Author Topic: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food  (Read 10457 times)

toodleoo

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Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« on: November 27, 2013, 04:33:47 AM »
Especially for those of us who work in an office environment, it seems like there is always free food to be had. Donuts, leftover sandwiches/pizza from meetings, birthday cake, candy dishes on people's desks, etc... I really struggle with this because the frugal part of me screams FREE FOOD! but the healthy part of me screams, DONUTS AREN'T GOOD FOR YOU! But sometimes it is so hard to resist :(

Junior667

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #1 on: November 27, 2013, 05:13:14 AM »
We had this discussion in our office today. Well-meaning people keep sending us boxes of candy and cookies and other stuff and it's just too much. Unfortunately there really isn't anyplace for us to take it to so we are insisting visitors take all they can carry. If I make it back to the states without putting on 10 lbs or more I'll be shocked!

lizzzi

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #2 on: November 27, 2013, 05:33:13 AM »
Some tips that work pretty well over the years: Bring your lunch/snacks to work and train yourself to only eat what you yourself have brought. If you didn't bring it, you don't eat it. Be relentless about this, and co-workers will eventually quit encouraging you to eat stuff. Mentally pretend that you are diabetic, even if you're not--and eat accordingly. Or mentally pretend that the office food is poison, or illegal drugs, or something like that. Just say no.

Rural

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #3 on: November 27, 2013, 06:19:46 AM »
Fortunately for me, at a college there are always students happy to eat the junk food for us.

schimt

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #4 on: November 27, 2013, 06:21:48 AM »
I agree with Lizzi, i try to pack lots of healthy snacks and eat small amounts throughout the day, so i am never hungry and less tempted to eat the crap laying around the Plant for people to take. But those long working lunch meetings or trainings, I can't get to my desk, I am stuck eating what ever they bring in. Fortunatly that is usually not too often.

It baffles me that we have a wellness program where they do an annual physical on site and give everyone apples and bananas, then tell us how to eat better, but bring in pizza and put candy out on the tables during these long meetings and trainings.

Eric

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #5 on: November 27, 2013, 01:51:02 PM »
I pretty much eat fruit or veggies all day long at work.  If I'm already eating something, I'm less likely to dip into the sugar-filled junk food.  But when I get that sugar craving, a piece of gum really helps me get past it.


Russ

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #6 on: November 27, 2013, 01:56:04 PM »
Bring neither lunch nor money to buy lunch.

The days with office food will be offset by days with no food.

lifejoy

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #7 on: November 27, 2013, 02:32:06 PM »
I do this:

I do not buy treats and goodies at home, so if I indulge at work at least I'm not doing double duty!

I tell myself that a donut is not food. It is calories but not food.

I tell myself that free junk food costs more than a gym membership ;)

footenote

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #8 on: November 27, 2013, 04:52:56 PM »
Some tips that work pretty well over the years: Bring your lunch/snacks to work and train yourself to only eat what you yourself have brought. If you didn't bring it, you don't eat it. Be relentless about this, and co-workers will eventually quit encouraging you to eat stuff. Mentally pretend that you are diabetic, even if you're not--and eat accordingly. Or mentally pretend that the office food is poison, or illegal drugs, or something like that. Just say no.
+1 Because if you pretend you're diabetic, you will dramatically decrease your odds of becoming diabetic.

chasesfish

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #9 on: November 27, 2013, 05:57:20 PM »
I sign up for more road races around the holidays, forces me to work out a little bit more during the week knowing there are 10ks and 5ks to run in on Saturday mornings (or the one I'm signed up for tomorrow, in 23 degree weather).

The mustacian in me uses free corporate entries we get from doing sponsorships.

arebelspy

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #10 on: November 27, 2013, 06:13:02 PM »
Remove the word "food" from the title.  That's the crux of your problem, not the food.  Once free is not an allure, free food won't be either.
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dragoncar

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #11 on: November 27, 2013, 08:06:48 PM »
I've got this problem too, and I realize that any food left over on my plate is effectively "free" food since it's already been paid for.  I don't know why I have a scarcity mentality with food, since I wasn't underfed as a child or anything. 

ultros1234

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #12 on: December 02, 2013, 10:09:53 PM »
My philosophy: Since going to work almost always involves a 15 mile round-trip bike commute these days, then I get to eat the damn cookie. Another benefit of mustachianism.

(But when there's a healthier option I go for that. And there's never any junk food at home. Well... almost never.)

CDP45

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #13 on: December 02, 2013, 10:23:55 PM »
Don't worry about judgement, skinny people are the minority: http://www.gallup.com/poll/165671/obesity-rate-climbing-2013.aspx

Iron Mike Sharpe

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #14 on: December 03, 2013, 08:29:36 AM »
Remove the word "food" from the title.  That's the crux of your problem, not the food.  Once free is not an allure, free food won't be either.

Like the author talks about in Chapter 3 (I think) or Predictably Irrational.

eyePod

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #15 on: December 03, 2013, 09:28:25 AM »
When I'm on a diet, I love saying no thanks.  You can tell all the other workers who are indulging are jealous of you and your ability to avoid the stuff.  When I get off the wagon though, I chow down.  I'd love to have a happy medium where I snack a little but don't go overboard.  Maybe I'll be there by the time I die.

MoneyCat

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #16 on: December 03, 2013, 09:38:24 AM »
Free food is free food.  I exercise so much that free donuts here or there won't make a difference with my health.  What they will do is reduce the amount that I have to spend on food, which is awesome.

Cinder

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #17 on: December 03, 2013, 09:39:09 AM »
My philosophy: Since going to work almost always involves a 15 mile round-trip bike commute these days, then I get to eat the damn cookie. Another benefit of mustachianism.

(But when there's a healthier option I go for that. And there's never any junk food at home. Well... almost never.)
Free food is free food.  I exercise so much that free donuts here or there won't make a difference with my health.  What they will do is reduce the amount that I have to spend on food, which is awesome.
I also live by this philosophy... I actually had been losing TO much weight, so I upped the 'random at work junkfood' intake, and stabilized around the low/middle of 'normal' BMI

dcheesi

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #18 on: December 07, 2013, 08:33:34 AM »
This is the worst time of year for this. Typically people will bring in leftover cookies and candy, or even a brand new box of sugar cookies or chocolate. Not to mention all the homemade desserts that just magically appear...

Generally, though, I can stay away from snacks, especially larger items like donuts. What gets me are the lunch-time meetings and seminars that always bring in catered food of some sort. If I am going to sacrifice my lunch hour to sit through something work-related, it's hard not to feel that I'm "owed" the free food in return. But most of the time it's crap like pizza or subs, so I'd be much better off eating my own food instead.

YK-Phil

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #19 on: December 07, 2013, 09:35:45 AM »
Free food is free food.  I exercise so much that free donuts here or there won't make a difference with my health.  What they will do is reduce the amount that I have to spend on food, which is awesome.

This is how I see it too. I bike daily in sub-zero temperatures, workout, live a very active lifestyle so I can indulge in the occasional dozen of donuts, nanaimo bars and other sweet goodies that we usually find at meetings and events that I organize for my board...Luckily they only meet 4 times a year so I have plenty of time to burn the extra calories. This time of the year is also a bonanza of free food from open houses, Christmas parties (I only attend the free ones), and get together, and I never pass on the chance to grab a chocolate or ten from a co-worker's desk. I also have a knack for finding free food events, like this free French Association wine (the wine was not free) and cheese that had the best imported fine French cheeses I ever had the chance to sample. I think I had at least a good kilo. Then there was this obscure International East European Film Festival that I stumbled upon a month ago, where they had a free-admission closing gala at an upscale downtown restaurant, with free food, opera, and lots of high society folks...

CDP45

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #20 on: December 07, 2013, 11:55:37 AM »
This is the worst time of year for this. Typically people will bring in leftover cookies and candy, or even a brand new box of sugar cookies or chocolate. Not to mention all the homemade desserts that just magically appear...

Generally, though, I can stay away from snacks, especially larger items like donuts. What gets me are the lunch-time meetings and seminars that always bring in catered food of some sort. If I am going to sacrifice my lunch hour to sit through something work-related, it's hard not to feel that I'm "owed" the free food in return. But most of the time it's crap like pizza or subs, so I'd be much better off eating my own food instead.

I skip lunch meetings if food isn't provided. What percentage of executives at he workplace are overweight? 0/12 for at my work..interesting.

C. K.

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #21 on: December 07, 2013, 11:56:52 AM »
I eat my own food so that I'm not hungry and tempted by office food with who knows how many calories in it.

When at university, though, there were always groups trying to get you to sign up for stuff and they always included free pizza or something. I totally ate it then because it helped my food budget a wee bit and I exercised a whole lot more then.

So I ditto whoever said give away any unwanted food to college students.

Side note:
I recently ran a charity race for cancer research and guess what they offered to runners afterwards - barbeque!  I just thought of that...
« Last Edit: December 07, 2013, 03:05:26 PM by C. K. »

abhe8

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #22 on: December 07, 2013, 12:49:06 PM »
My philosophy: Since going to work almost always involves a 15 mile round-trip bike commute these days, then I get to eat the damn cookie. Another benefit of mustachianism.

(But when there's a healthier option I go for that. And there's never any junk food at home. Well... almost never.)
Free food is free food.  I exercise so much that free donuts here or there won't make a difference with my health.  What they will do is reduce the amount that I have to spend on food, which is awesome.
I also live by this philosophy... I actually had been losing TO much weight, so I upped the 'random at work junkfood' intake, and stabilized around the low/middle of 'normal' BMI

this!! i get my junk food fix free at work and don't buy or bring any home. the kids and hubby eat much better, overall, then I do. I eat very well at home (and do usually bring my lunch). but between biking and other workouts and feeding the baby, i burn a TON of calories. i see no need to resist. :)

MicroRN

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #23 on: December 09, 2013, 11:45:57 AM »
This is a problem for me too.  I'm a nurse - we have many wonderful patients/families who bring us cookies, cupcakes, pizza, and so on, especially at the holidays.  I do bring my own food, and on nights where I can actually go eat dinner, I'm fine.  The problem is that's only about 50-60% of the time (and I take my dinner break more than most of the nurses on my unit).  When you're starving and have been on your feet for 8 hours by that point... any food becomes hard to resist.  So you grab a cupcake to keep you going, then another the next time you pass the nurses station.  It's not a healthy way to be.  I feel much better on the nights I actually go sit down and eat a real meal.  I've been trying to bring more snack type foods, like cheese sticks, so I have a quick source of energy.     

gimp

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #24 on: December 09, 2013, 11:59:05 AM »
Bring neither lunch nor money to buy lunch.

The days with office food will be offset by days with no food.

This guy gets it. Eat the free food, don't eat your own.

If the food is a bit unhealthy, offset it with exercise.

Boom, now you're in better shape and spent less money on food.

arebelspy

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #25 on: December 09, 2013, 04:52:19 PM »
Bring neither lunch nor money to buy lunch.

The days with office food will be offset by days with no food.

This guy gets it. Eat the free food, don't eat your own.

If the food is a bit unhealthy, offset it with exercise.

Boom, now you're in better shape and spent less money on food.

Exercise doesn't necessarily just make up for unhealthy food.  Calories, sure.

But imagine eating only cheetos for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but running 10 miles per day.  The unhealthy food isn't just "offset" with exercise.

Now it's true that the OP may only be getting an unhealthy lunch, and may have veggies and whatever to balance it out in breakfast and dinner, but the advice given here (not just by you, but others) to just "balance out" unhealthy food with exercise is ... overly simplistic.
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Zamboni

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #26 on: December 09, 2013, 05:08:16 PM »
I pretty much eat fruit or veggies all day long at work.  If I'm already eating something, I'm less likely to dip into the sugar-filled junk food.  But when I get that sugar craving, a piece of gum really helps me get past it.

Gum does work great.

This time of year is pretty much continual free work food for me.  I had to resist a raspberry brownie today, but did eat the free vegan chili with rice.  Sigh, those brownies looked awfully good.  Then I went to another catered event right before the end of the day.  Seriously I think I could just not eat on the other days and be fine.  I have a colleague who I think pretty much does this. 

okashira

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #27 on: December 09, 2013, 05:39:52 PM »
Some tips that work pretty well over the years: Bring your lunch/snacks to work and train yourself to only eat what you yourself have brought. If you didn't bring it, you don't eat it. Be relentless about this, and co-workers will eventually quit encouraging you to eat stuff. Mentally pretend that you are diabetic, even if you're not--and eat accordingly. Or mentally pretend that the office food is poison, or illegal drugs, or something like that. Just say no.
+1 Because if you pretend you're diabetic, you will dramatically decrease your odds of becoming diabetic.

Or be like my GF's father, be super diabetic and continue to not care about what you eat

/rant

dcheesi

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #28 on: December 11, 2013, 07:41:47 AM »
Got burned by this one again yesterday. Lunch meeting with catered pizza. I tried to at least stay away from the red meat and other greasy toppings, but they fooled me with a "chipotle chicken" that was actually chipotle ranch dressing, chicken "popper" pieces and bacon. They were half an hour late delivering the food, and by then I was so hungry that I was 2/3 through the slice before I even noticed. I had heartburn all afternoon...

mrsggrowsveg

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #29 on: December 11, 2013, 02:42:59 PM »
I get a really small amount of the things I want to try and then brush my teeth.  This way, I get to socialize/complement my coworkers and satisfy my sweet tooth.  After I brush my teeth I have no desire for more.

anastrophe

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #30 on: December 11, 2013, 02:57:20 PM »
There has been a giant tupperware of incredibly delicious homemade cookies on top of the filing cabinet in my office the past two days. And I have eaten a truly spectacular number of them. I don't feel good about that.

But I also really like when there is actual lunch food--then I can put my lunch from home in the fridge and eat it the next day. Savings win!


shamelessHedon

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #31 on: December 12, 2013, 02:05:15 AM »
Remove the word "food" from the title.  That's the crux of your problem, not the food.  Once free is not an allure, free food won't be either.

That resonates with me.  Thanks!

C. K.

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Re: Resisting the Temptation of Free Food
« Reply #32 on: December 12, 2013, 05:10:07 AM »
At first I thought this was going to be a thread about those food samplers at folding tables in the supermarket manned by the nicest ladies of a certain age that they can find.To refuse the food would be like refusing your grandmother. Once they lure you in with guilt, the sales pitch comes and you find yourself buying the new applewood smoked pork sausage in the family size (It's economical, they say.) and you don't even eat meat!

I'm a wuss.
« Last Edit: December 12, 2013, 05:12:12 AM by C. K. »