Everyone around me tries to sabotage me being healthy.

ccoates216 · June 2019

So I know we are all on MFP because we are all trying to make changes like lose weight, gain weight, more muscle, be healthier, I could go on and on. Ever find it hard to stay motivated when everyone one around you could care less about your healthier lifestyle? Just today alone at work I got offered pizza, doughnuts, and cupcakes. Wtf?? Lol

MichelleSilverleaf · June 2019

Something I've learned is you can't expect others to cater to you, for the most part. You can't control their choices. All you can do is control your decisions and your responses. Maybe pizza can be worked into your diet. If not, have an alternative that you really like to turn to so you can say "no thanks, I've got <insert name here>". Or start being around those people less to not being around food you don't want to eat. Unless someone is force-feeding you the pizza or cupcakes or doughnuts or is making it obvious they're offering these foods to purposefully ruin your efforts, they're not sabotaging you simply through offering them.

fhamdani99 · June 2019

Temptation is everywhere, and it just becomes more apparent when you’re actively trying to change. It’s easy to blame external influences but like Silverleaf said, no one is force feeding you. I wish you the best 👍

Annaleighmarie · June 2019

It's hard at first, but I find the more you say no, the easier it gets. Especially, when you see the numbers going down on the scale.

AnnPT77 · June 2019

Other than a very few intentionally ill-meaning people, most people in my life offer me things because they think I'll enjoy those things, or believe those things will make me happy. People share things they enjoy: It's kind of sweet, really.

But only I know whether the things will really make me happy or not, so I need to make choices accordingly. There are ways to politely and appreciatively reply to people who well-meaningly offer treats that I don't actually want.

YMMV.

MichelleMinn · June 2019

ccoates216 wrote: »

So I know we are all on MFP because we are all trying to make changes like lose weight, gain weight, more muscle, be healthier, I could go on and on. Ever find it hard to stay motivated when everyone one around you could care less about your healthier lifestyle? Just today alone at work I got offered pizza, doughnuts, and cupcakes. Wtf?? Lol

The most likely scenarios are that:

1. People are living their own lives, and not actively thinking about your health goals. The top 10 things on their mind are about their worries and needs. And a couple are probably debating over whether THEY should have a second piece.

2. People do know you're working on your health, but don't want you to feel left out or like they're being rude, or implying that they think you shouldn't have the thing.

If there is anyone in the group being genuinely malicious, why would you be tempted to give them the satisfaction?

I know how it feels to think someone is making things more difficult, but the only one who can sabotage you ... is you. Getting in a mindset that other people hold the key to your success, and if they could make sure not to offer you something tasty, or walk by your work area with something tasty, or ... very well might undermine your efforts by your not owning how strong your really are, and how capable you are of standing on your own.

Also, I hope you realize that just like you have the power to say no, you have the power to say yes sometimes, because it's worth it to you, and to do so guilt and blame free.

hixa30 · June 2019

I developed a strategy for work related treats. I never ate food gifts at work. Never. I took it home, I had a plate and bag at work for such a purpose. I told people that I'd "leave it for later", since I'd already eaten.

If the food was healthy (such as fruit) I'd eat it later. Otherwise I regifted it to the birds near home, or on the way home. Birds love pizza, cake and fatty, sugary treats.

bjkoziara · June 2019

hixa30 wrote: »

I developed a strategy for work related treats. I never ate food gifts at work. Never. I took it home, I had a plate and bag at work for such a purpose. I told people that I'd "leave it for later", since I'd already eaten.

If the food was healthy (such as fruit) I'd eat it later. Otherwise I regifted it to the birds near home, or on the way home. Birds love pizza, cake and fatty, sugary treats.

Please don't feed that to birds. They don't love it, they eat it because it's there. It's terrible for their very sensitive digestive systems and can actually kill them. Not to mention the food waste that is. I highly recommend finding a polite way to say "no, thank you" or regifting the food to a person.

bjkoziara · June 2019

OP, it's hard to tell from the tone of your post if you are serious or if you're feeling frustrated and being tongue-in-cheek.

If you're serious, that sort of attitude and expecting others to cater to you isn't a great outlook to have. It can lead to failure in your weight loss; since everyone is out to get you and no one wants to help you, you're just destined to fail, right? It becomes a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy. You can't expect other people to cater to you. Everyone at work knows I'm actively losing weight and many of them still offer me food or ask if I want to order anything with them. I find a simple no thank you always works.

Grimmerdhore · June 2019

ccoates216 wrote: »

So I know we are all on MFP because we are all trying to make changes like lose weight, gain weight, more muscle, be healthier, I could go on and on. Ever find it hard to stay motivated when everyone one around you could care less about your healthier lifestyle? Just today alone at work I got offered pizza, doughnuts, and cupcakes. Wtf?? Lol

I can never expect anyone else to embrace my choices - because my choices are my responsibility. I embrace them, and I live them with deliberation and purpose. But I also remember that other people don't have my restrictions, my disabilities, or my outlook. Other people are living their lives, and I embrace their freedom to do that. So when my best friend offers me something he knows good and well I cannot have on my diet, then I simply decline with a "no thanks" and let it go. Because it's still my choice. It's always my choice. In most cases, they aren't being deliberately tempting, they are being polite - which can be a sensitive time for me, because I'm tempted to return their hospitality by accepting - but I simply decline politely, and continue the conversation.

I hope you can find that inner peace that allows you to live out your choices in every temptation.

paperpudding · June 2019

ccoates216 wrote: »

So I know we are all on MFP because we are all trying to make changes like lose weight, gain weight, more muscle, be healthier, I could go on and on. Ever find it hard to stay motivated when everyone one around you could care less about your healthier lifestyle? Just today alone at work I got offered pizza, doughnuts, and cupcakes. Wtf?? Lol

I think the key is to stop seeing normal social interactions as 'sabotage'

People are just being polite and wanting to be nice - they are not out to get you.

and yes you are right, they couldnt care less about your new healthy lifestyle choices - that isnt mean of them, it is just reality.
Everyone isnt that interested in the health choices of other people.

I do a combination of 1. politely declining, 2. taking some for later and then at home eating some, all or none of it, 3. saying I will take some/eat some for later but not actually doing so, nobody checks or notices if I did, and 4. having some.

Depends what it is and the situation at the time.

Five0Six · July 2019

Someone on these boards once said "This is not WW2 and you are not a munitions train. No one is trying to sabotage you."

I really liked that. Pares down the paranoia while reminding me that no matter what other people eat, it's my choice to decide what goes in my body.

floofyschmoofer · July 2019

This will really build up your No muscle. Keep it up.

Everyone around me tries to sabotage me being healthy.

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