Avoiding free food at work?
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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.
It sounds like you have supportive co-workers. Lucky you.0 -
Ask yourself is it's worth it. Most common foods, like store bought cakes and doughnuts never taste as good as you expect them to and are just calorie bombs.
Plus things that are common aren't really treats... it's just food.0 -
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.
I agree, great analogy!!!!!0 -
It is actually...Food is only necessary if you are hungry - so bring your own....Cheap or free or legal does not mean you HAVE to eat it...Singing in the streets is legal, but I don't do that either...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.
Flu germs are free, and I don't want them....Omnipresent? Because there is a bridge do I have to jump off it everytime I see it? So why eat food just because it's there?
As for social pressures to eat - if I expect my teenagers to stand up to social pressure and so no to drugs, why can I not say no to free, junky, "not what I budgeted or need" food?
And yeah, my office constantly has food and cake and treats - and not surprisingly, a high number of seriously overweight, obese and unfit people.....0 -
It is actually...Food is only necessary if you are hungry - so bring your own....Cheap or free or legal does not mean you HAVE to eat it...Singing in the streets is legal, but I don't do that either...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.
Flu germs are free, and I don't want them....Omnipresent? Because there is a bridge do I have to jump off it everytime I see it? So why eat food just because it's there?
As for social pressures to eat - if I expect my teenagers to stand up to social pressure and so no to drugs, why can I not say no to free, junky, "not what I budgeted or need" food?
Agreed! That's why many people are overweight, because they feel like they have to say yes to everything that is put in front of them. Look at the majority of the people you work with, if you work in an office environment, I'd bet over half of them are overweight and out of shape. Mostly because of the free food, not getting up and moving around, not going to the gym after they've sat a desk all day, etc.0 -
I use to work for a doctors office and we always had food in the kitchen. When I first start my journey I would think long and hard before eating anyting that I did not bring into the office. I would spend half the day thinking do I really want _____, do I really need ____, How will I feel after I eat _______,ect.. I would do this over and over and by then either someone else had ate it or it was time to go home. It gets easier but at first it is really hard. Also I always make sure to have snacks that are healthy and that I actually crave and enjoy eating and I always bring my lunch so I have to excuse to eat what's in the kitchen. Good luck and stay strong!!!0
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Ugh! There is literally ALWAYS free food around my work. Chips, candy, cookies, soda, ice cream...grr! It's so hard some days!0
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When I manage to avoid the pizza/donuts/etc at work--and I usually do avoid it--I make sure to give myself a big pat on the back and replay my "victory over junk" in my mind. I would wear a big gold medal around my neck if I could! Then the next time someone offers junk I think about how good I felt when I was strong , vs feeling guilty for giving in. Seems to help me.0
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I wish I saw this three hours ago. I would have took a picture of the table in my office 3 dozen dunkin donuts. I walked past them and avoided the middle table all morning. They are now gone and none went in my mouth ;-)!0
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Just imagine your coworkers' cats walking on their kitchen counters......after grubbing in the litter box. Makes potluck so much easier.0
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For donuts and bagles [other regular office staples], I just get angry and envision the diabetes they give.0
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Children in Need coming up in our office soon, cake bakes, tins of chocs etc, i find if i dont even start im fine but if i have one choc then i forget to stop!0
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My office is the same way. Honestly, the only thing that's worked for me is just making up my mind not to eat it. It is hard at first, but for me it got easier after a while. And I don't always say no. Of I really want it, then I have a little. But if I'm really just thinking about the calories then I skip it.0
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If it's at meetings, don't get to the meeting too early. Get there right on time, so there isn't time to get a donut or pastry.0
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Toss it in the trash when no one is looking. lol.0
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It's really the hardest test there is! Most likely you've already planned out your calories for the day, right? Focus on that, because honestly one little derail easily leads to others. Plus, after digging deep and walking proudly past the free food, you will feel SO good about yourself. Brag to us on MFP on how good you did! That's what we're here for.0
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My work has food days once a month, where everyone is invited to bring something to share. They set up in the break room. I don't bring anything, don't eat anything anyone else brought, and eat lunch at my desk that day so I'm not tempted!0
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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.
Exactly what I do. It helps to put things into perspective if I can see how many calories what I want is going to cost me. I also keep a box of 90 calorie cereal bars in my desk or rich tea biscuits and have one of those to take my mind off the other treats on offer.0 -
If it's something you don't actually want to eat, here are my strategies for it:
1. Stay physically away from it if you can.
2. Chew gum
3. Drink a lot of water
4. Think of all the germs that might be on it from coworkers handling it.
Even if you want some, but only want a little bit, take what you want, and then walk away from the supply. Good luck!
:laugh: :laugh: #4:laugh::laugh: I do this all the time!!! I just imagine that some sweaty dirty guy just stuck his hand in the candy bowl or something!! Works for me!!! I walk right on by!! :happy:0 -
I'm a nurse and patient's family are always bringing in boxes of chocolates and biscuits to say thank you. It's impossible for me to say no so I will have one or two and then log it straight away. it becomes a problem if you become greedy. enjoy everything you eat and exercise. x
I work in healthcare also and sometimes getting a break to eat properly can be an issue and if there is treats around then it's on for young and old.0 -
There are donuts in our kitchenette EVERYDAY!! And....my desk is the closest to them.
If you really want something, then fit it in your calories for the day. If you aren't depriving yourself, then they eventually lose their allure....I RARELY have any of the stuff that's at the office anymore. Mind you, I couldn't say that when there was halloween candy here. But I fit in my 2 little chocolate bars (or 4) everyday and I've still been on track with my weight loss.
The less you stress about the food, the less of a hold it has on you. 0 -
It's possible that you've p*ssed somone off and your co-workers are trying to poison you. Just remember that.0
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I just bring my own food and pre-log my entire day so I know ahead of time that I have no room to eat any of that junk people brought in. Unless I DO want it, and in that case I still pre-log and work the rest of my food around the junk.
This is exactly what I do.
I can usually trust that if I have an early morning meeting and my boss says they'll be providing "breakfast," it actually means he'll be picking up a tray of donuts. Crap food is easy to bring to work. Bring your own.
I do this too! Log everything in the morning. It really helps me stick to it!0 -
I find it easy, when people bring in things they've made themselves, not to eat them. Mostly because I've tried eating some of the things people have brought in themselves and it was AWFUL. Plus, you just don't know what's in it, where it's been, how they cook, how clean their house is, etc. Not to be rude, you just don't, lol.0
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There were free donut holes offered at a meeting this morning, and I didn't have ANY!! I felt so great. Then right after, a coworker offered me a piece of birthday cake, and I did accept a very small slice for that. Made me even happier that I didn't have the donut holes!0
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My workplace has a lot of free food available on a regular basis. Treats for meetings. Treats for birthdays and other special occasions. With my sweet tooth, I am having a terrible time saying no to these treats! Any advice?
I have just walked past free iced sugar cookies three times today. That's what you have to do, just keep walking past it! Good luck!0 -
There were free donut holes offered at a meeting this morning, and I didn't have ANY!! I felt so great. Then right after, a coworker offered me a piece of birthday cake, and I did accept a very small slice for that. Made me even happier that I didn't have the donut holes!
birthday cake > donuts
:drinker:0 -
If I really want it, I tell myself that if it's there at the end of the day, I can eat some. It's worked really well because usually it's gone by the end of the day, and if it's there and I can avoid it, I just go home... and if I still really want it, I eat a little It works. You have to live your life 0
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before you go into the area with the treats, start chewing a piece of mint gum. This way you're already chewing on something and the flavor will make it so any treats you try to eat afterwards don't taste so good0
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Will power. I chew a ton of sugarless gum too..0
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