Office Workers - How to deal with the sharers?

Sugar addict

ldejabet — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 18:18:08 -0400

I have a serious sugar addiction and everyone in the office knows it. Fortunately for me, I DON'T LIKE CHOCOLATE!!! This keeps me away from most treats brought into the office. I will buy chocolate for the candy dish at the main desk just so that I won't eat anything in it. Misery does love company and occassionally someone with bring Hot Tamales just for me. I just have a few and put the rest out to share. On a really bad day, I eat the whole box by myself. Still working on the willpower.

hand washing

quornflour — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 22:16:12 -0400

when people have food at work, I just remind myself that not everyone washes their hands after using the bathroom and before touching food.

that does the trick for me.

just realized something

Rexie — Sat, 08 May 2010 23:40:26 -0400

That this is a really old subject, last post looks like it was last summer. Oh, well... maybe someone will read mine..... ;~)

a culprit

Rexie — Sat, 08 May 2010 23:33:00 -0400

Well, I work with a bunch of really nice folks who love to eat. I was one who kept a candy dish on my desk filled with various types of chocolate including the mini bars. Since I was diagnosed "prediabetic" I realized that was going to have to go. I placed a small sign on it stating, "after this supply is gone, the candy store will close." They all got a kick out of that and when I left work on thursday there were only a few pieces left, which I am sure will be gone when I return on tuesday. I shared my diagnosis with those closest to me and they have been very supportive. They still bring food and set it in the "food court" as we call an empty cubicle, they announce that it is there, so I know to avoid it if I am feeling particularly weak that day. Otherwise, I repeat silently the prayer that I have prayed every day since I was diagnosed, "Thank you God that this condition was found before it had developed any worse. Help me do today what I know to do in order to keep full blown diabetes from taking over my body."

BTW, I am looking for motivators, don't exactly know how to get them except to ask, so far no one has taken me up on it....

Well...

SlackMaster — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:57:01 -0400

Nice glasses. I thought they didn't allow smiling the matrix Neo...

;-)

Work food

Shambo — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:47:30 -0400

I agree with the large eyebrows above me. It boils down to you personally. You are the one with the problem. Yes, your co-workers should be more understanding and even have a bit more common decency to keep food in the lounge.

But in the end, you are the one who has to deal with daily temptations.

Office spreads

SlackMaster — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:26:12 -0400

I feel your pain. I work in a department that's always rotating people in and out and everytime someone leaves they have a big spread, and it's NEVER anything I can have.

People put candy on their desk to attract people. It's like social bait. They put it there so you'll come chat with them.

There's nothing you're going to be able to do to stop them from doing this, nor should they.

Although I agree that there shouldn't be food shoved in your face in your workspace.

Healthy & Sneaky

fitbethlin — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:29:36 -0400

I agree with the suggestion to bring in healthy snacks. And I think you can combine that with the suggestion to just start taking a ton of the unhealthy snacks to keep people in line. I don't think I'd depend on will power - that's what got me where I am today and that isn't an endorsement of will power.

I think I'd take the one coworker's response as a challenge. I don't think I'd email back anything specific, but I'd print it out and keep it on my desk for those moments when I was tempted to grab a snack. That's sounds like a challenge to me! :)

Of course, if you REALLY want to, print it out and tape a copy to the next candy jar that goes up there. :)

Bring in Healthy snacks

nats23 — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:11:27 -0400

I know it would be costly, but what about bringing in healthy snacks and putting them in place of the junk people bring by. Or you could do a test to see what people actually do. I think when you give people the option of eating healthy food (for free) their guilt will get the best of them.

ACK!

jadielady — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:52:40 -0400

Today someone brought in a whole pikle of Little Debbie snack cakes.

Swiss Rolls, powdered donus etc.

Didn't help its been a really bad day, so I let myself have ONE.

I emailed the lady who brought them and her response was :

"If I can't be skinny I will make all of my friends fat!!

lol"

Same issue

electra — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 08:23:27 -0400

I have the same problem and I finally just had a talk with myself and said "just say no"! I have a huge bowl of chocolate candy on my desk that I have not touched in a week now. I used to eat it all day long, but the bottom line is that it isn't likely to change. Sometimes I think these people do it on purpose. They know I am on a quest to get healthier, but insist on putting the candy on my desk! I understand your frustration!

Will power

heatherkind — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:40:14 -0400

I say if they want the food out, let em. You do have will power right? I mean It would just make me feel great everytime I said no to the food! I would just worry about yourself and if other people want to eat crap food or candy all day let them. I am not trying to be rude. I have "crap pushers" (that's their name here at my office that I gave them). I understand but why waiste your time. Anywhere you go you are going to see the candy dish or the food so just get some will power and move on to the next thing.

dimurof82 — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:31:59 -0500

I would say if you can, when they arent looking, just throw out the goodies or steal handfuls at a time and throw em out. Soon they will get so mad they will just stop putting them out..Nobody is willing to spend 30 bucks/week on candy for the office.