Working in a restaurant
trsttg
Posts: 21 Member
Hey, I just joined the group yesterday because I read a lot and like what you have to say.
Anyway - I'm a restaurant manager. Everyday I am surrounded by cheesecake, cookies, ice cream, you name it. When I'm working an AM shift, these things don't get to me. I can resist them. But when I'm working a PM shift and I'm here til 11 oclock at night, I cave. I've been logging consistently for 17 days, and some days I just log whatever ice cream I eat. That's fine. But then once I've opened myself up to the possibility of eating one bowl of ice cream, it inevitably leads to a second bowl. It's like my brain goes into auto-pilot and I just do the movements and find myself eating more.
I really, really want to stop this behavior. Not only is it pushing me over my calorie/fat limits, it's just not healthy. I recently found out I have pre-hypertension and while I've been able to get my eating under control, this monkey is still on my back. And I make excuses - all kinds of excuses. I am excellent at making excuses for myself and why I should be able to eat x, y, or z.
Anyone have words of wisdom or something that's worked for them before?
Anyway - I'm a restaurant manager. Everyday I am surrounded by cheesecake, cookies, ice cream, you name it. When I'm working an AM shift, these things don't get to me. I can resist them. But when I'm working a PM shift and I'm here til 11 oclock at night, I cave. I've been logging consistently for 17 days, and some days I just log whatever ice cream I eat. That's fine. But then once I've opened myself up to the possibility of eating one bowl of ice cream, it inevitably leads to a second bowl. It's like my brain goes into auto-pilot and I just do the movements and find myself eating more.
I really, really want to stop this behavior. Not only is it pushing me over my calorie/fat limits, it's just not healthy. I recently found out I have pre-hypertension and while I've been able to get my eating under control, this monkey is still on my back. And I make excuses - all kinds of excuses. I am excellent at making excuses for myself and why I should be able to eat x, y, or z.
Anyone have words of wisdom or something that's worked for them before?
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Replies
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I pack snacks I am okay with for work and being out and about. I also work really hard to drink lots of water/tea. These two things usually help me keep cravings at bay. I also have realized I eat more when I am tired or emotionally negative. I try to get enough sleep, and I am working on incorporating healthier options for dealing with the emotions like exercising, keeping myself busy, or playing mind games (e.g. "they didn't mean that because I'm clearly a fabulous individual" - basically lying to myself as necessary). If I am really struggling, sometimes I will tell myself that it's okay to have it, I'll just have it tomorrow because of x,y,z. I usually don't want anything by the time "tomorrow" comes, or if I still do, I have a whole day to work it in for an appropriate amount instead of too much.
Obviously I don't always succeed, so the second part is learning to forgive myself when I screw up, and move on rather than beating myself up over the failure to resist temptation. This is helping me start on the wagon with the next meal instead of the next day or even week. Good luck to you!0 -
Have guys make you a huge salad or being oatmeal. Or go really light on the meals during the day and account for it at night0
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Hey, I just joined the group yesterday because I read a lot and like what you have to say.
Anyway - I'm a restaurant manager. Everyday I am surrounded by cheesecake, cookies, ice cream, you name it. When I'm working an AM shift, these things don't get to me. I can resist them. But when I'm working a PM shift and I'm here til 11 oclock at night, I cave. I've been logging consistently for 17 days, and some days I just log whatever ice cream I eat. That's fine. But then once I've opened myself up to the possibility of eating one bowl of ice cream, it inevitably leads to a second bowl. It's like my brain goes into auto-pilot and I just do the movements and find myself eating more.
I really, really want to stop this behavior. Not only is it pushing me over my calorie/fat limits, it's just not healthy. I recently found out I have pre-hypertension and while I've been able to get my eating under control, this monkey is still on my back. And I make excuses - all kinds of excuses. I am excellent at making excuses for myself and why I should be able to eat x, y, or z.
Anyone have words of wisdom or something that's worked for them before?
The first thing I would do is to attempt to identify WHY you are doing this.0 -
The "why" of it is an excellent point and has many levels. An unhealthy relationship with food was modeled for me since childhood. Probably trying to cover up some sadness unconsciously. I'm sure there's more to it than that.
I've been talking to my therapist about it for several months, and she gave me the HALT method (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired). Sometimes it works, sometimes I ignore it.0 -
The first thing I would do is to attempt to identify WHY you are doing this.
That was my first thought too. Why are you able to resist in the morning, vs why does it have such an allure at night? Some possibilities:
- social pressure or an upbringing stating that morning isn't "dessert time", but night time is ok
- end of day = wiped out, stressed out, used all your energy and willpower dealing with work, none left to say no to tasty looking food
- if closing time, rationalizing "they're just going to throw it out anyway, shouldn't waste food"
- depending on your schedule, you may just be bored around then? or looking for a break/chance to socialize/get off your feet?
While you figure it out, I assume you're still logging the food; that way when you work that shift you can account for it in your daily calorie allotment if nothing else, or know roughly by how much you're likely to go over.0 -
When I waited tables, employees were only really allowed to eat during their assigned break time (if it was slow enough that we got a break). I worked 12 hour shifts sometimes without a break, and by then I was so exhausted I didn't want to eat anyway.
Is there any way you can just keep yourself so busy that you don't even take a 2nd glance at the sweets?0 -
I'm going to work a night shift again tonight. I'm just going to be determined to not let the boredom/craving control me. Thanks for all the input.0
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The "why" of it is an excellent point and has many levels. An unhealthy relationship with food was modeled for me since childhood. Probably trying to cover up some sadness unconsciously. I'm sure there's more to it than that.
I've been talking to my therapist about it for several months, and she gave me the HALT method (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired). Sometimes it works, sometimes I ignore it.
Good luck to you.
I'd be bull****ting you and everyone else if I pretended to have a solution to this. It sounds like you're getting therapy with regards to this, which is a great idea and hopefully you keep working through it.
Take it one evening/shift at a time.0
