Resisting Treats at Work

Usually I resist, or take the smallest piece (and scrape off frosting if it is cake). Or skip lunch and just eat the treat instead (only for those really good ones, like that carmel cheesecake sounds heavenly).

The vast majority of time, the treats that are out are not ones that I really want. I don't like grocery store birthday cake, cookies, etc. So that's all easy to resist. If it's something that actually looks good, I'll have a bit. That happens maybe once a month.

this happened to me today at work, I walk to the other building and low and behold a four pack of chocolate cupcakes sitting on the table. I thought to myself the devil himself sitting on the table. Oh but i am proud to say I left the devil himself sitting right on that table and came back to my building and cut up my cucumbers and had my snack. It is hard but I only eat unhealthy when I feel they are truly worth it and I have had chocolate cupcakes before. I thought to myself they are probably old because people sit stuff out to get rid of them. I only waste my calories on things that I don't usually get to have.

i pre log before i go out to but sometimes i feel that people dont like me unless i eat what they bring in... yes it sounds stupid but once someone home made something and brought in some food and i didnt want any so she and a few others were off with me the whole day but when i eat what they do im suddenly liked

First, I pre-log and pack my food every work day. It is much easier to say no to unexpected treats in the break room knowing that my calories for the day are already accounted for, I have plenty of food, my treats are planned, and I don't need to deviate from that. Not one bite because, like you, one tiny taste has a tiny tendency to derail my careful planning.

That said....

If it's worth it, I make room for it.

Very rarely is it worth it. Crappy donuts from a vendor? No way. But if it was a homemade amazing caramel cheesecake? I'd absolutely have a small slice.

What about just eating the best treats, not the every day ones?

My coworker'son owns a bakery and depends on us for damage control. It's VERY hard !!!

My workplace has the worst food culture ever. There is a huge array of treats lying on top of various filing cabinets on a daily basis. For example, we have cake for *any* occasion. Birthdays, birthdays of offspring, going on leave, returning from vacation, its sunny today, i've been at the department for 2 years, project completed on time, even resignations. I mean really, resignation cake?

Most days I manage to ignore the treats. If necessary I will move stuff out of my direct line of sight.

If I do partake, my strategy is to break off a tiny bite size serving. That way, I am forced to think about whether it is really worth having that second or third bite.

It's rude to say NO to someone who expended few hours baking something to share it with you at work, I would take at least a small piece, it not gonna kill me. But when my buddies decide to have a pizza party at work, that smells like. Ordering 16 Large pizzas for 13 guys was a huge miscalculation...

This was a big issue for me a couple years ago when I started watching what I was eating. Seemed like every time I blinked someone was bringing in a box of doughnuts or passing around a box of chocolates. Having healthy snacks that I enjoyed on hand was a huge help then. I'm not so stressed about it all now though. If I really want a doughnut (or whatever is brought in), I'll work it in the daily plan, but I no longer feel deprived if I choose to not eat the doughnut (or whatever). I also no longer feel obligated to eat something someone brought in.

I'm lucky: we don't keep a lot of food in general, let alone treats at my job.

I also don't like to eat a lot while I work, as my job is on the physical side (I'm a massage therapist).

I find that if I eat too much at work, I feel heavy and I don't move as well.

That makes it easier for me to say no.

But I realize not everyone has that luxury or situation.

If it was me, I'd either take a small portion and split it with someone else or not have any at all.

I also cut down on hunger by making sure I'm well hydrated.

Sometimes I chew gum or have a mint during massage sessions.

It's rude to say NO to someone who expended few hours baking something to share it with you at work, I would take at least a small piece, it not gonna kill me. But when my buddies decide to have a pizza party at work, that smells like. Ordering 16 Large pizzas for 13 guys was a huge miscalculation...

I agree with this. If someone's gone to the effort, I'd feel seriously unmannerly if I refused. Watching my calories isn't a good enough reason to hurt someone's feelings, in my book.

After a few bad days and false starts, I began budgeting calories for unplanned snacks when planning my meals. I began with around 200-300 calories budgeted, but as time goes on and I'm less drawn to the sugary snacks, I'm finding that I need less calories budgeted. I'm currently running to around 100-150. I just realised I've halved the amount, and I'm feeling pretty good about it!