Avoiding free food at work?

24

Replies

  • cajungirltx
    cajungirltx Posts: 147 Member
    I have to fight the temptations as well. Someone baked cookies at work today. One of our vendors is bringing pizza for lunch.
    I did like someone's thread about looking up the calories for something your tempted to eat. That would definitely keep me away.
    I HAVE to know what I'm eating for breakfast and lunch during the week or I will end up going over my calories!
  • beanerific518
    beanerific518 Posts: 152
    I always allow myself a controlled treat. I know I am going to have a scoop of ice cream after dinner (part of my calorie and macro allotment) so it is easier to say no to treats that pop out of no-where. I also allow myself a cheat meal each week, so I don't want to deny my cheat meal by having a mediocre bagel and shmear from Panera that has been sitting in the lunch room for a few hours.
  • bmqbonnie
    bmqbonnie Posts: 836 Member
    I have a similar issue. I work away from home and spend 2-3 nights per week with my boss and there is always all sorts of unhealthy food around. It kinda takes practice. I kept trying to log and trying to say no and it gets easier, the more times that you cave in and realize it really wasn't worth it.
  • samhigh
    samhigh Posts: 86 Member
    I have the same problem, my company has an entire pallet of costco food items delivered every monday - everything from muffins to snack bar, string cheese to potato chips, etc. We also have catered lunches every other week and a monthly birthday cake celebration.

    It is damn near impossible to never take advantage of the cornucopia of processed junk food just steps away.

    Instead of trying to completely avoid it (impossible!), I just try to be intelligent with my timing. I will take a bagel in the morning, but save it for after my day time workout. I always have birthday cake, I just ask for the smallest piece.

    Life is better with the occasional treat.
  • MelodieRSA
    MelodieRSA Posts: 25
    My company has bagels every Friday - I split one with a coworker who is also trying to stay on track, that way I don't feel deprived and I don't go nuts either.
  • princessnik7
    princessnik7 Posts: 144 Member
    Well, its not hard for me to say no 95% of the time because i work with 7 women and 89 men in a Maintenance Department and the stories they tell about their wives etc. I would not risk my health, let alone my diet eating the stuff they occasionally bring in, not to mention too many hands in it or to many folks breathing over it is just a turn off for me. Now the occasional Doughnut from a local bakery called Wilsons, I will indulge sometimes but not every time and the vendors bring us some all the time. Also one of my bosses his wife makes a mean pot of jalepeno cheese grits, but those things are my only temptation.

    OH I do have one guy, who brings me fresh fruit, and fresh tupelo honey all the time :)
  • robin68562
    robin68562 Posts: 116 Member
    I know the dilemma. I run into exactly the same problem whenever I go to a church meeting. It's a Mormon joke --- How many Mormons does it take to change a light bulb? The answer --- 12. One to say the opening prayer, one to say the closing prayer, one to change the light bulb and nine to bring the refreshments.
    I try to make it a rule to make just one trip to the buffet and take only one dessert. Some days I do better than others, but I'm still losing weight. Try exercising it off when you overdo it. That's exactly what I have to do today, after a weekend of dietary debauchery. Good luck and remember --- Discipline is knowing what you want.
  • amybrauch
    amybrauch Posts: 250 Member
    Plan to eat some of the treats, log it, go to the gym and burn some extra calories. You set yourself up for failure if you constantly deprive yourself.
  • robin68562
    robin68562 Posts: 116 Member
    Just say No. That's what we teach our kids - can we have the same will power we expect them to have against something as serious as drugs against a candy bar? I think so.

    The trouble with that philosophy is you don't need drugs to live, but you have to eat food, so it's always a temptation.
  • robin68562
    robin68562 Posts: 116 Member
    I have this all the time at work. I find it helps to look up the calorie content of things. Today is a good example; it's someones birthday, so she's brought in home made cupcakes at just under 400 cals each. When I think what else I could eat for that, it just isn't worth it in my mind.

    I would work in a cupcake! They're a major weakness, but they're pretty easy to figure out the calories. Just so long as they're not the jumbo ones like they sell at cupcake stores now for five dollars a pop. Ridiculous!
  • robin68562
    robin68562 Posts: 116 Member
    someone earlier this week said to pretend it had been made in a dirty kitchen! I am going to try that next time someone brings it!

    I like that idea. Pretend the people who made it live in absolute filth. A kitty litter box in the kitchen, cats straight out of the litter box and cockroaches crawling all over the counters. It works for me!
  • sho3girl
    sho3girl Posts: 10,799 Member
    Everyone realizes that it takes conscious effort to insert food into the mouth, chew, and swallow it, correct?

    So, depending upon which circumstance you find yourself in, your reaction will need to be different.

    Code Green (food is in the same room with you): do not walk over to it.
    Code Yellow (the food is on a table in front of you): do not reach out to pick up the food.
    Code Orange (the food has been placed in your hand): do not activate your bicep to bring the food to your mouth.
    Code Red (the food is being brought to your mouth): do not engage the muscles in your jaw, which will keep your mouth closed, thus preventing the food from entering it.

    **like ***
  • sportyredhead01
    sportyredhead01 Posts: 482 Member
    My workplace is extremely CHEAP and rarely has free food. But the rare chance we do have it I avoid it like the plague. I'm at the opposite end of the building and by the time I get down to the office kitchen I'm not sure who's
    touched it,
    spit on it,
    OR coughed on it.

    People think I'm odd for turning down free pizza. If odd is the worst thing they call me, I can live with that.
  • Tann19
    Tann19 Posts: 94 Member
    I grew up with home cooked meals, so if it's not home cooked I'm not very interested. At work most people don't like to cook so it's not that hard for me to resist. Even when it's a potluck most people don't cook, it's usually fast food or something from walmart.

    When there is home-cooking I just have a taste, I never have enough for a meal or to feel full. It's just a part of life that you will always have to deal with.
    I gain weight from my own cooking! no one else to blame:drinker:
  • eberg83
    eberg83 Posts: 6 Member
    This is brilliant. I have never thought of it this way. Granted, a donut feels a lot less risky than illegal drugs, but most of us are probably more likely to have to deal with the health consequences of being overweight vs. doing drugs, and both have very serious implications. So really... they are very similar. Thank you for the new outlook!!

    Just say No. That's what we teach our kids - can we have the same will power we expect them to have against something as serious as drugs against a candy bar? I think so.
  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member
    Just say No. That's what we teach our kids - can we have the same will power we expect them to have against something as serious as drugs against a candy bar? I think so.

    The two aren't comparable.

    Recreational drugs are dangerous, illegal, expensive, often hard to access and not necessary to support human life. Food is necessary, often cheap, legal, and omnipresent. There are often social pressures to eat.
  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member
    It's hard because deep down we sometimes want to cave, as do others (or at least they want to see us "enjoy" their food). Try brushing your teeth before such gatherings -- it's unpleasant to consume sweet things after applying toothpaste. There are some mouthwashes that instruct users not to eat for 30 minutes. You could try swigging bottled water.
  • melsinct
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
    I agree with the "just say no" philosophy. There is always a ton of free food at my work. Leftover meeting food (pastries, bagels, doughnuts), catered lunches of sandwiches, pasta salads, potato chips, etc., my admin keeps an enormous bowl of candy at her desk at all times...

    Temptation is everywhere and eventually you need to learn to live with it or you won't succeed in losing *and* maintaining that weight. I try and "just say no" the bulk of the time but do make exceptions. For example, cake at a retirement party = yes. Eating a danish just because it is there = no.
  • Zylahe
    Zylahe Posts: 772 Member
    "The person who mde that cake didn't wash their hands after going to the bathroom/ played with the cat/ dog/ bird. Just before they baked the cake."


    Just keep telling yourself that and

    "I'll eat the cake when I'm skinny."
    which is really a modification of..
    "I don't need to resist forever, just skip the cake today."

    One odd thing that helped my last week, was i grabbed a cookie at the start of the week to have the next day when my cals were under.
    Turned out it was safe sitting in my desk till friday (I had the brainwave that if i only ate 1/3 of the cookie it would be in my allowance)
    Knowing the cookie was sitting in my desk safe from other ppl made it easier for me to resist.
  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member
    I agree with the "just say no" philosophy.

    I have a feeling that if she could have adopted that attitude she already would have.
  • ahviendha
    ahviendha Posts: 1,291 Member
    pure strength of will. develop it! mine becomes stronger when saying "no" repeatedly to well meaning, but sabotaging efforts by my co-workers.

    sometimes they bring food to me anyways, and it goes either A) Trash or B) Boyfriend's belly.
  • Jesstruhan
    Jesstruhan Posts: 331 Member
    I have this, too. I'm also gluten free, so it helps to think "well, I can't eat it anyway" and keep walking. Or that it's not special because I have already tried it before. Once it's not a treat anymore because you don't want it or don't care to try it again, it helps.
  • doggiesnot
    doggiesnot Posts: 334 Member
    Advice:

    Bring your own food and snacks. Then, it's easier to say "No" because you have built in that excuse, i.e. "I brought my own".

    I have the same struggles at my office. They will "treat" us to randomly bringing in donuts, or kolaches, or even spontaneously cook sausage and eggs! I mean, if you've already eaten breakfast, who wants to eat AGAIN?!? Maybe people who aren't aware of what they're putting in their bodies, but not us MFP folk! ;)

    Think of food in terms of how it fuels your body, and not just on taste alone, and that will take you far on making healthy food choices.
  • Pheonix2012
    Pheonix2012 Posts: 61 Member
    The majority of my coworkers are aware that I am trying to make healthier choices, so it helps keep me accountable.
    If I end up do wanting one of the sweets I get the " Now you told me not to give you any cake anymore, so don't be mad at me" and half the time it will remind me why I'm not eating the sweets and I'll turn it down.
  • SHHitsKaty
    SHHitsKaty Posts: 301
    I just simply say no. I think, is this free piece of pizza or free cookie or free piece of cake really worth it? To me? No. I'd rather snack on a banana or an apple and be more proud of myself for not giving into temptation.

    I'm constantly asked at work every day, them knowing that I bring my own lunch and snacks in, "do you wanna go to Wendy's?" "do you wanna go to McDonalds?" "anyone want to go get a pizza?" No, no, no and no! Quit asking!
  • TexasTroy
    TexasTroy Posts: 477 Member
    Where can I get a job that feeds me every day? lol.
  • Zylahe
    Zylahe Posts: 772 Member
    Todays cake is carrot cake
    Brought in so the baker wouldn't eat it :explode: :explode:

    I just looked it up 1 " slice of carrot cake is 390 cals.....

    So not worth it ( i could make a tastier cake at home)
  • lporter229
    lporter229 Posts: 4,907 Member
    Ask yourself , "Will I be satisfied after I eat this?" If the answer is "yes" then eat it and log it and move on.
  • sarahbrown1015
    sarahbrown1015 Posts: 92 Member
    If I know it's coming (like birthday treats or something) I'll plan to have a little.

    Otherwise I don't think of it as free food. I think of it as free fat. That usually stops me.




    I will now think of it as free fat!!!!!!! Thank you!
  • kenazfehu
    kenazfehu Posts: 1,188 Member
    When I worked in an office, I'd avoid looking at treats and think about something I hate. "Bleh; it's all black licorice," I'd tell myself. Thoughts of black licorice are enough to ruin my appetite. I weighed less than I do now when I worked in an office. My kitchen is too close to my at-home work station, and I know exactly what goodies I have in there.

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