Staffroom sins: Half term is up so that... - Weight Loss Support

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Staffroom sins

KRML profile image
KRML
14 Replies

Half term is up so that means its time for me to go back to work.

I love my job and being with younger children defintiely keeps me active all day long! The only fear I have going back is the staff room. No matter what day, or what time there is always something sweet in there. People always bring in chocolate, biscuits or cakes for a multitude of reasons. It is the most extreme test of will power!

I'm going to try and avoid the temptation at all costs. I've prepared some healthy snacks to take with me and hope that this will be a suitable alternative to the forbidden sweets!!

If anybody knows of any good ways to resist temptation I would love to hear them, I may need them.

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KRML profile image
KRML
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14 Replies

Hi,

Healthy snacks is a good idea and focus on trying to eat them very slowly ... gives more time for your brain to register the food and will hopefully help stop it craving the sweet treats.

Best of luck :)

H706

RodeoJoe profile image
RodeoJoe

Whatever happened to all the smoking that was rumored to have occurred in staff rooms when I was a kid?

2bFabnfit profile image
2bFabnfit

Same situation as mine. I just cut refined sugar. Now I eat a piece of fruit and am satisfied with that.

If you have a freezer in the staff room put a bunch of grapes in it and if you need something sweet takes up to 5 grapes and eat them frozen. Works for me

X

Fran182716 profile image
Fran182716

I work for an NHS community team, and our office is exactly the same, I did the cold turkey thing with refined sugar and found it easier to just decide I wasn't going to touch any of it rather than debating with myself over each new item that appeared on the table. It was hell at first but I'm glad I stuck it out because now the cravings have disappeared, and as long as I bring healthy food to work and don't let myself get too hungry I actually don't want any of that stuff now because I know it will make me feel rubbish. Don't know if that approach might help you? ☀️

skinnylizzie profile image
skinnylizzie in reply to Fran182716

exactly my experience, 39 lbs since nov13th now! so worth it

asics profile image
asics in reply to Fran182716

This is what I have done too Fran.

Plus it helps if you tell a few people at work you have given it up. I find everyone is watching! So I cannot have any because...

1. I have made up my mind all sugar is out.

2. This means I do not need to decide if I am trying it ... or how much is ok? Once I start I can ALWAYS justify why another piece / lump / slurp is actually ok!!

3. I hate it when people say....oh I thought you have given up sugar? ...!!

4. When I got used to it I didn't want that rubbish anymore anyway.

Finally when I was new to this habit, if it was a bad day - like something in there was my favourite / far too tempting / everyone was eating it and groaning in pleasure - I would out - go to loo or back to my room or go find someone elsewhere for a catch up or catch up on personal emails / texts. So I still had a break but without the temptation.

Once you are over it and a pink lady apple makes your taste buds really sing, you can go back in, smiling inwardly at how healthy you are and how gluttonous your colleagues are!

Good luck this week! :-)

asics profile image
asics in reply to asics

PS I do feel your pain though. I used to be exactly like CurlyBayleaf!

Be all sorted in the lunch and snack department and in the head and then someone would say...ooooo have you seen there is....in the kitchen. And that would be that.

I even used to sometimes work late then saunter casually to the kitchen to have another piece when no-one was around. Making it look casual and 'oh well while i am here' and 'it will only end up in the bin'. Oh the shame.

So I feel your pain I really do.

Make one change, just for a day (like the pledges we have been doing) and see how you get on...just for a day! then do the next day...just for the day.

Rose-A profile image
Rose-A

Both my old work and current work are similar to this - there's always chocolate / biscuits / cake etc., and everyone sort of encourages everyone to have some? :(

It's hard to resist, but yes I think having an alternative is better, and gradually colleagues will just come to know that you don't partake in the treats, so stop offering/trying to encourage you.

asics profile image
asics in reply to Rose-A

When I gave up smoking I decided a day then just told people when offered 'no thanks I don't smoke' so they stopped offering. I used this with the sweet stuff too and Fran is right they stop offering and cajoling.

Now however I seem to make most of them feel guilty!

I have exactly the same issue! I am happy with the 1400 calories, have my packed lunch, gave up sugar in my coffee...and then someone send a staff email about the cake/muffin/chocolate in the kitchen.... I feel for you :)

skinnylizzie profile image
skinnylizzie

Plot a graph of your journey keep it with you people will be well impressed. I used to teach and know the feeling but I was the one taking in the tins of biscuits so that I didn't eat them. I found that with a plastic box of radish carrot celery it took ages to munch through it all and I usually didn't have time to eat it. Good luck

GoogleMe profile image
GoogleMe

I do think it is tricky as sharing food is something very important (all this near orthorexia, constant wrong footing plus genuine allergies/intolerances and need to lose weight make it difficult when we so need our connections with others)

I ask myself whether I genuinely fancy what is offered (ie it is a real treat) and say no thank you if I don't. I also try to accommodate this sort of thing in my food planning.

Perhaps you could raise the issue gently - I'll bet you are not alone in the staff room in finding a constant onslaught of sweet stuff more of a burden than a pleasure.

Venusflytrap profile image
Venusflytrap

Yes I worked somewhere like that too. How about taking a fruit basket in as your contribution? We eventually trained colleagues bringing celebratory cakes to bring some fruit too. The other thing I found was, if I covered up the temptation, I could forget it was there. And my desk was nearest the treat table! So I was always putting something over those plates, but maybe you could give them some biscuit tins or plastic containers? After all, you won't be needing them at home any more!! Put them in a bit of the room you are least likely to go to and sit with your back to them. Out of sight sometimes means out of mind. Have you discussed the issue with colleagues? You might find some allies. Or are they bringing in the treats to get them out of their kitchens? Good luck with finding your solution, I'm sure there is one out there.

Annne profile image
Annne

Lent. CAtholic schools often ban sweets and cakes from staffrooms during Lent!

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