Work and Temptations

At my job there are always temptations. They pop popcorn with lots of butter downstairs all day long. I have to smell popcorn all day. People every where have candy bowels laying on their desks for you to grab candy. One of my co-workers has brought brownies with icing on them in to share. We are always having some sort of meeting or party and they include food and not always healthy food either.  I have had a strong will and have avoided it for a while now but I can feel my wall breaking.

How do you avoid so much temptations?! I have to look at these goodies for 6 hours a day!!!

[Lonelymom]

oops I meant to include my ticker.

[Got_To_Do_It]

The only way to do it is mind over matter -  you have to be 100% focused on yur goal and our reasons for wanting to get there.... It has to be your brain not your tummy, nose, tastebuds, hormones, fingers controlling what goes into your moth...

It is never going to be easy... I have always struggled -  this time I have a change of attitude -  more focus and determination and it is paying off.... I am convinced weightloss success is 10% planning - 90% mind set.

Good luck :) x

[Barb135]

Popcorn is good for you - why not take your own 100 calorie packs of popcorn?  

If someone brings brownies, how about one tiny piece and sit down to eat it, so you can really concentrate on nothing but that brownie - how it feels, tastes, smells, etc.  If you really concentrate on what you are eating, it doesn't take nearly as much to satisfy yourself.

You can't live your life completely depriving yourself of everything you like.  You have to learn to be able to eat a very small portion and be satisfied with just that.  That's why it's important to sit down and concentrate on it or you will just mindlessly keep stuffing more into your mouth.  I know how that works - one of my downfalls is tootsie rolls and if I'm not careful, I will just stuff them in one after the other and not even taste them, but if I really concentrate on everything about it, I will stop with one or two.  

Try different ways of doing things and find what works for you because everyone is different and what works for me might not work for you and visa versa.  But don't be so hard on yourself.  

Good luck.  

[twehner5]

Barb, I'm going to tell the teacher if you look at my computer ONE MORE TIME!!!  You are sooo gonna get detention - and I'm gonna pull your hair!

Lonelymom, "Popcorn is good for you - why not take your own 100 calorie packs of popcorn?"  I hate when she does that.  I was going to suggest the 100 calorie popcorn bags.  Oh, well.  

You know, Barb mentioned tootsie rolls.  You've maybe noticed that I LOVE sweets...?  I used to buy those and keep them "out of sight - out of mind".  BUT, I did allow myself 5 of those small ones per day.  Remember the story I'm stickin' to???  I think my mama's breast milk ended with tootsie rolls!  HA!  BARB DIDN'T SEE THAT ONE COMIN'!!!

[Lonelymom]

Thank you ladies for all of your help!!! I will try and pick up some of those yummy 100 calorie packs and popcorn. Then I won't feel so deprived.

I agree with you about the breast milk. I wasn't breast feed but oh well I am still claiming that is my reason behind my madness.

[Barb135]

Ok smartie pants, twehner5 - I wasn't breast fed so explain MY love of tootsie rolls!!  

I did NOT look at your computer - you just want to take my ideas all the time.  I'm telling on YOU and you're the one that's going to get detention AND you're getting an "F" in sportsmanship!!  So there!!                                                        lol

Well now that I've dealt with that.........................

Lonelymom - why not try some sugar free hard candies to suck on?  But stick with just 1 or 2 per day because "sugar free" does not necessarily mean "diet".  

Keep trying to come up with other ways help curb the appetite - maybe munch on some carrots and celery sticks or slice up an apple or a pear - you'll help satisfy your sweet tooth, plus you'll get lots more fluid and fiber in your body.

Good luck and keep checking in here, cuz I know twehner5 is going to come up with some more ideas - I just can't see her computer right now.  

[twehner5]

See, I knew she was lookin'!  I had my hand over it.  TEACHER!!!!

Lonelymom, I hate to admit that Barb is right.  You've gotta keep trying to come up with ways to curb your appetite.  There are tons of ideas floating around here all the time.  Recently, we had a post about chewing gum.  If that works for you, try that.  I have a friend who used to brush her teeth because she didn't want to eat anything when her teeth were just brushed.  That wouldn't work for me, but it might give you some ideas.

You CAN do this.  

[Lonelymom]

Hey girls one of my friends told me she eats pickles when she has a sweet tooth and it helped get rid of the sweet tooth.

I looked pickles up in my points booklet and they are 0 points so I tried her suggestion and she is right. Don't ask me how but pickles completely help to curve the sweet tooth!!!

[msniki412]

I got the same problem where I work. About 11am or so is when i start smelling the lunch foods being made in the lunchroom...and it makes me so hungry!!!! Not many sweets around, except when some of the girls go to this bakery and bring some cupcakes back...thats when I habe a problem. I would love to try the pickle idea, only problem is pickles give me heartburn!!!!

[Barb135]

I don't know how the pickles would work either, but I believe they do.  I also read once that if you are craving salty things, it'l likely that you are dehydrated, so drinking water helps.  There was some more stuff too - like what to do if you crave sweets, but I can't remember them all right now - I'll have to dig around and see if I can find that article.  

I think the key is to just make sure you have your own food available whenever other people start bringing out their own goodies.  And remember, if they try to talk you into eating something you know isn't good for you, they aren't really looking out for your best interests.  

Keep working at it - you'll get it.  And I'm sure twehner5 will have some great words of wisdom later on (after she looks at MY computer, lol).  

[Lonelymom]

Yeah I think she is accussing you to hide her cheating....(whispering into Barb's ear)

I will stick with you if the teacher says anything. lol

Thank you again for all your help. I have started planning my day and bringing healthy snacks with me to fight off the hunger.

[Barb135]

(Whispering back) Thanks - appreciate your backing!!  

Now as for twehner5 - she has some good ideas of her own too (don't know why she always wants to accuse ME of looking at her computer!! lol).  She doesn't really "diet" - I think she just cuts her portions and eats within reason - is that right twehner?  

The gal who cuts my hair all the time has recently lost over 50 pounds just by practicing "portion control" - meaning she eats pretty much what she wants, but really watches the portion sizes.  You know - like: a portion of meat is about the size of deck of playing cards, a portion of rice is approx the size of a small fist.  There are web sites that will help you with that if you think that might work.  

Nothing is cut in stone - you need to do what works for you and if you try one approach and it doesn't work - why not try something else until you find something that works and that you can live with.  There are also tons of websites that can help you - you can take almost any "diet" and adapt it to your needs.  

You go girl - do what works for you.  

[Ranaesheart]

Lonelymom - What wonderful strides you have made to reach out for support when you feel the temptations rising!   See how these wonderful ladies came to your aid?  They truly are inspiring if we could only keep them from cheating, tattling and whispering.  (((Lollll)))

Actually, I must admit that I couldn't wait to see what antics and quips were coming in each post!  Wonderful information and lighthearted fun and friendship .. :)

The 100-calorie popcorn is great and I personally like PopSecret's Kettle Korn .. a little salty and a little sweet.  You can jazz it up a little with some fresh grated parmesan cheese and a little ground pepper or any number of spices to mix up the flavor.

As for the brownie .. may I suggest several chocolate options .. Weight Watchers frozen dessert cake, a couple of Hershey kisses that you take tiny bites and let melt slowly .. see how long you can make them last and really savor the flavor!  I like dark chocolate but found I could not stay out of them once I started.  So, I entrusted a supportive coworker with the bag and I could have 2 pieces a day.  What was really neat .. is I found out I didn't need or want them each day .. and that was a victory!

May I suggest that you do the homework assignments (1-4), make copies of the list and keep it with you.  In moments of temptation, take the list out and remember WHAT and WHY you have made these goals.

My coworkers certainly knew how to eat and brought lots of food.  I always kept a favorite frozen dinner in the freezer so when temptations ran rampant, I always had something I truly enjoyed.  

The dill pickle idea is a great one.  An apple works that way for me as well.  Just like the dill pickle, you may want to eat something with bulk, fiber or protein FIRST and then see if you're still hungry and craving something.  If so .. it's all about making "better" choices .. like the 2 pieces of chocolate rather than a brownie with frosting OR a piece of grilled chicken rather than fried chicken.

You're doing GREAT!!!

[lucindamartinez]

You are doing great!  

The easiest way for me to avoid temptation is to plan ahead with snacks of my own that are healthy and make sure that I eat frequently enough to avoid being overly hungry.