Why????????

[Determined Girl]

I am usually a rock when it comes to willpower.....but can anyone relate to me when I say that for some reason when you are really being strict with your diet is when all the demons start comming out of the woodwork? What I mean by this is people actually trying to MAKE you eat things.

I dont have this problem when it comes to my own food choices, but as soon as I get to work or go over my mothers house it becomes 15X harder sustain the will power. Just a few seconds ago someone just came to my cube offering me chocolate from africa! I said no, and she said yes you can, and I said no, and she said "come on".... and I said no and she finally left. It seems like every 30 min I have to shoo someone away from me not once but 2 or 3 times, and sometimes I feel like it starts to break me down.

Yesterday just for GP one of my coworkers had a whole banana split bar in her cubicle just because she felt like it?! Free food for me again (come on... how many times does this happen?) Oh and my mom.....that is another story. I try not to go into the kitchen when I am over there because then that is when the real pressure starts, she is the most persistant of them all. I have some persistant people around me and I am learning to block it out, but it is so HARD! But everytime I say no, it feels like POWER! That is the only thing that helps me.

Does anyone else have this problem? I would love to read about it, it would make me feel better.

 

[b fold the truth]

To diet...you have to REALLY want it and not worry about others...or what they offer you.

For over a year I dieted and I had NO problems eating my turkey breasts and white rice before me and all my friends went into Taco Bell or some fancy restaurant...because I knew that I was getting leaner...

B True

 

[THeMaCHinE]

This may sound callous, but at work, what I usually do is accept the food to get them out of my face, wait till they leave my office, and throw it in the trash can.

 

[circusgirl]

They can't stand the fact that you are sticking to your diet and they are not.

Also, some people feel that they have to say no a few times before accepting something when someone offers it. Maybe some of these people want to make sure you know it's ok to take some.

It depends on their attitude. If you calmly and pleasantly explain that you would love a brownie/chocs/cookies BUT you are eating for training and have a specific goal in mind and these foods interfere with it, so no thanks, most well-intentioned people should get the message.

Thing is, 99% of women will want a cookie, but say, "oh, I'm on a diet" when what they are really saying is "please push these on me so I won't feel guilty for eating too much on my slimfast/beverly hills/whatever diet plan" so their friends oblige.

There will be a small number of people who are actively jealous, but they should be easy to spot once the "i have specific goals in mind" speech comes out, as they will get aggressive about it.

 

[THeMaCHinE]

It really is easier to just accept it with a smile, then throw it away when they're not looking lol ...

 

[Determined Girl]

I used to accept the goodies so that the people would go away, and I would store it in my freezer for a cheat day, because I cannot stand to throw away food. But then, my freezer had nothing but junk in it after a while of doing this. I had single slices of pizza, half chocolate bars, One hot dog (in the bun), Half eaten muffins, single cookies...on and on. basically it was little bitty stuff that ended up taking over my freezer. Eventually I had to throw it away all at once......I guess it is a mental thing. But yea, I need to start throwing it away on the spot.

 

[THeMaCHinE]

If you look at junk food as evil (not sure if this is the right word but you get what I'm saying), then you should have no problem throwing it away. Just think of it as disposing of something nasty and saving some poor slacker the mini-step towards his/her coronary. lol...

 

[Shak]

I have the same problem. There has been packages of cookies and containers of ice cream at work for the past couple of weeks.

People feel better about eating junk food when they can all eat together. If everyone else is getting fat, why not join in too.

Your stubbornness to join in and eat that crap makes people realize that no, they don't have to eat it - you're not. It takes away the "well, if everyone else is" excuse and makes them realize that it's their own lack of will power to blame.

Stay strong!! Don't give in to the pressure! Take satisfaction that you look great and feel great.

The next time someone "tempts" you with food, look them point blank in the eye and say "Why would I want to put that crap in my body? All it's going to do is make me fat." Maybe they'll get the point.

 

[spatts]

I think you should run around to random offices asking them over and over if they'd like a chx breast or packet of tuna.

 

[Determined Girl]

thanks everyone, this is making me feel better.

 

[JJFigure]

I think you should run around to random offices asking them over and over if they'd like a chx breast or packet of tuna.

Good one Spatts! I'll have to try it out.

I just say no thanks with a smile and then ignore the person. Luckily, most of the people I'm around are a little intimidated by me and they know I compete, so they don't push.

Here's my latest trick - I have a bag of veggies on my desk I'm munching on, and if someone offers up junk food, I counter with veggies. That usually sends them running - especially if I have broccoli. Red peppers people might actually take one; I've had no takers for the plain, raw broccoli though.

 

[SteelWeaver]

True that. They'll take carrots, or cucumber, they'll even take celery or EVEN raw cauliflower on rare occasions, but never the broccoli. I wonder why?

They don't much care for the boiled egg white and cottage cheese dip, though, lol.

DG - that is hilarious about your freezer! It's kinda weird actually, heh heh. (not bad weird, just peculiar, lol)

 

[Daisy_Girl]

It is MUCH easier for people to feel better about *their* food choices if they can make *everyone* do what they do. They would rather bring you down to what they do, than be inspired by your strength. Of course, not everyone is like this, and sometimes it is subconscious - not mindful.

It goes hand-in-hand with most people's inability to take responsibility for their actions. It is easier to blame a "slow metabolism" or "bad genetics" than all that fast food and crap they eat.

 

[valerie]

Lots of times people will try to sabotage your dieting efforts. Keep up with what you are doing and even the hard headed ones will get your drift.

Family can be tough too. I'm lucky in that my folks never push anything on me, in fact my parents are really interested in eating clean. Good luck

 

[slinky]

Haha!

It's the other way around with me. People (especially chicks) usually assume I'm the type that eats salads all the time, especially for lunch. Since salads are sooooooo healthy So, I'm invited to join other chickies on their lunches since they usually go where there's alot of different kinds of salads on the menu.

My response is, "do I look like a rabbit?" - as I'm munching on my steak.


Listen, I'm all for eating clean. But I really feel that if 95% of your diet is clean food, an occasional "treat" ain't gonna kill you. Hell, I'm the one usually munching on a large cookie or brownie. hehehe. Everyone else is always on some sort of diet.

 

[SouthernBell]

I know the felling, I work in the oil field and seems like everyday some vendor is bringing by hotdogs, donuts or some other thing that I refuse to eat. After being with the company for 3-years they have finally realized they are wasting thier time asking if I would like some. They finally accepted the fact that I don't eat like them unless of course it is a cheat day and then i usually opt for a margaritta and chips and salsa.

Sooner or later, hopefully sooner, they will get tired of asking and just pass you by, but until then remain strong

SB

 

[ArtsyChic]

I think it's important for me to remember that my health and body are more important to me then any momentary bliss from a peice of chocolate, a cookie or whatever. That enjoyment is only as long as that cookie lasts..being healthy and beautiful lasts as long as you keep it up. It's just simply not worth it to eat/accept those foods.

My father, who has the absolute WORST eating habits of anyone around, is a margarine/butter eating machine...I ask him when I was last home, "Are you willing ot die/have heart attack/stroke for that butter? Are you willing to risk not seeing grand kids or being with my mom just because you want some more fat on your taters?" Most people have to make this connection in their head before anything can happen.

Remember, those foods are just not worth it...

BTW, an entire banana split bar in her cubical? What kind of slobs are you working with? That's the epitomy of sloven.

Alicia

 

[Determined Girl]

Artsychic,

Oh the banana split in the cubicle is just the beginning. My manager brings in doughnuts about once a week, Everybody on my team is bringing in something different everyday. Bagels with about 6 containers of different kinds of cream cheese (I love trying different things so this is really hard for me), Cookies, ect.

One time, in a meeting one of my coworkers brought in a chocolate cake that was the height of 4 regular cakes! It was chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate. Pizza ordered at least twice a week, and more (I just cant think of the rest right now). Yes, I work around people that L-O-V-E to eat. Then they lookin at me all crazy and shit just because I say no to everything.

 

[Sassy69]

Another easy thing to keep all of it in perspective - just think about all the shit that goes into those nicely preserved Twinkies & Snickers Bars! Hot Dogs? You know what hot dogs are made out of, right? Lips & Assholes! (My fav quote from "The Great Outdoors" )

Also, frankly I feel like shit if I eat junk (even if I enjoy it at the moment) - too much carb makes me feel like a water balloon ready to burst, too much sugar gives me a 3 hour sugar rush, too much processed fat makes me feel like it all came out on my face and then I have gas the next morning.

Pretty picture huh? Esp if the next morning is leg day w/ the men's rugby team. ("OK, who brought the duck???")

 

[ArtsyChic]

I love to eat too..but I like being lean and healthy even more! Don't get me wrong, I can be a pizza eating fool. But as Sassy stated..I also wake up bloated like a puffer fish and I can practically here my cells swishing from all the water. Not fun. I feel better when I'm eating correctly.

Alicia

 

[Puddles]

I think you should run around to random offices asking them over and over if they'd like a chx breast or packet of tuna.

LOL I work for my husband and we just got a small fridge in his office. I'll pack our chicken and brown rice or salads most of the time, but sometimes I just don't have the time to get it together. I keep packs of protein powder, bottled water, individual packets of tuna, cans of salmon and packets of mustard at work for those occasions. My husband eats the tuna, but he's absolutely forbidden me to eat the salmon in his office because of the smell. I have to go into our storage room to eat it all alone. Sometimes I just wanna ya know?