My biggest issue is once I get started with sweets, I can't stop. Last time I ate 3 slices of cake and wanted more.
Its not that I'm anti-dessert, but I want to be able to eat a healthy amount - and 3 slices isn't. Also, if I have just a bite or 3 slices - the craving is even stronger than if I have none.
For lunch I'm packing a light chicken salad. I wonder if that's a good move....
sometimes i'm tempted to pack a HUGE lunch and than because of the massive lunch, decline the cake.... but what if i cave! and i guess its awkward to just stand around and eat nothing.
It frustrates me that I'm already worried about cake tomorrow.
What are your best desserts at work tricks/advice/experiences??
What do you usually do?? Indulge.... or strong willpower??
Try bringing in a fruit platter to go with the cake. You will look extra nice because you brought something extra, and you will have something healthy to eat!
This is such a big issue at my office, too. There seems to be some sort of food around ALL the time. A lot of people at my office are overweight and I had gained 15 pounds since working there....I'm taking it off and have 5 1/2 pounds to go and I don't want to get side-tracked. I avoid the office kitchen/break room like the plague.
I convinced our office to do a once-a-month only cake for all birthdays that month rather than cake for each birthday. That helps, but people still seem to bring in cookies, brownies, etc. and there are other 'ocassions' like you said. A few of my co-workers have candy jars in their offices - one woman has THREE candy jars with different candies like regular M & Ms, Peanut M & Ms and Jelly Beans - that's an office to avoid.
So, I don't want to eat the cake, but I don't want to be rude either. Sometimes, I come a bit late to the celebration and the cake is gone, so that is a strategy. The other thing I do it take a small piece, only eat the cake and leave the frosting. The cake is much less fattening than the frosting - that is where A LOT of the calories and fat are.
But, I know you what you mean, if I get started, it's hard to stop. The other thing that I have found helps is keeping a toothbrush and toothpaste in my desk. After the cake (or any sweet), I brush my teeth and the taste of the toothpaste helps dull my desire for more sweets.
Good luck tomorrow!
Boy, if there was ever a test of discipline... :)
Think of it as a matter of priorities. What matters more to you? Always being forced to be "part of the group," or taking care of yourself and your diet?
You can take pride in the fact that you take care of your body. Let everyone else eat as much as they like!
If all else fails, drink tons of water right before eating. Your stomach will feel plenty full -- plus, it's much better for your body than a slice of birthday cake.
At our office, it's hard to keep weight off. We are a medical office and the drug reps bring cookies, brownies, cakes, bagels, pastries, etc. They also bring in Starbucks and do lunches for us (sometimes every day of the week.) So I bring light yougurt, fresh fruit or those 100 calorie packs of cookies so I don't feel deprived. Also, if they bring in lunch from a restaurant with no healthy choices, I go to the gym and avoid watching everyone else eat the fatty stuff (I pack a healthy lunch instead.) Starbucks frappuccinos are also high in calories so instead, I order unsweetened tea. This way, I never feel deprived and I avoid gaining weight.
Right now as I type this there are two giant bags of chocolate chip cookies sitting on my filing cabinets (someone brought them in) and the menu for lunch is going around, it's a really good (really fattening) restaurant......jeez I look totally anti social but I really don't give a damn what they think. I'm the one who will look awesome by Christmas and well....they won't
I always bring in healthy foods to supplement the desserts and I eat those while others indulge. Because I eat almost no refined sweeteners (and absolutely no artificial sweeteners) these days, my body isn't even tempted by the treats. My cravings are gone. And many of my coworkers who also try to avoid treats appreciate my attempts to provide us with alternative food choices. They have even started to bring in healthy options of their own so I am not financing that endeavor alone.
