desk job = major food temptations

I work nights. Desk job in IT field. No vending machines but there is the bimonthly potluck or someone retiring. Tons of food and cake EVERYWHERE! When that happens, I stare at the leftover goodies and go into "Hiro mode" from Heroes. Ahhh...nemesis... and usually resist.

I keep healthy snacks, low cal, in my desk for just those moments. And I have a large water bottle that I keep full and sip throughout the day.

This! Plus every once in a while in indulge in a little bit so that I don't feel totally deprived (and to remind myself that it's not that great anyway).

Here is what helps me combat the temptations... I don't bring cash for one... I can't raid the vending machine if I don't have anything to raid it with.

They just installed a card swipe on our soda machine...yikes!

Aaaaaagreed! Here's what I do:

I have combated this by spreading my snacks and meals out to even intervals throughout the day. This is what my day usually looks like:

8am - Breakfast

9:30-10am - banana

11am - protein snack

noon - lunch, and I usually creep on here, so I make sure it takes me the whole hour to eat. I find eating my meals slowly keeps me feeling full longer.

2pm - another snack

3pm - coffee

4pm - emergency snack (which is usually a 100 cal pack of something) on non-work out days, or another protein snack on days I work out, which is directly after work at 5pm.

I always have a full glass of water or tea at my desk, as well, and if I start getting really bored I take a bathroom break or I go walk around the building for my coffee break.

It's HARD to combat those cravings and boredom eating things. You have to keep on keeping on, though, and figure out what works for you!

I put on something like 10lbs when I started my desk job. Not only can you not walk away from the goodies that are plonked on meeting desk behind you, but sometimes you greatly reduce your activity too (going from a 'on my feet all day' to 'on my bum all day' job).

I plan my whole day before I go to work, bring everything I am to eat for work. If I get tempted, I don't eat it until I've logged it. (It's a good deterrent and I won't go overboard if I can see the calories adding up before I eat it).

I've got a job that's a desk job most of the year. I hear you about the temptations. You have to keep snacks around and lots of water. Get a water bottle that you can refill and give yourself time limits to when you have to go refill it (i.e. you have to drink it during that time). Cold water helps keep cravings away.

You don't have to stop yourself from eating anything and everything. Although it's better to cut soda out completely, if you haven't reached that point and you actually go to the vending machine, get a diet soda or a healthier snack.

Try to keep things that last at your desk, like nuts (which help fight off chocolate cravings, but don't eat them all!), dark chocolate, and so on. I actually have tons of healthy tips on the walls around my desk to help me to remember to eat healthy. I also ripped a page out of a magazine that is about being at a desk job and having cravings and why you have them. You can find stuff like this all over the internet. Make your desk a healthy place (or at least a nagging reminder to be healthier)!!

What's interesting, is in some office location jobs?

They reward with...

...food...

What's up with that? I'd rather not get a pat on the head like a good little doggy and fed with treats.
Pay me, let me go home and do something worth while, outside of the job.

Yes please.

This is so true. To make matters worse, there are only a couple of us who worry about our health in my entire building...no joke!! Everyone here is either overweight, out of shape, and/or a smoker. There is always cake, cookies, desserts, and all sorts of junk food in the break room. Not to mention all the pot lucks and burger/brat parties!

I get stronger each time I resist the temptations!!!

I feel like what you described is every office on earth. It truly is disgusting the way that people take care of themselves without even realizing it.

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I love your idea! I'm thinking that throwing the food container would be good exercise as well as an emotional outlet. Right now, I'm trying to focus only on calories. I'm eating what I want, just not as much as I want. It forces me to think of ways to balance the number of calories with the amount of food I can have. Like the granola bar that really doesn't fill me up is 140 calories, whereas the slice of cinnamon bread is only 90 calories. Bread works better for me. And some people have mentioned soda. I prefer diet drinks, but find that after I've had one that I'm actually hungrier than before. I read somewhere that artificial sweeteners actually trigger a low blood sugar response.

But, I've only lost 2 lbs in 12 days . . . that should tell you something.

Try cold water instead. If that does not fix it, try green tea. I am sure you can control your munching cravings in check.
Best wishes

food carving is my biggest problem ! and i am more of an emotional eater

When I just started out eating healthy, I did an internship, it was also a desk job at an office. They would ALWAYS have chocolate, cookies and cake on the table right in front of me. I hated it. I would always make sure to have healthy snacks on me, so every time someone would offer me something, I would quickly sayno (give myself no time to think about it) and eat something healthy. If I really, really, wanted it, I told myself "1 cookie, and thats it" and that would work for me. I would have that cookie, enjoy it and be done with it.

When you have a vending machine, that is terrible. I have a similar problem now, traveling to and from school I pass a few places where I could buy snacks or other sh... I try to leave my cash at home and m debit cards.

I'm glad our vending machine is a 5 minute walk each way for me. Like others I keep low cal snacks in my draw. I find green tea helps also.