Working At Candy Land
 

When I'm home, I feel like I can control whatever urges I have. I buy food strickly to diet, so there is no need to suddenly want or crave some type of candy bar. However, the place I work at is like working at Candy Land. Everyday, there are new jars full of candy on my desk, behind me in the storage bins, and on everyone elses desk around me. To make matters worse, my boss and the rest of the employees here love to bring in fast food breakfast on a daily basis for everyone else in the office. Usually I can contain myself, but then there are just some days where it feels like one bite won't hurt. Ya.. like one bite is all I'm going to have! haha. And it's usually as soon as I have that ONE bite, it all goes downhill. I'll find myself sneaking off to the kitchen to have another "small" bite, and yet another piece of food is gone.

I usually have so much more willpower. Do any of you have these problems? Sneaking food is probably the worst thing that I can do, and I know when I'm doing it and actually feel bad for doing it, but it still doesn't stop me. I think my overall problem is that I feel like if I eat infront of people, they will judge me on what I'm eating. So doing it in secrecy will solve it.

I feel like I'm going in circles. :dizzy:

I'm so there with you! I actually work for a candy company - every other day, the R & D team brings around samples for us to test or new products that they're working on. Plus, we have big displays of candy for visitors and a marketing room full of different flavors that we give out to customers. Once a month, they even give out 1 lb bags of candy to all the employees so that we can taste all the different products we make...

I think the hardest thing for me is that I tend to reach for it without thinking. Like, it's perfectly natural for me to walk by one of the displays and grab a piece or two. But if I do that a couple of times every day, I've had a handful of candy without even thinking about it. Lately, I've been trying to be really conscious of what I'm eating and why I'm doing it, but it's hard!

And when it comes to co-workers ordering out, I just have to keep telling myself that I'm making healthy choices for me - they can do whatever they want, but I'm going to do what I need to do to be healthy and fit. And then I have to giggle when they're in their 2:30 pm post-lunch comas and I'm full of energy and productive because I actually decided to eat well :)

That is hard. And, you probably know to bring in your own snacks,and foods. But, I know it is hard when the other things are staring you in the face.I guess you just have to make a committment to yourself that you won't eat any of that stuff at work.Sometimes,easier said than done.Other people might have better suggestions.It is hard for me too!

I work in a restaurant that makes amazing hand sliced fries & onion rings, chili dogs, fried apple & peach pies and sells assorted milkshakes and ice cream. And I eat here every day.... I've had to stock myself with healthy snacks and tell myself the other stuff is off limits. My employees try to feed me stuff all the time, but are getting used to me turning it down. I tell myself that anything not on my plan isn't 'mine' and look at it like stealing from the business if I eat it. Weird, but seems to work so far. :)

I don't deal with that kind of temptation, however, during the school year I hang out with guys who mainly eat hamburgers, fries, chips, muffins, etc. I just bring my lunch bag and eat my stuff with them. The sad thing is that more than once some of them have said what I'm eating looks better, but few have really bothered to change what they're eating.

I have more problems if/when we head to the school pub as it's pretty much only beer that's served. Luckily I'm not much of a beer fan, but definitely have to watch myself there.

I've worked in offices with lots of candy. In fact, I remember that I would do the money collection and usually buy big bags at Costco. Eventually though we switched over to afternoon popcorn. You can grab a handful going past and do way less damage overall.

I'm another that can relate. I feel like every week there's a potluck, baby shower, or birthday. And when there isn't one, there's donuts in the break room and bagels/pastries at every conference.

Since being diagnosed with diabetes, I've had an easier time because no one in my office offers me sweets anymore. At potlucks, I offer to bring a low-fat, healthy dish so I know there will be at least one thing I can eat. As for snacks, I try to keep some at my desk so when everyone else is swooning over the pecan rolls or gourmet cheese & crackers platter, I feel less deprived.

In this economy, you'd think these companies would have stopped spending all this money on food by now!! :lol: I swear, my department could probably pay someone's salary with the amount they spend on catering and "morale boosting" treats.

Originally Posted by Shannon in ATL:
I work in a restaurant that makes amazing hand sliced fries & onion rings, chili dogs, fried apple & peach pies and sells assorted milkshakes and ice cream. :)

You don't happen to work at the Varsity, do you? If so, I give you major props for abstaining!

I work with all women, and they are constantly bringing in sweet things they've made or (I've learned their tricks) bringing in stuff to 'share' with everyone so they don't eat it themselves. I find that if I don't allow myself to try 'just a taste/bite' then I'm fine ... but if I have a bite/taste, then I'm going back for seconds, thirds, etc.

I try to have a selection of healthy/low-cal snack options on hand so I can better fight temptation.