Work Sabotage

Recently a co-worker made a schedule that someone will bring in a "treat" every wednesday for the entire summer. I know that no one will bring in healthy treats. I'm planning something healthy for the day that I bring something, but how do I #1 fight the temptation... I can see the food from my desk, and #2 how can I avoid the "Your not having any? Why?"

Everyone see's what I bring for breakfast and lunch and see's how healthy I am trying to eat, but for some reason they expect me to eat the "treats" that they are bringing in.

Help!!

Why would you fight it?  Live a little, have a treat.

Every single wednesday? I try to save my "live a little" for the weekend when I like to have a couple of drinks.

If you really want to avoid the treats, try taking a walk on break when everyone else is crowding around the table.  Or, if you do partake of the treats, plan the rest of your meals around that to help you make sure you stay within your calorie budget.  You could even plan to eat breakfast a little later just so that when the treats are available, you won't be tempted to eat as much.  Just some thoughts...we have those days from time to time but only for special occasions.  They are always a struggle for me.  Good Luck with your Summer, no matter how you plan to tackle this situation.  And if you decide to eat treats, enjoy them!

Do they know that you are trying to have a healthy diet? If they do then you can just ask directly, "Why are you offering me this? You know I'm trying to eat healthy. No thanks." With some people it works. If not, give them the stare.

We used to do this on Fridays when I was still working.

Whatever you do, don't do as I did when someone said "go ahead, live a little" whidh was to burst into tears and run out of the room.  Actually it did work, because nobody ever pushed doughnuts on me again, but lord knows what they were saying behind my back!

I used the old tried and true "doctor's orders" line and then smiled.  Eventually, everyone learned I wasn't going to eat the doughnuts/cake/etc but would eat strawberries/etc and lo and behold, eventually everyone got used to it.

Well I would 1st:  tell that co-worker where they could go and what they could do, 2ndly: post a workout schedule for everyone in the workplace.

Just like all those PSA commercials back in the nineties 'Just say no to peer pressure!'

If you don't want a treat, why should somebody force one down your throat. Tell them it's not something that appeals to you and they should be fine with that...
And if it is something you really want, have a small piece/treat/whatever.

A woman at my work makes a different type of chocolate truffle from scratch and brings them in every Wednesday.  I figure, a chocolate truffle is 100-200 calories, depending on how rich.  That's an extra 1-2 miles on my run.  Definitely worth it for pure deliciousness.

As for other treats (there are plenty of cakes that float around here), it's all about portion control: quarter a cupcake or limit yourself to 5 chips with a tablespoon of dip, and you'll have very little you have to cut from the rest of your day or to add to your exercise routine.

This is too funny! I used to think that my coworkers were trying to sabotage my weight loss as well. While we dont have "treats" every week, we do have annoying people that bring in these ridiculously LARGE donughts (where do they get this crap from)! At first it really got under my skin because I felt as if people were disregarding my desire to change my lifetsyle, when they would CONSTANTLY ask me to eat their junk or go to fast food places for lunch. IMO, if they really wanted my company they would offer to go to healthier places or bring in some fruit/veggies every blue moon! Anyway, I have long since gotten over that! Now if we are having functions, I ALWAYS bring a healthy alternative. By the way, people are going to do want they want so there is no sense in trying to change them. Oh and sorry to inform you but those coworkers are not going to stop asking you why you dont want any. So you can do one of two things 1: tell them you are allergic...it worked for an old roommate; or 2: just smile and politely say "No thanks, I dont eat that." <<<Thats what I do!

GOOD LUCK!

We do treat fridays here at my work.  At firt I participated by bringing treats when it was my turn but then I wasn't eating any of the food because it's hard to count those calories.  I just asked that I be removed from the participation soI don't have to bring anything and have even more of an excuse to not eat.  You'll get over other people making comments.  When people are passing treats around like the other day it was cookies, I have a coworker that teases me and says, Caryn doesnt' want any!  She doesn't mean any harm, I think they just have fun with it.  People should understand. 

Just close the door to your office every wednesday and if someone asks why your door is closed just say that unless there healthy treats you don't want to be tempted.  You can start a schedule for every Monday to bring in a rare fruit plate or something like that, who knows you might even get others involved with a new life style change!

I love healthystriver's idea :)  I also agree with sulfyr - there is no reason why you should eat the "treats" if you do not want to.  It is your decision, not theirs.  If they want to get offended, they will get over it.  As for people talking behind your back, they will do that NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO.  People will always ask "why?" whenever you don't do what they supposedly expect you to (to give you an example: my mother-in-law lives 10 minutes away and expects me to go over there to "hang out" with her AT LEAST once a week (DH is a consultant and travels) and whenever I say I am going to stay home I get the "WHYYYY??")

Now, if you want to participate and have a treat, then that's another thing!  In that case, I would agree with the "live a little" concept, and just add on some additional time to your workout that day... or plan the rest of your meals accordingly. 

Original Post by clairelaine:

We used to do this on Fridays when I was still working.

Whatever you do, don't do as I did when someone said "go ahead, live a little" whidh was to burst into tears and run out of the room.  Actually it did work, because nobody ever pushed doughnuts on me again, but lord knows what they were saying behind my back!

This works for pretty much any situation - diet related or no.  Not that I reccommend it... I just cry VERY easily.

Be honest. Say, "It looks delicious but I'm watching my calorie intake. Did you know you have to walk for an hour at 3 mph to walk off 200 calories?"

They shouldn't be offended that you don't want to taste their recipe. If they seem to be (which is probably jealousy that you are exhibiting self control they wish they possessed) just share with them a bit of info about your struggle. If they don't understand you ultimately have to make a choice between staying true to your priorities and goals and "making nice".

Now, . . . .if only I could follow my own advice. . .I don't have an office treat problem since I'm the only female but. . .I eat office lunches with a group of dudes that wolf down pizza, BBQ, desserts. . . .like their afraid we'll never have another office paid lunch again!!!

I have run into this kind of thing in the past too... At Christmas when everyone was bringing in baking and chocolate, and candy, I brought in Christmas oranges and everyone was so excited because they were all getting sick of the junk food, a 5lb box was gone in under 15mins!

Why not bring in Watermelon, personally, I can't stand the stuff, lol, but it might be a welcomed treat on a hot summer day. And who knows you might start a trend ;o)

I've done a little of all of it. Sometimes I take a plate, say I'm busy and will eat at my desk, and when I get there I throw it away. Later tell them how good it was. Or how sick it made you. Depends on if it was someone just tyring to be sweet or someone who really irks you.

If you really don't want to eat the treats, try taking a walk at breaktime.

If you really want a "taste", have one and log it as part of your daily intake.

If you really want an entire portion, have one, enjoy it, log it, and move on.

I would avoid making a big deal about whatever you do -- it isn't really anybody's business but yours.  And most people don't really care what someone else is eating/not eating.  Unless they have issues with their own decsions and are looking for validation -- and why play that game?

Ok - maybe I am crazy but I never have trouble saying no.  I just say "that looks great but I have to pass"  I dont explain or complain I just say no.

But we do not have a lot of politics where I work.  It is not someplace people feel compelled to watch their backs or feel like they will make a huge error if they say no.  

Thank you all so much for your ideas. I have decided to bring myself a healthy snack on Wednesdays and when its my turn they are getting something healthy too!

I just love the "post a workout schedule for them" thats great. I really do think the reason that some people say things is becuase maybe they have a little guilt for eating the things that they are, others dont care at all.

I have to tell you all that I felt great about myself yesterday not going for the "treat"  I think maybe at some point if there is something that really really appeals to me, then maybe I'll "live a little" and have some, but I just want to make sure its really worth it to me!

Thanks to everyone!!