    Terytha Posts: 2,097 Member
    @TonnnnUK I don't know. I just have this overwhelming wash of jealousy when people eat delicious things in front of me even if I'm also eating something good. And sharing sweets is horrible.

    I don't think I can get therapy for my raging hatred of medical professionals. It burns stronger than 1000 suns.
  • Yivs_87
    Yivs_87 Posts: 246 Member
    Well, if you can't even coexist with food... I think this is a much more serious problem. And it might even be worth getting some sort of professional (therapist) opinion.

    Have you ever spent some honest solo time with yourself? Asking yourself some tough questions and answering honestly without any filter or any "prettifying" descriptions.

    I personally did this back when I was restarting my MFP journey. I used a pen and a notebook and wrote down the questions and spent time thinking and answering them.
    1. Why and when am I eating out of control?
    2. What does food bring me?
    3. What do I feel before, during and after I eat?
    4. Why do I eat - hunger, need, habit, something else?
    5. Why do I want to lose weight?
    6. What is my goal with all this (not just "lose weight" but why? what for?)?

    Each of those questions got maybe two or three pages of ramblings and internal monologue. lol ^^; but it got me to realize a few things about myself and my relationship with food. So now it's easier to catch myself when I'm about to lose control (I've learned my triggers), it helped me built some sort of coping mechanism, and most importantly it taught me that if I was eating high-quality food (good nutrients, proper macros, enough calories) it was SO MUCH HARDER to just lose control and blow it.
  • xlilphishx
    xlilphishx Posts: 23 Member
    I hear ya. I work a desk job and our office revolves around food. I find that getting Starbucks before a meeting helps with the cravings. I always have healthy snacks like grapes, Wasa Crackers with Laughing Cow cheese. Those there curb sweet and salty cravings. And water. Lots of water.
  • Terytha
    Terytha Posts: 2,097 Member
    I know my what's and whys and wherefores. I spend too much time thinking about myself. I have no delusions.

    No appointments, no doctors. I hate them all. I am driven by rage and hatred and grief and loathing and fear. I downloaded this app right after my last doctor's appointment, swore I'd lose it all so I never have to go back.

    I'm not exaggerating. I really hate them that much. Nothing is worth seeing a therapist for. They only make everything worse.
  • Kimmotion5783
    Kimmotion5783 Posts: 417 Member
    edited April 2019
    I can relate, my part time job at the local library almost always has food. I've learned its best to just keep my eyes down, refill my water bottle and avoid "the corner" (table where all the bad food is).
  • DMarkSwan
    DMarkSwan Posts: 56 Member
    Be proud you kept it to one muffin! I can't really give advice as I struggle to resist and once I give in there can be trouble. I just wanted to point out you held up pretty well for a three hour meeting.

    Maybe some friendly competition for eating well would help the office culture and you.
  • hangrygreenhulk
    hangrygreenhulk Posts: 21 Member
    I am also a desk jockey, and free donuts populate my office almost daily. I feel your pain! Took a few months to transition after starting on MFP, but I finally got to the point where I only consume what I bring. Sometimes, once every few weeks, I will have one donut, though. :)
  • cobalt108
    cobalt108 Posts: 60 Member
    I get it! I’m a student and there is always promo people with free food being given away a school. Pizza, pretzels, ice creams, hoagies, cookies, cakes, candy etc. I can walk past most of it but when I smell the pizza it’s so much harder to resist!
    I keep sugar free cough drops in my bag and that helps sometimes.

    Also I don’t think I could pay attention to a meeting if there was a big pile of donuts in front of me. Very triggering and I’m sorry your dealing with it. Hope it gets better!

    Idea: maybe bring your own food contribution to work/ the meeting? Like a fruit platter so you can pick off that and not get overly tempted.

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