Dealing w/ sabotage!

la8ydi

I just started this journey - I'm convincing myself and others that it's not another diet, but a "lifestyle change." My biggest struggle is some of my co-workers - offering to buy me something when they run to McDonalds or 7-11 - bringing cake and cookies and eating at my desk...the other day one of my co-workers offered to bring me a Slurpee - I declined, she laughed and brought one for me anyway. I know she thinks this is all a joke - she's fairly heavy and I think she feels bad about herself and wants me to fail when she fails. How do I deal with this? I've told her and asked her not to bring these things (my will power is still really weak) but she laughs and does what she wants. HELP!!!! I'm trying to be good and I'm getting tempted every day!!!

djbrink21

That sucks that those you work with won't help you. With that being the case you just have to be even stronger. Remember this, if you go from eating fast food 3 times a week and only cut that down to 2 times a week, that is still a considerable savings. Be proud about that! If you can keep that going for a month or so and then drop it again a few months later it will really help. That's how I did it. My wife and I ate out tons of times a week dinner and lunches and slowly we weaned ourselves off of doing that.

Additionally, you have to keep saying no. If they ask if they can get you something, just say no. And if they do get you something, put it in the trash and don't pay them for it. You didn't want it you shouldn't have to pay for it. Making sure they see you throw it away time and time again will also help. Hopefully eventually they will stop buying the stuff for you.

As far as people coming around with snacks, you can ask them not to, but you will always have temptation. Best you can do there is just to have other snacks in reach. When you start getting tempted you can reach for them. Make sure it is something you really like, fruit, nuts, etc (mine is multii-grain cheerios).

Just stick in there and remember everything bit helps so even if you only cut back a little at a time it is useful.

Ayeshat

that does suck!.. I'm sorry to hear.. i guess you know by now that you won't get any help from them whatsoever so its all on you! I guess all you can do is keep saying no and eventually they'll realize its no joke... But this could be extra motivation, it'll be awesome when you get the results that you want to be able to stick it to them and say that you don't owe any of it to them.. Keep strong you can do it!

rooster70460

I had some similar things happen but it was with my family and boyfriend. Stay strong....have a healthy snack stashed in your desk drawer and be proud that you are in control. Sounds like your office mate might be jealous!! You know they say misery loves company! You don't need that kind of company!! Come here.... vent..post... and we PROMISE to support you!!!!

girlnamedlee

I work in an office that rewards us with food. Ironically, we're a health insurance company. Tomorrow, we're having a bagel breakfast & barbeque for lunch. I've been stressing about it because not only do I have to deal with my own willpower, but I know from experience, I'll have a number of coworkers who think they're helping by saying "It's not like you eat like this every day!" or "You've been doing so well, you deserve a treat!" They just don't understand that a major part of this for me is not looking to food for a reward, comfort, boredom relief, etc.

Crochetluvr

All I can suggest is giving the unwanted stuff to someone else or throwing it out when the co-worker isn't around. If she wants to waste her money on junk you aren't going to eat, that's HER problem....right?

AZKristi

They just don't understand that a major part of this for me is not looking to food for a reward, comfort, boredom relief, etc.

What a great way to state this!! Exercising, counting calories and paying attention to the nutritional value of what I put in my body is a lifestyle change for me as well. I still have tough days where food has way more power over me than it should. But, I look forward to this changing over time.

KittieLea

Wow, that would really piss me off! My best advice is to not give in. Even if your co-workers buy you some crap when you've clearly told them "NO" you need to stay strong. Don't worry about hurting their feelings, they sure aren't worried about yours. If it were me, I'd trash the unwanted food right in front of them. Once they get sick of wasting money they'll listen to you.

Heather_Rider

I have quickly learned that sometimes you just have to stop being polite.

Put up a sign at your desk that says "I have WILLPOWER!" or "I WILL DO THIS!" then, when they bring you a treat, say thank you.. push it aside and get busy... if they see you are wrapped up in your work, they will move on. then let the item sit awhile and toss it in the break room or wherever.. if they ask if you enjoyed it, say "thank you for thinking of me, but i put it in the breakroom for others to enjoy since im no longer eating that kind of stuff" eventually, when they see you arent going to have the treat.. they will stop buying them.

If you get the "you can treat yourself sometime" tell them.. "thats what got me into this mess!" and walk away!''

Trust me.. as long as you stick to your guns, it wont take too long!!

KechiaG

I have had to deal with this often! My solution? I gratiously say "thank yew" and the minute they are out of sight I find the nearest garbage can and LAUNCH IT!! When I say NO THANK YOU, I MEAN IT!! :grumble:

sarah44254

I'm sorry, that is a weird situation. If you say you do not want the slurpee, they should not bring you one. I would have given it right back to the person and repeated that I didn't want one.

At work, I've started bringing my own food. My coworkers say things like "oh i'm getting mexican food - what do you want?" or "we are ordering a pizza what toppings for you?"

and I just reply, 'oh no. It's ok. I'd like to eat the food I brought with me. I appreciate it though '

and they know I mean it, and they've always been kind about it, and they can see the result it brought. I'm 24" smaller now, in all areas added up.

DianneBoo

That sucks that those you work with won't help you. With that being the case you just have to be even stronger. Remember this, if you go from eating fast food 3 times a week and only cut that down to 2 times a week, that is still a considerable savings. Be proud about that! If you can keep that going for a month or so and then drop it again a few months later it will really help. That's how I did it. My wife and I ate out tons of times a week dinner and lunches and slowly we weaned ourselves off of doing that.

Additionally, you have to keep saying no. If they ask if they can get you something, just say no. And if they do get you something, put it in the trash and don't pay them for it. You didn't want it you shouldn't have to pay for it. Making sure they see you throw it away time and time again will also help. Hopefully eventually they will stop buying the stuff for you.

As far as people coming around with snacks, you can ask them not to, but you will always have temptation. Best you can do there is just to have other snacks in reach. When you start getting tempted you can reach for them. Make sure it is something you really like, fruit, nuts, etc (mine is multii-grain cheerios).

Just stick in there and remember everything bit helps so even if you only cut back a little at a time it is useful.

I agree with this 100%! If they ask, you decline and they listen to you, great. More than likely, they are asking out of politeness. In regard to your ever so helpful co-worker who buys things for you anyway...she does not want you to succeed. Therefore, there is not a damn thing you can do to get her to stop but to continue telling her no and throwing out the crap! Just remember how strong you are and how committed you are to YOURSELF! Come to MFP and vent, post, etc. You can do this and to hell with her!

pupcamper

Wow, that would really piss me off! My best advice is to not give in. Even if your co-workers buy you some crap when you've clearly told them "NO" you need to stay strong. Don't worry about hurting their feelings, they sure aren't worried about yours. If it were me, I'd trash the unwanted food right in front of them. Once they get sick of wasting money they'll listen to you.

+1

padmesarai

I always have granola bars, soda crackers or light yogurt at my desk, I went through the same thing when I started at MFP, so everytime my co-workers offered me Mcnuggets or hamburgers I offered a granola bar back at them, believe me it's been ages since one of them offered me fast food, they even bought me low-fat frozen yogurt for my Bday!

Make them realize by your actions that is this important and in regards to your friend just be straight-up, better yet tell her how much you care for her and how you feel she could also use the help.

taahine01

I don't think your coworkers realize how serious you are about your lifestyle changes......

let them know beforehand that they'll only be wasting their money if they bring you something back as you'll only trash it or give it to someone else anyway......and if they bring something back for you still, give it back or trash it and tell them, "I told you...."

Pretty soon, they'll get the message and will realize how serious you really are......

Hang in there and don't give up!!!

goldengodd3ss

I'll have a number of coworkers who think they're helping by saying "It's not like you eat like this every day!" or "You've been doing so well, you deserve a treat!"

agirlnamedlee said it best! I also work in an office environment - it seems like there's some food situation everyday, whether it's celebrating someone's bday or going out for 'coffee & donuts'.

My best trick for declining and having my coworkers respect my choice is to say that you are watching your sugar levels. And in a way, I am being truthful because through MFP, I have found that my sugar intake is way over every week.