How to avoid FREE FOOD from work??
LadybirdQueenie
Posts: 4 Member
Like seriously, I find myself scoffing so much. Well, I don't think it's THAT much and it's not unhealthy food! I work at a hospital where we serve patients so most of the food is very low fat and calling, but once I start, I get far too excited and mom my way through so much! I actually get so excited, it's like the highlight of my day. How do j stop this and resist the temptation!?!?
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I chew a lot of gum. Minty flavors make sweet flavors taste icky.0
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I bring my own food to work daily. My lunch bag looks like a shopping bag.I have breakfast and I have fruit (3 servings) sAlad (1 serving) and lunch. and water water water.0
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Strawblackcat wrote: »I chew a lot of gum. Minty flavors make sweet flavors taste icky.
Gum is awesome. No mindless snacking, but just toss it when you're ready to eat. You'll stop relying on it after a while.
I also pre plan my days. I bring just my lunch, no snacks (although I used to years ago) and don't consider that to be part of my plan. We have a lot of potluck type events and I'm the only one who always includes calorie counts and ingredient lists/amounts and posts them on my food.0 -
As one who is still in the very early stages of losing a whole person, I am learning to just remind myself how important it is to stay on track and what giving in could mean for me. I am on a low carb/high protein regimen and it is amazing how many things I like are high carb/little to no protein LOL.
I work in a manufacturing environment so the first thing was to stop buying the overpriced food in the breakroom. Once I got used to that it was also what you talk about, free food that might be available, typically in the office.
In the past, I used to visit the offices quite often because it was common for people to bring in goodies (Halloween has not been easy LOL). So there is almost always cookies, cakes, muffins, bagels or donuts. Sometimes if they have a luncheon for a client and there are leftovers it is taken to our breakroom. In the past if they brought in leftover donuts, a deli sandwich platter or maybe a member of the sales staff brought donuts or muffins in as a way to say thanks, I would quickly eat one, then hide a couple in the cabinet and then eat another on my way back out. That kind of idiotic stuff is a hard habit to break but I just have to keep reminding myself what the goal is and if my carb goal for the day is 50-100, is it really worth it to eat all of that and more in one 10 minute "OMG GOTTA HAVE IT" moment dorfing out on donuts. I remind myself that it is that type of thing that helped get me where I am to begin with and it is too easy to slip back into my old ways and just because the food is free doesn't mean that there won't be a price to pay.
So far, so good. I did accept some free food today but that is because it was a bag of pork rinds that someone was eating and asked me if I wanted any. At first I said no when the bag was offered until I saw what they were. They fit my macros.
Later on though I had to pretty much beat her off of me with a stick when she kept insisting I have some of her potato crisps. LOL.
As I am supposed to eat every 2 hours or so, I have everything I am going to eat on my forklift and it seems like I am always eating even though it is what I am supposed to eat at that time. So if nothing else, that helps some because I don't have a need to seek out food. I can just grab the string cheese or hard boiled egg I am supposed to eat at that time and get back to work.
So for me it has just been mostly a matter of willpower. I have given in a couple times but instead of taking a 4"x4" hunk of coffee cake, I just trim off a 1" slice so I can enjoy the flavor without messing up my numbers. I mean, we can't be perfect ALL the time.
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"There's no such thing as a free lunch." Economics 101. It applies to everything. It's what I think about when I'm offered "free food" and it helps. The cost is the calories and the extra workout later if the food doesn't fit in my day.0
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I may be reading this wrong, but you eat your patients food?
Food should not be the highlight of your day.0 -
My office also has lots of sweets out. I have been good about walking on by. If I am hungry, I know I have food with me to eat. If I am not hungry then I don't need the donut!
I also say (to myself) that nothing tastes as good as being thin will feel.0 -
I may be reading this wrong, but you eat your patients food?
Food should not be the highlight of your day.
Oh god no! We get a lot of spare meals when people don't want to eat or change their mind. We normally have lots of fresh, still hot leftovers like sweet and sour and sausages!!!
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I would try to stay away from the areas where you know the food will be if you can. If not, you can cut down on your cravings by eating more complex carbs or good healthy proteins and by keeping yourself hydrated. If you're doing all these things, you may just need to discipline yourself.
Temptation to eat food is probably not going to stop. The best way around unhealthy cravings is hydration, good choices within your calorie limit, and to discipline yourself in those moments to walk away.
Hang in there, you are obviously in a tricky situation having free food around that will probably get thrown away if it's not eaten. I would say it is an opportunity to really train yourself to be in control of the decisions you make.0 -
Resisting free food at work is always a tough one. I would like to say that I'm always successful at passing it up, but I'm not.
Some times I can ignore the tempting desserts, other times no. When I can't resist them, I just tend to do a bit more cardio at night in hopes that the added exercise helps keep me at around maintenance.
Today I was successful in ignoring a mountain full of desserts, last week, not so much.0 -
If I see something I'm tempted by, I usually tell myself I can have it later in the afternoon, by which time all the food has been picked over/is all gone and I no longer want it anyway. I seem to be easily trickable, lol.0
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I bring my own food to work daily. My lunch bag looks like a shopping bag.I have breakfast and I have fruit (3 servings) sAlad (1 serving) and lunch. and water water water.
This is me too. On Monday I bring a big bag of food with me (fortunate enough to have a fridge at work) that will last me 2-3 days. Yogurts, string cheese, fruit, ect for snacks plus my actual lunches. I always have MY food there so there's no need to look to anything else.
Why not just try the line of thinking that says....that food is for the patients (regardless if there are leftovers or not).
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Try pre-logging your days.0
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LadybirdQueenie wrote: »Like seriously, I find myself scoffing so much. Well, I don't think it's THAT much and it's not unhealthy food! I work at a hospital where we serve patients so most of the food is very low fat and calling, but once I start, I get far too excited and mom my way through so much! I actually get so excited, it's like the highlight of my day. How do j stop this and resist the temptation!?!?
Avoid free food? If you work it just right, you can stock your cabinets and save some money.
Just kidding.
I just say no and walk away.
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LadybirdQueenie wrote: »Like seriously, I find myself scoffing so much. Well, I don't think it's THAT much and it's not unhealthy food! I work at a hospital where we serve patients so most of the food is very low fat and calling, but once I start, I get far too excited and mom my way through so much! I actually get so excited, it's like the highlight of my day. How do j stop this and resist the temptation!?!?
Avoid free food? If you work it just right, you can stock your cabinets and save some money.
Just kidding.
I just say no and walk away.
seriously though. I would bring my food scale to work and save money on buying food.0 -
Honestly you just have to make the COMMITMENT to not engage. Till you do, no answers will really sound appealing.LadybirdQueenie wrote: »Like seriously, I find myself scoffing so much. Well, I don't think it's THAT much and it's not unhealthy food! I work at a hospital where we serve patients so most of the food is very low fat and calling, but once I start, I get far too excited and mom my way through so much! I actually get so excited, it's like the highlight of my day. How do j stop this and resist the temptation!?!?
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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It is not free if it costs you something.0
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Honestly you just have to make the COMMITMENT to not engage. Till you do, no answers will really sound appealing.LadybirdQueenie wrote: »Like seriously, I find myself scoffing so much. Well, I don't think it's THAT much and it's not unhealthy food! I work at a hospital where we serve patients so most of the food is very low fat and calling, but once I start, I get far too excited and mom my way through so much! I actually get so excited, it's like the highlight of my day. How do j stop this and resist the temptation!?!?
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
Yes! And to add to that, once you've been committed to saying no to that stuff, it becomes easier and easier to say no over time!!! You could even share your commitment with a trusted co worker. It may help you to have someone at work holding you accountable, even if he/she is only doing so by making you dread having to explain your failure to do so later.0 -
I use to work somewhere that had free food and was the highlight of my day too because I hated working there. I quit in the end but I wondered if you enjoyed your job?
I would try and stick to eating at lunchtime. If you're hungry mid morning/afternoon have a big glass of water first and see if that curbs your pangs. If not have a hot drink or a small snack.
Pre logging is a great way to stay on track as is making your own lunches so you know the calorie content.
A bit of willpower too is your best friend. If its 11 and lunch is at 12, you have to tell yourself to just hang on for another hour.
Gum is a good one but I find brushing my teeth more effective.0 -
LadybirdQueenie wrote: »Like seriously, I find myself scoffing so much. Well, I don't think it's THAT much and it's not unhealthy food! I work at a hospital where we serve patients so most of the food is very low fat and calling, but once I start, I get far too excited and mom my way through so much! I actually get so excited, it's like the highlight of my day. How do j stop this and resist the temptation!?!?
I work in a restaurant and I yell at anyone who asks if I want any free food. They're all trying to sabotage me!!!!
Haha,
I actually do that but in a joking kind of way, I don't really have any advice other than maybe pack more snacks to work? I used to eat at work all the time but I have lots of munchies that I track while I'm there and no more temptation.0 -
LadybirdQueenie wrote: »Like seriously, I find myself scoffing so much. Well, I don't think it's THAT much and it's not unhealthy food! I work at a hospital where we serve patients so most of the food is very low fat and calling, but once I start, I get far too excited and mom my way through so much! I actually get so excited, it's like the highlight of my day. How do j stop this and resist the temptation!?!?
Call in sick everyday...yes....everyday.0 -
Take the free food, put it in your freezer, and save it for the days you can afford to have it in your calorie budget. If you want it badly enough, you'll make it fit.0
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LadybirdQueenie wrote: »Like seriously, I find myself scoffing so much. Well, I don't think it's THAT much and it's not unhealthy food! I work at a hospital where we serve patients so most of the food is very low fat and calling, but once I start, I get far too excited and mom my way through so much! I actually get so excited, it's like the highlight of my day. How do j stop this and resist the temptation!?!?
Avoid free food? If you work it just right, you can stock your cabinets and save some money.
Just kidding.
I just say no and walk away.
seriously though. I would bring my food scale to work and save money on buying food.
I was thinking if it's healthy food, I'd have it for lunch! Works for me if it's food that excites me
They'd know the nutritional info on it, since it's hospital food. I say go for it, just don't add it on top of another lunch
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I'd definitely find some way to use free, nutritious food. Surreptitiously weigh it, or, if it's free, would anybody even care if you weighed it? Take some home with you every day? (I'd work hard to make that happen - food is expensive.) Just make it your lunch or maybe lunch and a whole day of snacks? I don't know what to say about the daily highlight. Maybe if the job is monotonous, something nice like free food might be a highlight. Most offices where I've worked, people talk about going to lunch and what they're eating for dinner all day long so the food sounds like a highlight to me.
Resisting food you don't want to eat for whatever reason is something you may have to learn how to do. It doesn't seem like a learned skill but it functioned that way for me. I did it, then did it again, and eventually I didn't pay any attention to the bagels and cream cheese in the conference room every single morning.0 -
One of the perks of being a teacher is that I can eat the school lunch for free. But this year I have only been bringing my own packed lunch and not even venturing into the cafeteria (which is right across the hall from my room). I've even resisted macho nacho day! Ha ha.
It also helps to pre-log your entire day so it's all laid out. No surprises.0 -
starling01 wrote: »I'd definitely find some way to use free, nutritious food. Surreptitiously weigh it, or, if it's free, would anybody even care if you weighed it? Take some home with you every day? (I'd work hard to make that happen - food is expensive.) Just make it your lunch or maybe lunch and a whole day of snacks? I don't know what to say about the daily highlight. Maybe if the job is monotonous, something nice like free food might be a highlight. Most offices where I've worked, people talk about going to lunch and what they're eating for dinner all day long so the food sounds like a highlight to me.
Resisting food you don't want to eat for whatever reason is something you may have to learn how to do. It doesn't seem like a learned skill but it functioned that way for me. I did it, then did it again, and eventually I didn't pay any attention to the bagels and cream cheese in the conference room every single morning.
How did you learn it ?0 -
I'm attending a 3-day long seminar at work this week, and I'm sure most of you know what organizers tend to do at work seminars....food! All day long at the table in the back, free for the taking. Donuts, bagels, pastries in the morning. Buffet brought in for lunch. Cake, cookies, brownies in the afternoon.
Almost everyone at my table of 6 has been eating from the table all throughout the day. I've not had a single thing from it, which has made me feel great about myself and staying on track with my goals! Every time I think I want something from the table, or if one of the others at my table offers to get me something, I think about whether or not I'm really, actually hungry. So far the answer has been no, so I don't have anything. I'm making sure to drink my normal amounts of water throughout the day, and that is no doubt helping.
I think if you decide you want to change your reaction to free food, you can do it. I've set goals for myself each month, such as working on no mindless eating, being ok with leaving food on my plate, changing my perception of portion sizes, no alcohol during the week and only in moderation and it if fits on the weekend...things like that.
Maybe try setting yourself a goal to focus on for one week? Set the goal to be to evaluate your hunger before you take a bite. If you're hungry, then eat! But if you're really not hungry, then wait it out, eat the food you brought with you, or the free food if it fits your plan and your goals.
Good luck!
Karen0 -
Will Power is a muscle that needs to be exercised. Saying "no" will get easier each time you say it I also agree with the previous posters who brought up pre-logging and bringing lunch. I do that and it really helps me stay focused 0
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Depending on whether you have a family at home or whatnot...can you take it home and eat it for dinner? Pack it up in the container you just emptied from having brought your lunch. If it's good healthy food, and you can log it as a meal later, why not save some money?0
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Boy this is something I can definitely relate to! We had bagels brought in this morning... Panera looks soo good, but I'm staying strong and it is almost lunch time!0
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