Free food in the office

2

Replies

  • smithjennife
    smithjennife Posts: 2
    This hits very close to home because my office brings in bagels, cream cheese and doughnuts every Friday. And then there's cake and ice cream periodically too!!

    I usually just take a very small portion. If everyone else sees that you are participating, they don't usually question how much you are having. Then I drink extra water and go for a walk. It seems to work for me. Best of luck!
  • Sherie13
    Sherie13 Posts: 250 Member
    It's very had to avoid and usually i lose that battle myself. Giving in is ok once in a while... Just log it and keep going.

    Now for actually help, first step is to get it out of your area. Just move it somewhere else. Having it close will make it harder to avoid. Second is keep snacks at work. I have oatmeal, nuts, and yogurt in addition to my snacks that I plan for the day. Third, if you feel tempted, get a cup of coffee, cup of tea, or a cup of water. Getting up gets you further from it and drinking might actually curb your appetite.

    If people give you a hard time, just say no thanks! They always have donuts in my office and "ice cream time" every afternoon. I just avoid going in those areas and remind myself what my goals are!
  • PixEm
    PixEm Posts: 190 Member
    OK, so this week at work has been trying. Monday, someone brought in Bagels & Cream Cheese. Wednesday, someone brought in doughnuts. Today, someone brought in Bagels & Cream Cheese again! To make it worse, my section of the small office we are in is usually the landing spot for all of the free food.

    So my question....what do you do to avoid the temptation of the free food in your offce?

    I just ignore that it is even there or I pick the healthier choices, fruit instead of bagels.
  • msudaisy28
    msudaisy28 Posts: 267 Member
    I pack my lunch and snacks for work every day except Fridays, and bring coffee in a travel mug. Here is how I decide what to do about free food at work:

    1. Is it a social thing, ie. is everyone gathering for coffee and snacks? If so, I'll at least go over with my mug. I might take my planned snack (a piece of fruit or whatever) if I haven't had it yet. That way I don't miss out on the social aspect and my hands are busy.

    2. Could I have bought whatever it is myself if I'd wanted some? If so, I usually pass. I could just go get a bagel or donut if I wanted one. It's not like I am passing on the bagels and donuts I could buy every day just because they cost money.

    If homemade or special treats are involved, I'll usually indulge in a sensible portion and do my best to fit it in to my plan. This may mean saving part of my lunch for another day, having a smaller portion of dinner, or going for a longer walk with my dog after work.

    I love the mentality of #2! I do the social thing - if there is a gathering of people (most recently a birthday party with a cookie cake that looked delicious!) I socialize with my coffee but don't indulge unless there is 1) room in my budget for the day - I usually leave room for some treats and 2) it is something special.

    I do have an advantage - I am 3 months into a new job and my coworkers don't know that I've been trying to be healthier and lose weight. Since they didn't know the "old" me who would always eat a free bagel, donut or cupcake this is simply how I am and don't questions my eating habits.
  • bobemmer
    bobemmer Posts: 16 Member
    Drink Water - Try to stay away from the food- I work in an emergency Room - Doctors and Nurses ALWAYS bring non health stuff to the break room - What is up with that? It has not been long but I drink tons of water and decaf trea anf thats it. i stay away from the "rtreats" -
  • bobemmer
    bobemmer Posts: 16 Member
    please ignore my poor typing skills:laugh:
  • Lula16
    Lula16 Posts: 628 Member
    you gotta have strong willpower. When I started working at my job 7 yrs ago, I weighed 126lbs. Our vendors brought bkfst every morning monday through friday. Something different everyday-tacos, donuts, kolaches, sweets- well, my will power was not strong enough because after 2-3 yrs of eating bkfst like that every morning I gained an easy 30 lbs! I got to 155 lbs and that was heaviest I have every been in all my life! Right now I have lost 20 of those lbs. I have another 10lbs to lose to get back where I was before. SO my advice to you, is maybe take a bite or two to veer off the cravings or just eat a healthy bkfst at your house before you get to work. good luck!
  • livies_mommy
    livies_mommy Posts: 9
    This is the problem I have constantly! At my job they are always either bringing in food, and not the veggies and fruit, but the chocolate, baked goods and the dreaded pasta! The worst for me has been when it's for our charity of the month, because then I get guilted into helping because well it's for a good cause. I did what a previous poster does and bring my snacks from home. If I do end up getting something I will log it and then work out that extra bit to make up for it.
  • fervc60
    fervc60 Posts: 70
    We have donuts every Friday here. I stay away from the food table. I literally walk the other direction to avoid it.
  • insightdean
    insightdean Posts: 19
    I have an idea for FREE food. So I see that there are 50 donuts on the table ready for the office people to eat. I turn to MFP and see how many calories one might be. Ah, only 400 calories. Do I want that with coffee and now I am limited to one donut for lunch or do I want something else? What the heck, I will have 1/2 a donut for 200 calories and an energy bar. Hmmmm I guess it is all right after all.

    But you might ask what about the other 49 donuts that remain? Let others take them - do not exceed the speed limit. Good luck in the office.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    Bring in your own food, and eat it. If you're not hungry, you will be less tempted by the free junkfood.
  • Erica27511
    Erica27511 Posts: 490 Member
    We have similar situations... someone is always bringing us chicken biscuits or sausage and egg biscuits in the mornings and king size bags of m&m's in the afternoon.

    What helps me is knowing how far I have come. At some point when I think I can handle it, I will enjoy the biscuit and work my day around it, or get in a good workout later in the day. At this point - it's not something that I can do
  • niceMarly
    niceMarly Posts: 89 Member
    It just happens to be "free ice cream" day at work today! I watched the supervisors dole out bowls of yummy ice cream (complete with self-serve toppings, of course!) from the sidelines, thinking how I was going to resist that! I asked if they had any popsicles, and they did, but they were way back in the kitchen and I would have had to walk thru the whole call center...so I just smiled and continued walking out the door.....
    Last week we had a BBQ....and I did have ONE hamburger, with lots of lettuce....the week before it was a bake sale (thankfully my day off!)....surprisingly, my co-workers have been very supportive and understanding...
    Btw, it's free ice cream day cause it's 40 C out there!! I loved going into work today because it is an air-condtiioned building!
  • lniber22
    lniber22 Posts: 29 Member
    I HATE coconut. So I tell myself everything has coconut and run quickly in the other direction. Works too since I now visualize the dreaded nasty thing....kills my craving.:drinker:
  • aegisprncs
    aegisprncs Posts: 236 Member
    We have full on buffets in our office. And when that's not going on, my office mate always has a candy bowl on her desk (backed up by a whole drawer full) crackers and bread/toast (yes, she has a toaster). And if that's not enough, it's alway someone's birthday. What do I do. Quite literally, I walk away. But when it's just sitting there ready to eat in my office. I just try and focus on my work or talk to someone about anytingto change my focus. Then I drink some water or coffee.
  • FrozenTundra511
    FrozenTundra511 Posts: 206 Member
    We have a guy that brings a dozen donuts almost every day and it is placed 3 feet behind me on the other side of my cubicle.
    Willpower... that's all I can say. I allow myself 1/2 Maple Bar 1-2 times per week.
  • KourtneyP83
    KourtneyP83 Posts: 319
    If I can't stop thinking about it, I usually get a little and move on. That happens at my work sometimes too..it's hard. We have a guy who brings us donuts every.single.Saturday. Takes quite a bit of will power not to eat one.
  • VanessaGS
    VanessaGS Posts: 514 Member
    Have a very small taste and then move on! lol, jk. Usually it is to avoid. I think it would be best if the items are kept in the other room. It is easier to avoid.

    When I am very tempted then I just take a very small bite enough to kill my craving then I walk away. Good idea.
  • VanessaGS
    VanessaGS Posts: 514 Member
    Also, just read success stories on MFP to keep youself focused. That's what I do when I'm slacking.
  • TKHappy
    TKHappy Posts: 659 Member
    We have doughnut monday...every Monday!! Everyone sits around the conference room table, which has boxes of dougnuts in the middle, and talks about their weekend while eating a doughnut! That's when I have to have serious willpower and bring my cup of tea to sip on and try hard not to stare at the doughnuts!! :) A lot of the time I will eat a snack before we go into the conference room so I'm thinking with my brain and not my stomach! :)

    However, if it is a birthday I will literally have a very very small sliver of homemade cake! :)
  • MariaLivingFit
    MariaLivingFit Posts: 224 Member
    Would it be possible to move the food location to a different area?

    If not, maybe you should bring in "free fruit" and have a nice big bowl of fruit for your office mates to choose from. Maybe that will give them a "hint", and encourage others to start bringing in healthier foods for everyone.
  • MosierTim
    MosierTim Posts: 56 Member
    I spray windex on it :bigsmile:

    I've killed a couple of co-workers in the process but in the end it really is worth it :smokin:

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
  • itgeekwoman
    itgeekwoman Posts: 804 Member
    The company I work for provides bagels every day as well as fresh fruit that is delivered daily. We also have lunches catered and a bevy of food options around at any given time.

    I drink my water, eat my snacks and ignore it. You choose to do this. Just rise above and move on. You are making yourself healthy. Others will follow if/when they are ready. Many will never be.
  • Krys_140
    Krys_140 Posts: 648 Member
    I pack my lunch and snacks for work every day except Fridays, and bring coffee in a travel mug. Here is how I decide what to do about free food at work:

    1. Is it a social thing, ie. is everyone gathering for coffee and snacks? If so, I'll at least go over with my mug. I might take my planned snack (a piece of fruit or whatever) if I haven't had it yet. That way I don't miss out on the social aspect and my hands are busy.

    2. Could I have bought whatever it is myself if I'd wanted some? If so, I usually pass. I could just go get a bagel or donut if I wanted one. It's not like I am passing on the bagels and donuts I could buy every day just because they cost money.

    If homemade or special treats are involved, I'll usually indulge in a sensible portion and do my best to fit it in to my plan. This may mean saving part of my lunch for another day, having a smaller portion of dinner, or going for a longer walk with my dog after work.

    ^^^^^^^This!
  • shendras
    shendras Posts: 46 Member
    Chew a piece of minty gum when temptation strikes. For me at least, it kills the craving!
  • MosierTim
    MosierTim Posts: 56 Member
    See my problem was not the temptation; I am pretty good at not eating the treats. The problem in this office is my co-workers bugging about why I am not eating anything they brought. Giving me a "hard time" that pizza will not kill me, after all it covers all the major food groups it must be relatively healthy - LOL

    Finally I learned to combat them by telling them exactly how many calories they were eating. It did not take long for them to stop asking and trying to tempt me :tongue:

    yet one more reason I married you!
  • kdarbouz
    kdarbouz Posts: 5
    I ask myself is it really worth it.
  • samadora
    samadora Posts: 7
    East your own healthy snacks and just imagine the fat you're avoiding... lol
  • dawnrenee567
    dawnrenee567 Posts: 292 Member
    I have my breakfast/snack/lunch/snack already planned for the day.

    I check calories, etc.. on snacks that are in, decide if I can work it in or not.

    Yesterday they were cookies that were 170/piece - I passed.
  • akaporn
    akaporn Posts: 231 Member
    Just a fun idea.

    Every FREE snack you eat, you donate $5 to your local food bank. Keep the jar or a piece of paper around. See if this work.

    And to all the suppliers, I appreciate you bringing in donuts. Just want to remind you that I'm not gonna just give you a $10K contract because of that. Perishable gift never works. You'll be better off bringing bunch of pens and note pads with your logo.

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