I know exactly how you feel about parties. My work is a party/potluck mecca. I never made a big deal about not eating the food I choose to eat, instead of the food that is at the potluck. I will eat my salad or fruit.

I have gotton so my admiration and respect from my fellow coworkers for my determination in losing weight.

Christy K.

My company does it a LOT! Every year on the anniversary of the Nisqually Earthquake we have an earthquake drill and they buy a huge "earthcake" for everybody. Also if we get a new product approved or something they often have treats... maybe cake and ice cream. Plus every Friday we have "Friday treats" where we are divided into groups of 14 or so and each week one group provides treats for everyone at 10 AM; we get 30 minutes for treats and the prep team gets 15-30 minutes to set up. We each can spend $10 (total of $140) for which the company reimburses. In our office (there are 3 facilities in this area) we have around 100 people so we come up with something to feed that many. Sometimes it is donuts and stuff; some even do homemade soup, all kinds of breakfasts or sandwiches.

By the way, most of us consider this a very worthy investment on the part of the company in terms of employee morale and dedication, and promoting a positive work environment. Appreciated employees are BETTER employees.

Plus at my section's monthly staff meeting, two "birthday people" for that month provide treats. Usually they bring something junky and also fruit or something for the health crowd. AND people usually bring cakes or other treats for birthdays and special occasions... or just set out huge plates of cookies, cake, candy or whatever for no reason. LOL I have NEVER worked where there is so much "junk food" around.

But I don't TOUCH the stuff (except the fruit and veggies, etc.). At Friday treats last week I had lettuce and tomatoes, while people ate big sandwiches. You don't HAVE to partake of stuff just because it is there in front of you! I now look at the "junk food tables" as victory tables and take a discretely take a lap around them LOL.

But there are also quite a few people there who are very health minded and won't eat the bad for you stuff. In fact, in my individual department (5 of us) we stopped bringing cakes for birthdays because none of us want to EAT it. I don't make a big deal out of not eating junk... just don't do it. If something is said, I respond jokingly that that stuff is not touching MY lips!

Perhaps it helps that my company really works hard to hire people who can get along well with others, and giving "crap" to people is just not put up with so we don't have a lot of the petty bickering that goes on most places... though we certainly are not perfect and have our moments LOL. But I can't imagine WHY you would feel you HAVE to eat something you don't want... just politely say "no thanks" and don't EAT the stuff!! There are ALWAYS going to be temptations around wherever we go... it is up to US to make the decision and just not do it!!!

It just keeps going on and on.... LOL
So I work at a university. We have student workers. Today is a student appreciation party. Tomorrow is a campus wide employee barbecue. Does it EVER end? And 2 days ago was that other party. My goodness! I know I sound like a party pooper, and it's honestly not that I really WANT the cake, etc. The issue is really that I feel funny and like people are looking at me if I don't take the junk. But if I ate it at every party, I'd be enormous!!!! LOL

Why do you feel "funny" for not eating junk? We are always going to be faced with situations where there is plenty of it around... especially in our out of control (eating wise) society. Learning to say "no thanks" and sticking with it is essential if we are going to make it on this journey!! Hang in there!!!!

I guess it's because I'm kinda paranoid...
I'm the type who doesn't want to really be noticed...even if it's for a compliment. I just wanted to lose weight quietly entirely for my own comfort and not want to talk about it. Unfortunately, weight is a highly visible characteristic. I feel like people are watching to see what I'm eating, if you know what I mean. Maybe that sounds weird, but it's how I feel.

Yes I do understand... I don't like to have it noticed either that I am not eating stuff... but there is only one way to do this and it is to take a stand and do what we know is right. If we let others sabotage us we are going to be eating constantly... LOL at least that is sure true where I work!!!