office worker's vent
not_superiority
Posts: 7 Member
I'm new to the group but not paleo. I try for 80/20 and it's been working out, ~100 lbs down since last July.
I recently started working in an office, coming from a long career as a chef - where you have more work than time and multitasking isn't optional. Lunch breaks were mythical and being able to eat a meal at all on shift was a luxury. Eating paleo ended up being an easy transition in that environment - bring a smoothie and chug it or wait until you get home. No big deal.
The environment I'm in now is the polar opposite! I have tons of time to finish my work, which is nice; and I have an hour for lunch and two 15 minute breaks. I almost don't know how to handle it. However, I eat my lunch in the break room with some of the other folks in my office who don't go out to eat.
My coworkers WORSHIP junk food. Cake every week. Family size bags of chips for lunch. I've been here three months and I'm still getting unsolicited comments and advice about my eating habits. "Some candy won't hurt you." "So-and-so made this cake and will be really hurt if you don't eat it." "You're going to get fat like us eventually." "Why don't you eat cheese with your broccoli? You HAVE to have cheese with broccoli."
I don't really struggle with temptation, I came to hate restaurant food and junk food through my ex-career. I guess I have to vent about the people around me. It kind of sucks.
I recently started working in an office, coming from a long career as a chef - where you have more work than time and multitasking isn't optional. Lunch breaks were mythical and being able to eat a meal at all on shift was a luxury. Eating paleo ended up being an easy transition in that environment - bring a smoothie and chug it or wait until you get home. No big deal.
The environment I'm in now is the polar opposite! I have tons of time to finish my work, which is nice; and I have an hour for lunch and two 15 minute breaks. I almost don't know how to handle it. However, I eat my lunch in the break room with some of the other folks in my office who don't go out to eat.
My coworkers WORSHIP junk food. Cake every week. Family size bags of chips for lunch. I've been here three months and I'm still getting unsolicited comments and advice about my eating habits. "Some candy won't hurt you." "So-and-so made this cake and will be really hurt if you don't eat it." "You're going to get fat like us eventually." "Why don't you eat cheese with your broccoli? You HAVE to have cheese with broccoli."
I don't really struggle with temptation, I came to hate restaurant food and junk food through my ex-career. I guess I have to vent about the people around me. It kind of sucks.
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I can totally relate. This is our lunchroom on a random Tuesday:
I used to have massive issues with temptation, and seeing all that food would drive me mental... But the longer you do it, the easier it gets. You just need to stick to your guns.
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Omigod..... lunchrooms must be universal. Ours isn't quite that concentrated, but with bowls of candy on everyone's counter, gatherings predicated on the love of "orange" food and beer, and I don't mean rainbow vegetables..... It's no wonder at least two thirds of the people in my office are overweight. I've been here a long time and in that course of events have lost over a hundred pounds. People have an attitude of either reverence (with thinly masked envy) or concern over my health since I'm now so "thin." Yeah, at 145 and 5'4, I'm really skeletally thin..... It's crazy but a testament to how attached the majority of our peers are to the food choices offered to us from corporate America, both in brands and in our offices. Thanks for the rant. My answer? "Sure, I'd just love to be overweight, exhausted and look 10 to 20 years older than I do now. Gimme one of those twinkies."0
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Go for a walk on your lunch break and perhaps eat on your other breaks? Can you consolidate the 15 minute break, or eat at an "odd" (nonstandard) time? That might help break away from those things. Taking walks on your breaks can help get you up and moving, too, so you can keep at least a little of your old activity level.
I have to say, this is one of the reasons I don't miss working in an office (I work remotely). No such temptations and no such pressure from co-workers. The worst I get now is about coffee. I can sympathize from my office days, though.0 -
Sounds like my office.
I go and walk during my first 45 min of lunch break and then eat at the end. Most of the people are gone from the break room. I can just relax and eat my lunch by myself.
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Thanks for all the support! I do get up on the hour and walk around the building (it's pretty small) and have managed to get my actual time in the break room down to about 20 minutes. The rest of it is spent walking to my truck for a vape break, then a walk back (from the far end of the parking lot).
Forgot to mention that I am sensitive to dairy in my post. One of my immediate coworkers (like my desk is literally across from her's) cannot comprehend that I've eliminated dairy completely because of that sensitivity. She told me today that the cake she made for another coworker's birthday didn't have any dairy in it and I should have some. It was a box cake with cream cheese icing. Okay, yeah. I can't tell if it's just ignorance or malice. Fingers crossed for ignorance.0 -
I work in an office and sympathize. Thankfully my particular area is relatively small and includes someone with a gluten sensitivity and two with what I would almost classify as borderline eating disorders.... so while not good, many of the "treats" brought now often include veggie or fruit trays (yay).
I like to give people the benefit of the doubt and say its ignorance. I am always surprised at some of the opinions I hear surrounding health and nutrition. I avoid the debate because everyone has different needs, allergies etc., and honestly, once when preparing a meal for a friend who was strict vegan... I completely and innocently overlooked the use of butter!! I don't have the fake stuff in my house and I truly never even thought of it until the food was being served to the table :-(
That doesn't help it being any less frustrating and I'm not even remotely as close to "strict" as I should be!
bluefish86 that picture is beyond crazy!0 -
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It's not just office work! I wok in a group home and ALL the staff bring in stuff I can't or shouldn't have and are constantly leaving things on my desk!! Like donuts!! I am gluten intolerant and everybody knows that! Just disrespectful.0
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I find it so much easier to say no thanks when I am feeling full and saited. I try hard to eat before going somewhere exciting, and to pack extra snacks to keep me ticking over just in case I can't eat at regular times. Which I realize doesn't help you with rude and pushy coworkers0
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When people come around with carb laden toxic bombs, I look at what they brought and exclaim "Oh how nice of you-- those look amazing but no thank you" all the while being very positive. After that they usually either skip me altogether or say "Oh yeah-- you don't eat those right?"0
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Regardless of what people are eating at home, imagine how much healthier they could be if they just skipped the crap in the office. I loathe the junk food/office thing. I don't understand how eating junk while at work (or anything besides ones own packed lunch) became such a big thing. All those people that say food can't be addictive are so deluded. Talk about justifying addiction by making sure others are partaking too, just like drug addiction. So sad.0
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It's not just office work! I wok in a group home and ALL the staff bring in stuff I can't or shouldn't have and are constantly leaving things on my desk!! Like donuts!! I am gluten intolerant and everybody knows that! Just disrespectful.
When one of our teens was in the hospital, I brought a couple boxes of fresh organic berries to treat the nurses. I hear they get plates of cookies and brownies a lot, though.0 -
SkinnyKerinny wrote: »When people come around with carb laden toxic bombs, I look at what they brought and exclaim "Oh how nice of you-- those look amazing but no thank you" all the while being very positive. After that they usually either skip me altogether or say "Oh yeah-- you don't eat those right?"
Great strategy!0 -
Akimajuktuq wrote: »Regardless of what people are eating at home, imagine how much healthier they could be if they just skipped the crap in the office. I loathe the junk food/office thing. I don't understand how eating junk while at work (or anything besides ones own packed lunch) became such a big thing. All those people that say food can't be addictive are so deluded. Talk about justifying addiction by making sure others are partaking too, just like drug addiction. So sad.
That is so true! They justify satisfying their treat or craving by bringing some for everyone as a "thoughtful" gesture...or... they bake over the weekend and then bring the rest to work so they don't eat all of it themselves. With friends like that, who needs enemies
It definitely helps with temptations when you are full and satisfied! Planning is key!0 -
bluefish86 wrote: »
OMG who is responsible for the snacks in your office??? That's just...I can't even! hahahaha!!!
Someone up here on my floor always brings some kind of something to share, and then when they leave for the day they just leave everything out! Entire pastries and whatnot! So, I helpfully toss them out when I leave, since I am the last one to go home muwahahaha
Oh! And the "eat this or you will hurt x's feelings" is one of the most infuriating things...we eat for our own body's nourishment - not to appease other people. Those other people need to get a grip. I had to get on to my dad once because he was trying to get my daughter to eat more of her dinner and he said "Come, on now, finish your dinner for me." I explained to both of them that it is her job to eat her dinner to give her body energy, and not to eat her dinner to please him. A little off topic-sorry-that is one of my hot spots!0 -
Because, Friday.[/quote]
Oh! And the "eat this or you will hurt x's feelings" is one of the most infuriating things...we eat for our own body's nourishment - not to appease other people. Those other people need to get a grip. I had to get on to my dad once because he was trying to get my daughter to eat more of her dinner and he said "Come, on now, finish your dinner for me." I explained to both of them that it is her job to eat her dinner to give her body energy, and not to eat her dinner to please him. A little off topic-sorry-that is one of my hot spots![/quote]
I am a nanny, so I influence more than one set of children's food attitudes. I frequently remind myself and parents that the baby/toddler/child will eat when they are hungry and stop when they are done. This is especially true for toddlers who one day eat more than an adult and the next exist on half a bite of chicken and 4 spoons of yogurt! Both my current employer and I have bad relationships with food (I think it comes from the finish everything on your plate mentality) so we are on the same page about not overfeeding/pushing the baby!0 -
I'm late to this discussion but I'll throw this out there. Hold your ground. When you have an opportunity to offer up the food, make sure there are some healthy choices and some treat (I think you get farther advocating the 80/20 rule for the mass population even though that may not be what you are doing personally). Ordering lunch? Pick something that you can eat and fill it out for the others. My go to is a sandwhich platter (which I deconstruct for myself), salads & a plate of cookies. If we're having a potluck, I bring something that is a smart choice (but good). I have at times had a bowl of fruit on my desk.
Most people don't swoon over what I'm doing. But, during my 25 years at work, I cannot tell you how many folks have taken me aside to ask me nuitrition questions or ask for some advice on where to start. They know that I'm trying and continuously educating myself. You can be that person for your office. You will probably be surprised at who else is struggling.
We have taken if farther here and now have a community garden at work. We are lucky to have some land and a water source. Getting it going in the spring is some work. People donate their extra seeds. We sometimes buy to fill things out. We organize ourselves turning the water on or off as we come and go. The weeds can get to be head high but it is not in anyone's view. There is a core group that loves to go out there at lunchtime and pick whatever is ready. We bring it back and on Wednesday we have "farmers market" in the lunch room. Anyone can take whatever they like. Anyone can stop out there and pick whenever they want. I have grandparents who plant rows of carrots because there grandkids love them and the kids get a kick out of pulling them. There is a lady who plants 50 pumpkin plants and then sells them as an office fundraiser for the United Way.0 -
Gotta tell you that we had a guy who used to walk laps around the office building. One or two laps to take a break. After several years, they painted lines around his track and now I see other folks out there from time to time.
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This time I'm as I start a new job I'm going to try not discussing my food choices. It seemed to draw a lot of attention to me in other offices. Flying under the radar might be a nice change. It's all good so whatever each person is comfortable with will be the best way to go.0
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