How to handle co-worker sabotage?

OMG I have this same issue, one of my co-workers goes to Costco and buys gigantic packs of sugary candy things. She's a bit sort of mumsie to the guys I work with.
I used to take them, just a jelly snake or something, but now, just say, thank you but I do not want it.
Also mention that you are going sugar free. Or gluten free.
If it is handmade, I know it's hard to say no, they put a lot of effort in, say 'ok just half' or 'a small slice'
If they say, if I have one you have one! No, let's go halvsies!

Hope this helps a little bit!

You know whether these treats will fit into your daily allowance. If they do, have some, if not - don't!

It doesn't take long for people to realise you aren't interested in that food and will stop asking. In my case it has also come with some eye-rolling or comments about me being a salad eater or something else ridiculous.

Trust me, when the weight starts to come off their jealousy and asking you for advice will far outweigh any negative comments or judgements! :bigsmile:

I find responses like "I've already had so much Xmas junk food lately, I have to stop eating it at work!" or "no thanks, all this sugar has been giving me mood swings" don't invite the same attention as talking about a diet.

I just say no thank you and leave it at that. No explaination needed. If they're hurt about you not taking their food they have bigger issues at bay.

At my work, the goods always go in the same spot and I can avoid them if I take the back entrance! If I'm under serious pressure and don't wan't to upset someone, I cut off a TINY bite, tell them how good it is and then explain that I'm on a diet and can't have anymore. If they persist, I tell them that I'll take it and put it in my garbage can!

Just say NO!

The only person who can sabotage your efforts is yourself.

I have had issues with that too, it doesn't matter how many times I tell them I am changing my eating habits they still push junk in my face. Ugh! Stay strong and if it fits in your calories and you think its worth it do it and if not dont

You are in control of what you put in your mouth. I work in the food industry most if not all the menu is not good for you. People bring treats to work all the time. It's up to me what I do with it all. I can't blame everyone else who isn't on this lifestyle. I have to do for me and let them live their life how they want to. I can only control what I do for my life.

Can you just be honest and let them know that you are watching your calories/what you eat, but you appreciate the offer anyway? I am not sure if you want your coworkers knowing your business regarding that, though.

In the end, it really just comes down to having self control and saying no when people try to guilt you into eating. It's not really your job to eat something you don't really want in order to spare someone's feelings. Most people should understand if you say "no thanks" in a polite manner. (or at least, I would hope!) You can always say something like "Oh, I already ate lunch, but thanks anyway!"

It was hard in the beginning, but after you say "no thank you" enough times, they just "get it". I'm now that person that everyone in my large office (300+ staff) knows as the 'weight loss guru' and nobody offers me anything tempting anymore. Sometimes it's a LITTLE annoying as I'm not on a diet, it was literally a lifestyle change, but they stop.

My recommendation to you is that you avoid the snacks table if it's a cocktail party, politely sing happy birthday for a colleague but return to your desk when the cake is served, avoid morning teas, order something healthy if you're out to lunch with colleagues or clients, always have a bottle or a glass of water on hand, and always be ready to say "no thank you" to that one person in the office who is jealous of your strong motivation to get healthier.

Congratulations for recognising this issue before the holidays really kick in and I wish you all the best with it!

when I used to live in Saudi I used to get this kind of thing all the time, and it wasn't sabotage, just Saudi hospitality. It's rude to refuse food (in Saudi culture) so I'd take some "for later" and put it in a small bag or wrap it in a napkin and put it in my handbag. By the end of a typical week I'd have a handbag full of all kinds of food that I took home "for later" and I'd stick it in the bin.

For homemade things where you don't want to cause offence, I'd suggest that. For other stuff just say "no thanks I'm not hungry right now." I find that "no thanks I'm trying to be healthy" is taken as meaning "yes I really want that but I'm depriving myself" and people feel bad for you so they offer it to you again or try to persuade you to eat it (in most cases this is done because they want you to be happy, in a few cases its deliberate sabotage, but most people are just trying to be nice but don't realise how important it is to you to stick to your eating plan) so you need to give them the message that you really don't want it and wouldn't enjoy it.

I am allergic to wheat so it's been easy to pass on the goodies this year. My coworkers picked up on my "strange" eating habits and one of them asked me why I'm on a diet. I explained the reasons, now they make fun of my home cooked meals and trash talk behind my back honestly I guess it really depends on the maturity of coworks, mine seem to have none.

This happens to me all the time. For the past 9 months, I've kept saying "no, thank you" over and over again. They seem to get the point now, and have finally stopped offering me every goody that passes through the door. Stay strong.

I have a container of fresh fruits and vegetables on my desk and I always just say "No thanks I am changing the way I eat"
You don't have to feel bad if their feelings are hurt. Never apologize. Never explain. You don't owe them anything.
If they push it. Repeat again. " No thanks I am changing the way I eat. Smile and move on.
Don't eat anything at work you didn't bring with you. Otherwise it never stops.

Funny, some of the veggies are fruits have the same caloric value of cookie and cakes.

Oh the irony.

Yes, but at least the fruits and vegetables help you meet your daily nutritional requirements as part of your overall diet. Calories aren't the only thing that matters in a healthy lifestyle.

This is a personal Pet Peeve of mine and something that makes me really defensive. I cannot stand people who try to sabotage those of us trying to improve ourselves - nice or not they know what they are doing . To me it is no different than someone in a bar buying an alcoholic a drink.

My approach is an unapologetic one and I don't care who I piss off. Once someone is rejected I guarantee they won't offer you food again, so I feel the direct honest approach is best.

But what I have also found for pushy annoying types is to not take the soap box stance, but take a more non-threatening, passive stance in your response. If you are the type to lecture friends and co-workers on healthy eating, then human nature being what it is, they all silently want to see you fail in order to know that not even really fit healthy, people can avoid tasty junk food too - thus giving themselves justification to eat more crap.

So my approach goes something like this.
Fat Secretary - "Try my home made Smores you will LOVE them!"
Me - "Thanks, but I am good".
Fat Secretary "Oh c'mon, everyone loves chocolate and marshmallow - be honest - you are no better than the rest of us - you can afford one stupid smore - geez!"
Me- "Oh you are SO right Tenisha! I LOVE junk food! I would eat that whole plate of mouth watering smores all by myself. But I went to the doctor recently and he told me to watch my cholesterol and sugar, so as much as it kills me and as weak of a human being as I am, I am going to have to pass - I am really sorry they look absolutely delightful!"
Fat Secretary - "Oh that stinks - you are no fun!"
Me - "I know, I know - but hey it means there are more left for you and the other secretaries to enjoy! Smore On Tenisha!"

No one's quilting me into eating crap junk food I don't want to eat and I will spin it on them with a smile on my face and maintain my healthy regimen and no one gets offended in the process.

My 2 cents