grr to people who I work with

I work at a department store. And i'm trying to be a bit healthier/lose some weight. So many people have situations where coworkers comment on their food while in the break room, etc...
Thats not my problem. This is.
Our reward system is set up primarily on CRAP. And its driving me CRAZY!!
Everyday we have a 'credit' goal to meet. Getting people to sign up for charge cards for the store. And what do people get as a 'reward' when they get a credit? A piece of candy...
New contest. For every 5 credits, you get a cupcake.
Unload a truck in the morning and the managers provide breakfast? They bring donuts.

It really sucks and makes me want to scream. Everyones chowing down on donuts and if 2 or 3 people dont eat one everyone is asking why.

I've brought up sooo many times that maybe they should do something a bit healthier for those of us who dont want a mini candy bar everytime we get a credit... or maybe bring a bag of apples instead of donuts, and the managers just look at me like i'm crazy.

This is why america is overweight.  :-(


*I'll step off my soapbox now*

Katrina..I'll gladly step up on that soapbox with you! The whole world does seem to revolve around food = rewards.. It drives me crazy! I work with 10 women and they all think they need a birthday cake at work each year..that's sooooo many cakes! I suggested why don't we have one cake to celebrate all the birthdays in the school year at once but oh no, they alllll wanted a separate cake! Then as you say if you choose not to eat it, it draws attention to you. We just have to stand proud in our determination and not let others beat us down!

I completely understand.  The other "underlings" and I at the company for which I work made the company nearly a million bucks last month and our reward was a catered lunch.  BBQ.  Granted it wasn't very tasty, so I had very little, but it was still like....ok...I worked my bum off and all I get is some gross, unhealthy BBQ? 

They typically bring my department stale Krispy Kreme.  I guess this was a step up?  Heh.

My work's the same way in that food = rewards. One nice thing, though. In the weekly department head meetings where we get our 'reward' they always have something healthy and something decadent so that everyone can share in the fun :)

GAWD my company is the exact same way.

It's your anniversary? Cupcakes. Birthday? Krispy Kreme Every other day of the week? Brownies..

Not to mention you basically HAVE to go out to lunch with your department when it's someone's birthday and what do they always pick? The most HORRIBLE fattening restaurant they can find.

They actually keep a big drawer stocked with food for us too, how nice right? Yeah RIGHT, it's full of m&m's, cookies, goldfish crackers, candy bars, etc.. all there, free, at my fingertips.

This place is a nightmare to any dieter. And they WONDER why 90% of their employees are obese.

Here I am eating my steamed broccoli and everyone's like "eww, what's that smell???"... UGH!

Aw, I used to work at a company that did the whole biscuit thing, the cupboards were stocked with whatever you felt like snacking on - which made for a nice homely atmosphere but OMG not good for trying to lose any lbs!!!!

Yea, how about a RAISE as a reward? But nooooooo.

My problem is when we decide to order lunch.  They ALWAYS want pizza!  And when I suggest a healthier option they always act like if they have to eat something healthy they're going to die or something.  Is it really such a hardship to eat a healthy meal once in a (very great) while? 

We always end up ordering from two different places.

Sounds like third grade. First prize is a CUPCAKE!  Children: " Omg, A cupCAKE OMG YAY!!!!! Ohhhh yeah, I'm so gettin the CUPCAKE! "

 They train us from tiny tots to think sweets are rewards. You should just pass and let it be.

When I was in grade school, my dad wouldn't allow us to have treats without permission. I thought that was carried over in school, so I didn't take ' the rewards.' When they were handed out at the end of the day, or whatnot... I'd say " no, thanks. " And all the other kids would look at me like I was loopy. But, I didn't want to defy my father. Lol Annnd he wasn't there to ask. Lol

 When Dr.Oz was on Oprah he said if everyone said no to pizza. Each time a coworker, friend, or family member suggested it for a meal... and didn't eat anything that meal... Skipping each time someone said " Pizza. " They'd lose 30 lbs in a year.

Psycho,huh

Its the same way at my job. they give candy bar rewards, sucker and other crappy snacks {like we're in kindergarten or something. personally I'd rather have cash}. I don't say anything. I just stock pile them in a tupperware in my desk. i think I have 5 pounds in there now. I jsut use it as a yard stick to measure all the caloires I  HAVEN"T consumed.

What I hate is the fact taht people seem to have no problem commenting on what I eat for lunch or snacks. When they had a cookout at work, I broought my own since I don't eat meat, white bread, or fatty mayo laden salads. I got so many comments on my healthy lunch. GRRRr.

I don't go around commenting on other people's food choices. I may think it, but I have the manners to keep it to myself. . I wish they would.  I feel like I"m being watched and judged and evaluated. It makes me nuts.

Sounds like this job I had once, the boss was a TOTAL control freak. He would bring in cheap nasty cake for a "reward" if we did well that week, If you did not eat the cake you got grilled over the coals why. I even got called into his office once and asked why I refuse his cake since I look like the type of girl that LOVES cake. I crried right then and there and told him I was trying to lose weight and did not want to waste my calories on cake. My boss said I needed to start being a team palyer and eat cake. Thankfully I was only there for 2 more weeks before I quit....

Ugh, sounds like my office.  Food food food, and crappy food at that, all the time.  People are always dumping food in our area, too, I guess because we have a support function and they know we're a high traffic area.  People are always talking at the top of their lungs about how "bad" or "good" the food is, and about diets, etc, my boss is the absolute worst.  Always has a loud comment.  It's getting unbearable.

Yeah.. it made me feel self conscious when at my friend's birthday party, I did not eat the 310 calorie ice cream bar while everyone else was. @_@ So I sat next to my best friend, the bowl of watermelon. xD

but @natesmomma..
That is so terrible. Your boss was such a jerk. >:(

You wouldn't by chance work at SEARS would you??  You may have said it already,but I didn't go through all the threads.

thecrankyone: I also HATE (hate hate) when someone comments on what I eat. Why is considered "ok" to comment on someone's healthy food, but no one ever comments on: "wow! thats a gross grease laden piece of pizza you have there!" or "ooo look at that fatty sugar infested cake with the fake petroluem icing...." its wrong I tell you, wrong!

And when was it decided in our society that food should be a "reward"? What precipitated this thinking? It seems so strange to me. Food is for sustenance, life, and should never have graduated to reward status. This is the reason so many people end up having problems with their weight and binging. It leads to the kind of thinking like: well I lost 5 lbs, now I can have ice cream as a reward...vicious cycle! It is sad to me that food has replaced sincerely congragulating someone on a job well done. Its easier now to just bring a cake and dump it on the desk for everyone. That is not sincere or thoughful, it seems a cheap cop-out to me from actually talking to someone and conveying your gratitude to them in person. To me, that would mean more than a store bought cake, brought for selfish reasons just to make them feel like they are a thoughful person. I could see if you baked it yourself, but then that is a little more personal than just having a monthly cake ritual. 

In our office the culture is totally different. When we have a meeting, food is often provided. There will be chocolate mini rolls (small cakes with chocolate cream centre) and cookies BUT in addition to that will be a platter of fruit that is piled with
peaches (40 calories ech),
strawberries (4 cals each),
grapes,
apples,
pears.

I avoid the mini rolls but eat the strawbs. And there will often be a tub of hummus and celery and carrot sticks. It helps that our manager is a total gym bunny and really watches what he eats.


Sometimes when someone is feeling in a good mood they will come back with a pound of cherries or strawberries and everyone perks up JUST as much as if someone had brought in doughnuts (if not more, since everyone can have them)

Maybe if you brought in strawberries (SOoooo god when in season) or grapes it'll remind people that delicious treats don't have to be loaded with fat and sugar that can still really cheer up a crowd.

I've just learned to say, "I don't feel well."  If they ask more questions, I just look at them in the eye for a minute, which makes them wish they hadn't asked, because I just shrug and walk away.  They never ask again.  I just decided that no one is going to dictate to me--it's my life, my body, my health--and frankly, they are having enough trouble taking care of themselves.

very good idea, cookie1

My assistant ordered two large pizzas for lunch today.  For herself.  The pizza place was offering a deal where if you order a large you get a second for 99 cents.  So first off: she ordered a large pizza just for herself; and second off: really?  just because there is a special deal, do you actually need to take the second pizza?

Then when I walked by with my dish full of green beans she looked at it and said, "That's your lunch?" as though it were some alien substance.  I should have said the same to her!

So to recap: grrr to people I work with!

Jenka: LOL Next time say it! We need to start a revolution! No more nasty comments from unhealthy people about good food will be tolerated! From now on, if anyone comments on your lunch, they will get a comment back and see how they feel! Maybe we can actually begin to convince people that healthy is good...anyone want to join my revolt hehehe?

And also: OMG! 2 pizzas? Did she eat all of both of them? Gag me...