You would think that now that we know about heart disease and obesity and all of that, that workplaces would become less fat friendly and start banning crap in the workplace. Why can’t people bring fruit? It’s because they want everyone to like them and they think that bring in donuts and that stuff is the key to happiness.

Keep putting yourself first and don’t let yourself fall into that trap. You’ve done really well, but now is the time to get tough again and lay down the law with yourself. You can do it, you just have to want it again.

“Decide what you want; decide what you’re willing to exchange for it; establish your priorities, and go to work.” –H.L. Hunt

I feel your break-room pain! And you are right, the naturally-thin folks bring the goodies in because they don’t really care about them, and don’t want them to go to waste. The gal in the office next to mine pulled out a bag of home-made candy and said “I’m putting this out in the break room because nobody at home is eating it (?!) I’ll just never understand naturally thin folks!

But then, miracle of miracles, someone brought in gorgeous navel oranges from a fancy fruit basket! I was overjoyed to see them, and promptly snagged one. It was delicious, and I may go back for another one to save for tomorrow. Ahhhhhhh

I’m convinced people bring the food to unload it…they don’t want to get fat eating it. Throwing it away causes them to feel wasteful, so they “share”. I myself have tried to pawn food off on others.

And eating too much of the right foods is a danger too…and having the number go up on the scale seems to inititate the old thought pattern “why even try..may just as well eat a donut”…

I’ve been in that boat too…many many times…and recently had a struggle where for the first time ever I withstood those “voices” that taunted me to just eat the donut…it was a difficult battle, so very hard, but on the other side I was surprised to find that it was basically just a matter of holding out long enough, and that eventually the desire to eat the donut or binge disappeared for the rest of the day…

Next battle, I’ll remember my victory and know how to fight it…who knew it was so simple…not easy, but, yes simple. I imagine those who are successful at weight loss, like you, discovered this strategy too—riding it out (the desire to eat the proverbial donut or binge) with the knowledge it will “give up” at some point in the day.

I think there should be a rule that says anyone who brings food to share at work must keep it on their own desk - I think a lot less people would bring in food.

I plead guilty to offloading! Whenever anyone gave me or my husband chocolates, biscuits, cake or anything unhealthy as a present when we lived in London, we would take it in to his lab and leave it on the receptionist’s desk. However, now I live in Buenos Aires I give that stuff away to beggars and homeless people, or, if the choccies are particularly posh and yummy, to my cleaning lady. I NEVER touch the stuff myself and always get it out of my hands as fast as possible.

Uhm, I plead guilty as well. I admit. I haven’t done it often, but it has happened in the past, and may very well happen again someday. Most often, though, I unload it at friends–if I’m asked to bring something for a gathering of some sorts, I’m happy to oblige by bringing what’s best shared between people than shared between me and my hips.

Well, I am the same way now that I think about it … I just send it to Devin’s office, not mine!

(P.S. Today someone brought more cookies!)

How funny that at WW meetings all over America, leaders are telling people to unload their junk food at the office. And you are horrified to see the results! Why do people have to use other people as their trash cans? Why not use the trash can as the trash can? Most of it isn’t even food, as you said in an earlier post.

Actually, non-sweet-eating people often refuse to allow food to be thrown away as well. If Devin sees me tossing anything out (even food like candy and chocolate that he hates), he tells me to save it. This is also true of almost everyone on my staff at work.

After all “someone, somewhere, will want that.”

So, at home and at the office, I always wait til no one’s around, and then I throw stuff out (and cover it with paper towels!).

I don’t know how realistic this is in your office setting, but in my office* the food doesn’t go into the break room. There is a ‘food cube’ - a spare cubicle and all the food goes there. That way people aren’t confronted with it every time they microwave something.

Would that be something you could suggest? That way folks that want it get it, and folks that don’t want it don’t have to look at it. You can use research in Mindless Eating to support your argument (if you need support) - if you see it you’re more likely to eat it, period, whether you want it or are hungry or whatever.

* I work from home, so I’m describing my office building that I fly to visit 4 or so times a year