I’ve received a number of pleas from Kick in the Tush Club members – desperate to find an answer to their office food situations. From co-workers (even bosses) foisting food upon them, to the ubiquitous parties – it’s just too much. What has happened to the workplace? Is it a breeding ground for fat thighs, soft stomachs, spreading rumps and sugar highs?
One member writes:
Dear Our Lady of Weight Loss ~ Office food is doing me in. I just don’t know what to do about the birthdays, going away parties, promotion celebrations, not to mention the leftovers from the in-house meetings and luncheons, as well as the bowls and bags of candies, cookies and chips at every turn of the cubicle. This week promises to be loaded with the inevitable fattening foods – ranging from greasy pizza to chocolate seven layer cake and/or champagne – where I feel obligated to be polite and partake. And, the culture is such that everyone comes in early, goes home late and eats most of their meals at their desk. I haven’t seen sunlight in two months. My hands are sticky with M&Ms.(I thought that they don’t melt in your hands?) Please HELP! ~ Sticky Fingers
What to do? Our Lady of Weight Loss to the rescue.
There are ways for us to fight the office food demons – both food and people a.k.a. saboteurs (listed below) – but there is a bigger problem at play here. It’s the corporate food culture, and it needs to be acknowledged, explored and changed.
Our mission is to establish new policy – to enlist the heads of our companies – the Presidents, the CEOs, the Directors of Human Resources. Our goal is to transform the office into a healthy, happy and supportive workplace environment. (“Impossible,” you say. “Nothing is impossible!” I say.)
Education and communication are our tools. For some it may be easy, as their Big Boss is into jogging and smoothies, but for others, Big Boss may be a bacon cheeseburger and donut junkie. Nevertheless, we must prevail.
Let’s start with The Office Manifesto – a document that you can clip, paste, print, sign and sweetly hand (minus the M&M fingerprints) to your boss.
The OFFICE MANIFESTO
We, employees of _____________________ declare that the state of office eating is heretofore declared out of control. We hereby instate the following policy.
Henceforth, healthy options are to be made available at in-house meetings and parties.
Henceforth, the refrigerator that the company so graciously and generously stocks with soda (both diet and regular) shall also house natural fruit juices and bottled water(s).
Henceforth, the vending machine shall make available small packages of fat-free pretzels and baked potato chips.
Henceforth, the ‘Take-A-20-Minute Break’ policy will be enforced. All employees, who have missed lunch and not seen the light of day are hereby required to take a 20-minute break. It’s not healthy to work without a break or to stay inside all day long.
Henceforth, there will be a designated meditation/rest space(s) for employees to take refuge in during their 20-minute break (in case of inclement weather).
Henceforth, there will be a designated walking track (route) throughout the office. It’s not healthy not to move all day long.
Henceforth, no ‘pushers’ allowed. If someone says, “No, thank you” the ‘pushers’ shall refrain from saying, “Oh, just one piece.”
Henceforth, the employer acknowledges that all employees are valued and said employer is thrilled to know that productivity and morale will soar if said employee is healthfully fed, gets air and rest. (“Oh, my – such an easy solution. Thank you, Our Lady of Weight loss,” says Big Boss.)
___________________________________________
Signed and Dated
* * *
In the meantime, here are a couple of tips on how to survive the office eating culture. Once again, it takes commitment and planning – AND YOU ARE worth it.
Have a Sliver - If it’s impossible to say “no, thank you” each and every time, you may want to plan to have a small piece, as in a sliver. However, if there are multiple parties per week, you may want to limit your one sliver to one party.
Bring Your Own – (This is what I did when I worked in a corporation that tried to ply me with food at every turn. Those Saboteurs!) Stock the office freezer with diet treats. From ice cream to cake to 94% fat-free popcorn. All pre-portioned.
Get Up and Move – What kind of craziness is this? Eating at your desk or not eating at all is unhealthy and contributes to fatigue, lack of concentration. Productivity drops. If you can’t get out of the office, get up and walk around a couple of times. Take the long way, the stairs, copy one piece of paper at a time.
Take a Brain Break– Working without a break is unhealthy, as well. Your brain goes on autopilot. Once again, productivity drops. Meditate. If you have to (I did), go to the ladies’ room and close your eyes for five minutes. Do some deep breathing exercises.
Drink More Water – Drinking really helps. We often think we are hungry, when we are in fact thirsty. Try flavoring a 1.5 liter bottle of water with a little Crystal Light. (All that water provides an opportunity to go to the bathroom and meditate!)
Find a Buddy – Support and company is always a good thing. Find someone to join you and you can buck the system together.
A Food Gift – When someone gives you a box of chocolate or a spaghetti pie (someone gave a Kick member one), and they know you are losing weight, refrain from hurting them. Simply smile and say as you push the spaghetti pie back in their direction, “Oh thanks so much, but you know, spaghetti pies aren’t a part of my food plan. I appreciate the thought and would really love some fresh fruit. Why not bring it tomorrow?”
Read Our Lady of Weight Loss’s books (or book of your choice that lifts your spirits). Her special powers are beyond belief. She’ll change your life.
* * *
Productivity faToids for Big Boss that are sure to change his/her thinking!
58 million Americans are overweight;
40 million obese;
3 million morbidly obese.
Those who indulge in poor eating and exercise habits account for over $33 billion in medical costs, of which $9 billion in lost productivity due to heart disease, cancer, stroke and Diabetes.
Workdays lost related to obesity: 39.3 million
Physician office visits related to obesity: 62.7 million
Restricted activity days related to obesity: 239.0 million
Bed-days related to obesity: 89.5 million.
posted April 30, 2008 at 7:43 am
Lame. Bring your own healthy food and don’t tell your co-workers what to eat. Weight loss is the individual’s responsibility.
posted April 30, 2008 at 11:29 am
I don’t think this is lame. As a new non-smoker, I can identify with using any excuse to smoke. It was my biggest weakness. I think that we all tend to fall short of successful quitter, otherwise we’d all be thinner, healthier and happier. So much is psychological as well. It’s extremely easy to cheat and therefore, we need to prepare ourselves against sabotage (ours or external) with as many “tools” as possibe! Bravo, our lady!
posted May 1, 2008 at 10:58 am
There are two seperate issues in workplace food: resisting the food itself and resisting pressure from co-workers. The first is waaaaay complex, but I’m guessing all of us who are successful weightlosers have some strategies for dealing with the second, so let’s share.
At the potluck buffets that plague my workplace, it helps to mill around from group to group a lot, while carrying a plate with a few things on it. That way no one realizes you aren’t eating much.
posted May 2, 2008 at 5:06 am
please members
posted May 6, 2008 at 1:32 pm
THIS IS AN EXCELLENT ARTICLE TODAY I TURNED DOWN A COOKE FROM SUB-WAY FROM A CO-WORKER THANK U
posted May 11, 2008 at 6:40 am
I can never resist food. Food makes me high. Food makes work tolerable. Food is fun. As long as you keep everything balanced and moderated. Which i do.
posted May 11, 2008 at 8:20 am
I own a small business and fast food quickly became the norm. I had a hysterectomy and the combination was a remark from my son “old enough to know better” Mom, do you know how fat your ass is getting … mind you I was on my hands & knees with other people around, I just said Yeh, I know. That wasn’t even enough to stop the DQ stops on a frustrating afternoon. Everyone in my office was getting fat – really fat. It took my husband’s trip to the Dr. & a need for a change to make me get really serious. We are not dieting, we have had a life change. We are eating more like we did 40 years ago in the 60′s for portions and cut out all fast food except a subway turkey once in a great while. We both take Healthy Choice soup, some crackers, an apple & healthy snacks to work each day for that 4p.m. slump. Sometimes salads and some times I get a side salad when the gals go out. 7 of the 8 women in the office are watching portions/food, bringing their own lunches and no one is offering junk to me. I’ve lost 31 pounds since September, gone from a 16/18 to a size 12 and the waist is a bit loose on that. I feel better, I have a jaw line back & more than that I know I am responsible for setting the example of healthy eating at our office. Half the ladies are drinking water & Sprite Zero with me too. It’s fun watching the pants get loose and self confidence return.
posted May 12, 2008 at 12:31 am
Two things helped me lose 73 pounds:
1)I would say to myself “No food on this earth is more important than being slim and healthy.”
2)When I was apt to make excuses, I would remember that “No one got me down on the floor and shoved it in my mouth!”
posted May 12, 2008 at 11:57 am
I admire all who are earnestly trying to maintain healthy weight. When you work at a desk all day, it is difficult, and a snack is a reward. Try carrying to work snacks such as small boxes of raisins, carrots and celery, etc. These are healthy, packed with vitamins and minerals, and still a reward for a break. And, try to walk during your 20 minute breaks morning and afternoon. My daughter lives and works in “snow country” in upstate New York, and always goes for a brisk twenty minute walk on her break each day. Lee
posted August 21, 2008 at 1:29 pm
While my previous job was multi-task on the go for eight hours a day, my present job of nine months has placed about nine pounds on me. It began the second I walked in the door. As with many, people tend to bring in all kinds of junk food. I’ve tried dieting and not eating between meals, but none of it has helped. I recently came to the conclusion that even a diet is not going to help if I sit on my rump all day at work and than go home and do a few small chores (dinner, dishes, etc.) than sit on my rump again. For now I’ve forced myself to get up a half hour earlier than normal and ride the treadmill, walk with people who fast pace walk at lunch, and ride the treadmill again the first half hour that I get home from work. Do I enjoy it? Not really, but I know I have to do something. Too lose, I have to go that extra mile. Once I reach my goal, I will cut back on three times a day half hour walks. Maybe all I will need to maintain that weight once I reach it is once every other day. Maybe an extra work out on days that I didn’t behave. It is also hard when you step on the scale and haven’t lost five pounds in the few days you’ve dieted, however I didn’t gain this weight over night, therefore I shouldn’t expect to lose it overnight. One thing I do know is I feel better just knowing I walked four to five miles today and I’m not wasting any of it on junk food.
posted August 21, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Office mega foods, all wrong, painting class, mega foods all wrong, temptations abide and will power is low what to do? Just say, “no”, as simple as all that. “No thank you.” with a big smile and then bite into that apple you brought or the banana or the Yugort treat you waited to it. If someone says, “oh it’s only once, and “he” “she” was so popular and is leaving us, literally in the lurch.” “Yes, I appreciate that, but the food is not good for me, it is pure poison for me. I loved these good mentors too, but that’s no excuse to binge.” It works, you are respected and admired for standing firm. Look out for numero uno, and that’s you.
Victoria
posted August 21, 2008 at 9:12 pm
this eating in the office cubicle is annoying and stressing me out.
when my cube mate eats almost every hour with noisy wrappers and having
to have something in her mouth, but not really hungry these are her words, it is difficult to work alongside someone like this.
I’ve tried humor, embarranssement, told her it just makes me want to
eat when I see and her eating all day long, she stopped for a couple
of days and it was great, but she is back at it again. I know eating
is an addiction because I have it, but what can I do in this situation?
thanks for any suggestions.
posted August 22, 2008 at 2:45 am
Thanks for all your tips & iam also a working women & my hip size is very broad to my physic how to reduce that.
pl help me out in this.
regards
Indrani
posted August 22, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Haven’t worked in an office setting in years and have no desire to go back and this reminds me why….
I remember working as a secretary and someone coming in and placing a home-baked, decadent-looking chocolate cake right next to my desk. I resisted because I was in the midst of a serious-minded diet even though I am a chocoholic. To this day, I think about that cake and wish I had partaked. On the one hand, life is too short to pass up chocolate cake, ever……but on the other, I know I might have experienced guilt or a setback.
Offices can be evil places. I would get in 3 hours of walking a day–lunch time, errands and to and from the el train. But I also know when I was getting bored with my job, I went on a bender, giving up, eating all the junk food. I soon quit the job rather than gain another 10, 15, 20 pounds…..I now freelance.
Good luck to all. Hopefully the office managers will set standards that are healthy and yet pleasurable and rewarding for all……
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