Does anyone else feel like they just can't say no when free snacks are offered? I can plan my meals and snacks perfectly for the day but the minute I get to class or work and someone has made cookies, brought in food ect., I HAVE to eat it, even if I'm not at all hungry. Where is the willpower!

I am right there with ya. Is there any options to bring your own snack or if it's planned bring something healthy?

I always really hate when people bring chocolate, cookies...to work and leave it in the break room. It's so hard for me to leave it alone but I usually end up ocasscionally taking myself to jamba juice or getting a coffee frap light instead of eating 37348483 cookies.

But if you do indulge in a few goodies don't smash your phone! ( I love the quote in your signature)

I'm in college and haven't ever worked in an office, though I did eat a lot of free food when I've worked in restaurants.
But I'm actually the opposite now, I'm not sure why, but when we have food in class for parties or whatever I never eat anything, since like sophomore year of high school. I am really anxious and self conscious, and I think that for me, I feel like everyone is expecting me to chow down and so I can't eat anything or I'll prove them right. Like, eating in front of people is like admitting I'm fat. I'm nuts, right? Haha. I'm really overweight and am usually the largest person in any class unless there's a really morbidly obese person, every once in awhile. S that's probably why I am that way. It's weird how we all tend to think about things like that differently.

Yessssssssssssssssssssssss! I'm a poor fatty, when there is free food I take advantage of it. I think it stems from not having a lot of money a few years ago and not knowing when I would have the chance to eat again. I used to say, offer me free food and i'll follow you to the ends of the earth....le sigh. It's hard to say no to food.

I am the exact same way! I love free food and I also think it stems from being really poor for a while and not having much to eat (definitely didn't have anything yummy to eat back then). I am getting better at resisting if I am "out of calories" but I do still partake occasionally.

Goody, I have a friend at work who will never drink her milk after she eats cereal... because when she was a kid they had to recycle milk amongst her siblings because there wasn't enough to go around.

Ewww, and, that is really sad.

My issue is that if someone offers me something I feel I have to accept it in order to be polite (ESPECIALLY if it is something they made).

Last weekend I was given a slice of pizza that was RAW in the middle (dough not cooked) but I ate half of it just to be polite.

Yes, I'm nuts.

Yeah, I always feel guilted into eating it. What I do now is take it, pretend to save it for later, and then throw it away!

If people are forcing things on you, saying "I'll have some later" (and then never having any) works for me nearly 90% of the time. If they keep pushing then I get nasty with them.

If they're not pushing and the food is just there, you need to remind yourself that yes, that cookie counts toward whatever plan you're on and you'll need to write it down/count the calories/points/whatever and is it worth it? If you have room, great! Have the cookie. If not then there will always be cookies.

I never deprive myself. If I really want the cookie, I'll have it. I don't need the whole plate, one is enough to get the taste and enjoy it.

I am trying this new approach that has helped me in the past few days. It's asking myself if I want it or if I am having it because it's there.

I came to realise how absurd it is to eat something just because it's there to have. That means I let "others" influence when I eat what. And they have me wasting calories.

So, maybe try looking at stuff you eat and ask yourself everytime "why am I eating this?". Once you get used to that line of thought it's easier to say no I think.

Depends on what it is, I really have no problem saying no to people whether they made it or not. There has been people who were selling cupcakes and well I didn't have the money for the cupcake to be honest and two I didn't want it. Anyways they went downstairs and one of my co-workers bought me the cupcake (mostly because the girls guilt tripped him into it) and they brought it up to me. 10 minutes later I smashed it because I didn't want it then threw it out. I was also pissed off about something my ex did, so the smashing of the cupcake made me feel so much better. haha

I grew up in a very poor household and I swear it's part of the reason I have this problem. I have the same issues with "finishing my plate" and buying crap food in bulk because "it's the better deal". I'm slowly weening myself off both habits, but it's funny how ingrained they are.