Workplace saboteurs...

acpgee

Man...I feel like my workplace must really suck - no one brings anyone food! I kinda want someone to bring me chocolate now :ohwell:

Oh, I assure you it doesn't work that way. Junk food magically appears in the office when you DON'T want it. When you do, it's nowhere to be found.

My experience completely.

levitateme

These threads are always so hard for me to read. On one hand, I am all about "either make it fit in your day OR politely say no" right now, and that's the way I handle the situations. BUT it took me about 6 separate 40 lbs weight losses and eventual gain backs over 10 years while suffering from binge eating disorder to get to where I am.

I totally understand the people who just can't do that. Arguing back and forth about "willpower" with those who have eating disorders is hurtful and counterproductive. IDK, man. I'm sitting next to a candy bowl at work right now. I had a bit-o-honey earlier. It was pretty good.

I guess the point I'm trying to make, the TLDR version: Everyone is different. Sometimes it's not a question of willpower & Sometimes, it is. Company provided food is not "sabotage," it's a nice gesture and not a lot of companies do this.

thavoice

Today omeone brought in two dozen cookies, and someone else brought in candy.

Just basically said no thank you and moved on.

Once you do it a few times it gets easier. Sometimes I have 1-2 depending on what I already have planned for the day and today just didnt fit in.
Now if they are still there tomorrow I will have some


and you know what....each time you pass them by it makes you feel proud inside to do so. The feeling of pride of having the willpower is much more satisfying than any cookie or snack.

Just_Ceci

Today, someone brought 2 different kinds of cookies and a big bag of candy!

Oh wait, that was me. Carry on.

Sun_Wukong

Sabotage has to be one of the most overused and often out of context words used on MFP.

I don't lack sympathy for those that struggle with self control, weight issues or poor relationships both with people and food but the use of the word sabotage has seriously gotten out of control.

Apparently everyday innocent events have become acts of sabotage according to a large proportion of threads, case in point here are a few examples of what is now considered sabotage...

Offering somebody food, complimenting someone's current physique before they reach their goal weight, inviting someone to a restaurant that isn't subway, providing food at social events that hasn't been meticulously weighed and portioned out, eating around your significant other, the presence of birthday cake at a birthday (OMG), public holidays, advertising etc etc Dastardly yes?



I could write a much more comprehensive list no doubt and anybody who has been on the threads long enough knows what I am talking about.

No doubt some people will read this and sharpen their pitch forks and light the torches exclaiming how I am not being sensitive to those that are not receiving the support they need, and people should accommodate the changes in their lifestyles they have chosen.

Sabotage used to have a different meaning but now it seems to be the replacement for lack of willpower, a scapegoat for poor self-control.

Part of developing good eating habits is learning how to control yourself in real world situations, as you are not vacuum sealed in an underground bunker away from the rest of humanity...hopefully.

Yes we are influenced by the people that surround us and our environment but I would like to think people are committing to more than just strengthening their physical being but also their mental fortitude.

Well here is my take on it, if you are unable to learn to deal with these common real life situations you are bound to fail!

Just because you have made some changes in your life does not mean that others are always going to accommodate them!

Yes it is great to have supportive and understanding spouses and friends but how long are you going to lean on a them as a crutch, best to fly with your own wings

To me real sabotage would be a deliberate attempt at ruining your goals whatever they maybe, yes I imagine in some sad cases things like emotional and physical abuse could exist but 99% of the time the word sabotage is used on the threads this is not the case.

People make it sound like being offered cake at the office is akin to having one of these inserted forcefully...



Now unless people are recalibrating your food scales, letting your tires down before you go to the gym or force feeding you, more often then not they are not sabotaging you they just don't share the same goals.


Try and remember next time somebody offers you your favorite snack it is most probably because they like you, not because this is their secret agenda...



hopefully.

Hmm now I want to listen to some Beastie Boys.

likitisplit

Man...I feel like my workplace must really suck - no one brings anyone food! I kinda want someone to bring me chocolate now :ohwell:

Oh, I assure you it doesn't work that way. Junk food magically appears in the office when you DON'T want it. When you do, it's nowhere to be found.

It's like random scale variations: there are only large drops when you want to be gaining.

I went to a two hour meeting today. I am a little hungry because I'm at a deficit. There was caramel corn and hershey's bite sized chocolates. I went to my chair and sat down. I did not go to that side of the room. I did not check out what they had. When the meeting ended, I refused to look in that direction and walked out of the room.

I am now eating an apple with peanut butter because I am hungry and it fits my macros. Actually, sardines would fit my macros better, but I don't have any of those here at the office - and eating fish in an office environment is frowned upon.

Guns_N_Buns

I've made a point to not be shy about my "fanatical" eating habits. Now nobody offers me any food.

This

Guns_N_Buns

Also, to be blunt, 99% of the women in my department are obese, so when they practically run to these 'treats' that are sometimes present, it actually makes me repulsed. Therefore, it's a lot easier to not partake in their pack binges.

jrose1982

each time you pass them by it makes you feel proud inside to do so. The feeling of pride of having the willpower is much more satisfying than any cookie or snack.

So true. I find it quite pleasing to pick up something from the candy dish and throw it in the garbage. There's an undeniable satisfaction to doing that.
I'm also the one who will throw a half-eaten box of cookies in the garbage (after everybody else leaves), so they aren't still there tomorrow.

I justify it because if my coworkers really wanted this stuff they would just take it home with them. And, in some cases, the people who bring it bought it or baked it for whatever reason (they only wanted 1, or they just like to bake), and brought it to work cause they couldn't bring themselves to throw away what they didn't want.