Workplace saboteurs...

Bravo to those of you who are able to fit in certain foods, then call it a day. There are many people who just can't do that. Bravo to those of you who have enough willpower to just say no, some of just just do not have that.

I have seen so many snarky remarks on so many posts, and almost hear the eyes rolling (ex. "Um, just eat one and fit it in your calories, it's called willpower, try it sometime). I won't be able to be trusted to just have one of anything for a very long time. Try telling an alcoholic to "just have a sip of beer and get over it".

I am very happy for those of you who are able to control yourselves. If many of us here were able to control ourselves, we wouldn't be here in the first place. Many times it isn't about the donut. It's what the donut "does" to us. It can emotionally medicate many of us, and so 1 donut turns into 5 donuts when we eat it and old feelings of food and emotions come flooding back. And I personally don't want to fit 5, or even 1 donut into my day, because then I'll be hungry later when I can eat 300 less calories, than if I hadn't eaten the donut.

OP, what I do at work is bring something satisfying to eat in case there are crazy snacks around the office. I have 90 or 100 calorie snacks to eat, and I can say I've been good with not caving into temptation. There was a meeting a couple weeks ago during which a bag of dove chocolates was being passed around. I have a friend who can eat 1 and she is satisfied. I would eat half the bag, and then wallow in self loathing.

Different strokes for different folks; some will be able to do things in moderation, some will always have to be extremely careful, as the risk of falling back into old habits can be very high.

Well, there's the fact that alcoholism is a disease... eating one cupcake or a slice of pizza is not. Nobody is intentionally trying to trigger dramatic emotional outbursts by putting a dozen donuts on the break table. If people can't function properly at a work setting, perhaps they should remain at home, safe and sound from the "saboteurs" of the outside world.

High five.

Double-High five.

MAke sure to log your high fives in your exercise. Maybe make some room for another slice of something?

Just so I get this straight... If I suffer from disordered eating and I compulsively under eat I have a legitimate mental health problem, but if I compulsivley over eat I'm just a lazy whiner. Got it.

I don't think anyone said that people who compulsively overeat are lazy whiners. That's not the case. It is true, however, that people with all sorts of issues (alcoholism, anorexia, binge eating, etc.) have to learn how to live with their issues and cannot blame others for their failures. We have to accept personal responsibility for our issues and deal with them, not expect others to cater to our "needs".

Most of the people telling everyone to enjoy the treats in moderation are some of the more successful people on here. They learned from experience that deprivation and saying that they "can't" control themselves usually leads to failure. For people who are compulsive overeaters and binge eaters, they have to learn to detach food from emotions. It can be done and it has been done, but it takes hard work and it's about so much more than just the food. People who just avoid their triggers are probably going to fail in the end because there will always be triggers around and the day will come where they stop avoiding them and give in. If you don't learn to have a healthy relationship with food and you keep saying you "can't" control yourself, then you will probably lose control at some point.

I know this from experience. I struggle with binge eating. I still fail sometimes. I don't begrudge the people at work for bringing in food and I don't worry about nit picking. I've done a lot of work to have a healthier relationship with food and I am mostly at a point where I recognize my urges and know how to keep them from getting out of control. This comes from years of working on my mental health. I realize that my problems with food are a mental struggle, but they are my mental struggle and I blame no one when I fail.

Someone brought donuts on Monday, we had a food day on Wednesday, and someone else brought cake today. I avoided the donuts because donuts are not a favorite of mine. I participated in the food day and brought a fairly healthy dish and indulged in some homemade cheesecake on Wednesday. I plan on having a piece of cake with lots of frosting today and I'm getting Jimmy John's for lunch. I haven't had the urge to binge at all all week because I didn't feel like I was being deprived and I have learned to make reasonable food choices based on my nutritional needs and my taste preferences, not based on how I'm feeling at the moment.

How awful. People are trying to be generous and kind and bringing in food that they enjoy in the hopes that their colleagues enjoy it too. What terrible people. How could they be so rude and unthinking as to try to do something nice for the people they spend 8-12 hours per day with, 5-6 days per week.

Really?

This isn't sabotage, this is called "being generous". When it is your turn to bring in the treats, bring something you like (healthy, low cal, whatever), but when it is someone else doing the treating, accept that it isn't going to necessarily match your tastes.

Do what I do, say "no thanks, I'm on a gluten free diet". Most people don't have a clue what gluten is. I've gotten out of so many less than great food choices this way. But once the public is more informed on gluten, this may not work. But I figure i'll have time to come up with something else before then,. :laugh:

It would be great if even the people ON a gluten free diet knew what gluten was LOL:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/06/gluten-free-people-have-no-idea-what-gluten-is_n_5273980.html?ir=Comedy

So dang true!! :laugh:

I just wanted to add that I understand that my emotional problems with food are my problem. I also don't believe that people trying to share food is directly aimed at me, or trying to sabotage me. What I don't like is people seeming flippant about other's struggles with compulsive eating and saying basically 'Oh, get over it." like it is nothing. To me, it sounded as if the OP was having a small pity party (which we ALL do sometimes over one thing or another) and was lamenting the difficulties of having to resisit temptaion every day. It's hard. For some it's harder than for others. A little understanding goes a long way. I'm going through a depressive episode myself at the moment and food is my self-medication of choice. My problem? Yes, definitely. Do I need someone to imply that I need to just suck it up? No. Especially not right now. For what it's worth, I'm not angry or butt hurt or anything like that, I'm just stating how I feel.

I think all people really want is for you to 1) thank them for bringing something in 2) tell them how delicious it was. Take a bite, say you have to get back to work, and then bury it in your trashcan.

Or, you could just bring some healthy options. I like air popped popcorn,and if you have a microwave in your office, you can always have that available.

My workplace has a dreadful food culture. Lots of junk food treats lying on top of filing cabinets everywhere.

Today I spotted Toblerone Mini's, Smarties, Kettle Chips, a bar of dark chocolate, Skittles, Haribo gummy candy, Malteasers, Doritos, custard filled doughnuts, eclairs, and two cakes. One was labellled "Death By Chocolate" and the other was a Victoria Sponge.

We have cake and cookies to mark any occasion. Birthday, birthday of offspring, going on leave, returning from vacation, project completed on time, even resignations. I mean really. Resignation cake?

I work one day remotely from home and am always amused by the emails inviting me to help myself to treats lying around the office.

:bigsmile: What I have learned to do over the years, I bring in a healthy alternative for everyone to enjoy. I place it next to whatever junk food or temptation food. Or I will just bring something healthy for myself. When anyone asks why am I not having cake etc.
I just say that my stomach just cannot handle that kind of food today. Or I will say. I have already eaten. (which is true) Or I just say gee it looks good but I will have to pass on that today. Never say that You are counting your calories. Or that you are watching what you eat. (Believe me. someone will try to sabotage your efforts) :grumble:

Temptation or not, if you want a treat, you make it work. Skip breakfast or dinner. Heck, I had a piece of pie this morning for my coworkers birthday. And I am having another one now because CHOCLATE PIE!!!! It's all a matter of training yourself to be responsible for your choices.

This smart person is right. It's just a matter of smarts.

It wouldn't be a big deal if it was just temptation. It does seem as soon as you refuse a treat you are the topic of conversation....and if you refuse it because you are trying to eat better it's apparently a total insult to the people eating it.

So yeah, it's only annoying when people make a big deal out of it, on either side. If I say no to cake, it doesn't mean I don't eat cake or that it's your cue to talk about how it wont kill you.

Couldn't this be replaced somehow? Like instead of staying together for 2 hours while eating and talking, better get a training session with the whole team and sweat -the previous workplace meal- out, or maybe some outdoor teambuilding activities?

I think this is a great idea - honestly. I can't wait to see their faces when I suggest this the next time someone pipes up with "what about a wee team lunch - for a treat". :devil: (Honestly, why didn't I think of this before!!)

We had a meeting last week where someone brought these giant cinnamon rolls. Of course the head of the meeting was late, so I sat there with this box in front of me for 30 minutes. I got through it by focusing on having a tea latte once I got out. Just focused on that tea latte. And I got out, and had my 130 cal tea latte.

Can I say something? Am I the only one a tad put off by the "tough love" comments as a response to food addiction? I mean if tough love works on every alcoholic, meth and crack head out there, there would be no need for Betty Ford or rehab right?

Im just saying, tough love definitely has its place, but if resisting bad food is enough of an issue to make a topic about it, then maybe its a bit deeper than "just say no" - my .02 cents. But in the end, its whatever works.

I have a very bad soda addiction that I'm fighting every single day, so I understand how "just saying no" can be difficult. Basically, if you put me in New Jack City, make me Chris Rock and turn the crack into soda...thats me.

Can I say something? Am I the only one a tad put off by the "tough love" comments as a response to food addiction? I mean if tough love works on every alcoholic, meth and crack head out there, there would be no need for Betty Ford or rehab right?

Im just saying, tough love definitely has its place, but if resisting bad food is enough of an issue to make a topic about it, then maybe its a bit deeper than "just say no" - my .02 cents. But in the end, its whatever works.

I have a very bad soda addiction that I'm fighting every single day, so I understand how "just saying no" can be difficult. Basically, if you put me in New Jack City, make me Chris Rock and turn the crack into soda...thats me.

Food =/= drugs. Not even close.

I was a 4-6 can of soda a day drinker. It's laziness, trust me. Grow up.

In for sabotage....

The workplace is the number one factor in why people find it difficult to a) lose weight and b) find balance in life. Sometimes you just have to say NO to the invites out and say NO to drinks after and say NO to that homemade cake and say No to the candy in the dish. Sometimes you must say YES. We have to find the balance and when you want it (health/fitness/reaching a goal) bad enough, you will know when to say NO and when to say YES.