Say NO to office sweets & see the results

[YesICan13]

Hi there, just wanted to share with you my newly gained superpower to refuse free sweets from colleagues

It was such a struggle for me, I don't know why but the thought of having something for free was so tempting... and also it's right in front of you, you see it and you instantly want it.

Anyway, I'm done with it and it really shows. You'll be amazed at how tiny changes can lead to huge progress.

I still have the occasional thin slice of birthday cake but in a very responsible way: I take it, put it on my desk and leave it there for a while. Then I try it and only eat the best parts (like the jam) and leave out the rest. It goes against my 'Don't throw any food away' rule but it's for good.

I also managed to have a burger but deconstruct it and only eat a bit of the meat, some fried egg and a pineapple slice - no bread or sauce.

So yes, you don't have to quit everything nice in life, you just need to manage the portions and be mindful of how much your body actually needs of those things (especially sweets).

Stay healthy, fit & happy

[IndigoBlue61]

Lovely post 😊. Reminds me of one of my favourite sayings

“It’s not a waste if it saves your waist”

[YesICan13 Healthy BMI in reply to IndigoBlue61]

Haha, very motivating! Mine is - a minute on the lips, forever on the hips :D. Not quite but puts things to perspective 😁

[IndigoBlue61 in reply to YesICan13]

That’s my second favourite saying 🤣

[leighloss in reply to IndigoBlue61]

Love this quote - another fav is Fridge pickers, wear bigger knickers 😂

[IndigoBlue61 in reply to leighloss]

Haha yes thats a good one too 🤣

[YesICan13 Healthy BMI in reply to leighloss]

haha, thanks, I'll keep thinking of them next time I see cake in the office

[kleineKerze in reply to IndigoBlue61]

Ooh, I like that!

[kleineKerze]

Great post, YesICan13, and I admire your strength - at my work one of my colleagues is of North African heritage, and whenever he goes to visit his parents, he always brings back the most beautiful pastries, drenched in honey and rosewater and sprinkled with pistachios, just exquisite, and puts them in the office so everyone is tempted. They're so hard to resist, but I'll just have to!

[YesICan13 Healthy BMI in reply to kleineKerze]

Oh, that sounds really difficult to resist, but you can do it! You can always try just a bite, as long as it's not too often

Me and my partner recently started an online shop for raw honey and it's been such a struggle not to overeat on it too We are expanding our line occasionally, so I have to degustate different types of honey and it's just soo sweet, hard to not think about it the next day too.

However, the goal is in sight and way more important than a few sweet treats, so stay strong!

[gman1961 Restart April 2024]

Great post YesICan13,

Thanks for sharing.

Gary

[YesICan13 Healthy BMI in reply to gman1961]

glad to help, stay strong on your journey

[gman1961 Restart April 2024 in reply to YesICan13]

Will do ,loads of temptation here at work.

Thanks

Gary

[YesICan13 Healthy BMI in reply to gman1961]

I think about it like this: I can always have a chocolate bar/cake/you name it, if I wanted to, it's not something you don't find in the shops. So why eat it now when I'm not even hungry and I don't really want it.

Plus, it's even more enjoyable to plan it in your weekly food diary and enjoy it properly & guilt-free

[candoo]

hi yesican, sounds your doing brilliant. yeah our work was always bringing in treats and felt rude to say no. however most of the time now they all bring in fruit so its amazing how a knock on effect can help. Nice to open the cupboard to tangerines galore. I used to like when you went to weight loss meetings and they would say, see less of you next week. even though I don't go to meetings anymore I think of it for visiting relatives and friends. keep up the great work yesican and well done on doing so brill

[YesICan13 Healthy BMI in reply to candoo]

Thanks candoo, well done to you too! Don't let the social pressure get you 😄

I'm still struggling with snacks at home, so sadly that's only a half of the battle... :/

However, I know that I will eventually get there, so I try not to put too much pressure on myself.

[candoo]

well I fell off wagon one night this week, I ate and kept going to cupboard.ive got in few bits for work and puds that are not diet but less calories than normal. like instead of normal crisps at 120 ive got in cheap quavers at 66. they took a hammering that night so I know that little devil that goes, its ok start a fresh tomorrow, is still there,lol. however its a slip and not end off the world and other than that ive had a good week. next time I think im about to have a binge session I will have to come on here. keep going yesican. speak soon

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to candoo]

Hi, how about joining the Daily Diary this week, to get you in the planning mindset? It's often because we're not eating enough at meals that we end up mindlessly scoffing in the evenings, so it's worth working on that first. It's a very sociable place, and you can pick up lots of ideas. Here's the link to today's healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

[candoo in reply to BridgeGirl]

thank you bridgegirl. I haven't gone onto the daily diary yet so I will take a look and join in. I don't always binge in an evening cos hungry,i just eat lol. I keep a diary at home but yeah ill go on this week as sharing some ideas and any support would be great. thanks again

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to candoo]

If it's not hunger then it is a habit, so think about how you can crack it

[YesICan13 Healthy BMI in reply to candoo]

Sorry to hear that, but it happened to me too... I guess it was a bad week for us both.

I was very stressed because of my holiday and I finally realized why with the help of my partner.

I'm going to be spending time with my family and I don't have a good relationship with my mom. We always fight because I seek her support but all I hear from her is criticism. Even though she's proud of me overall and tells me she loves me often, I don't feel her support. She's very controlling: she always tries to tell me what to do.

For example, she constantly nags about my weight (today she told me that I look like a 'skeleton' and I'm obsessed with losing weight...). I guess it really hurts me, even though most of the time we pretend that everything is fine.

So yeah, I know that food is always the first resort and makes me feel good at least for a while, but I should focus on the root of the problem and realise it's not a solution to any of the anxiety & stress I'm feeling. The only thing that happens after a binge is adding guilt and remorse to all the bad feelings that made me binge...

Good luck and stay strong, try to think of such triggers and eliminate them. We're all perfectly imperfect and strong enough to go through anything!

Please keep me updated how it goes, I will really try not to eat any snacks this week, hope you achieve the same

[candoo in reply to YesICan13]

hi yesican, sorry to hear you had a fall off wagon aswel but then its not end of the world and aslong as you get back on youl be fine. keep going as you've done so well in the evenings and been doing so great. at least you've realised why you are stressed. sometimes it can be a deep feeling that not even totally sure its there or I get a cramp like ache at top of my stomache and think ,whats bothering me. didn't used to be like that, even tho I could worry about things I always saw , it is what it is. Have to take control of my mind and think whats the worse case scenario and go from there trying to realise, it is what it is. if youre sat with someone and waiting for a comment then that can make you feel anxious which before you even get to be with them can make you stressed. My mum could be wonderful and I have some happy memories but she was also controlling in a very manipulative way. It was a shame cos I think we had a good relationship that got spoilt so many times at my frustration with her. she passed away at Christmas after having dementia for 8 years. Food is always a reason to eat,lol. were sad so binge, were happy so get the choclolate, birthday is cake and even the cinema means oooohhh sweets,lol. sometimes that emotion will catch us and we will eat. however if majority of the time we can control it then thats great. im sure youl have a wonderful holiday, remember your mum is proud of you and loves you. I am making sure I don't eat anything in the evening unless planned like fruit or a yogurt. im determined this week. going for a long walk with a friend tonight after work and im all yeeaaaahhh lets do this,lol. you can do it to. as your name says..... yesican.

[YesICan13 Healthy BMI in reply to candoo]

I'm really sorry to hear that and for your loss. However, you can now look back on the good memories and smile :). Your story inspires me to try and be more patient with my mom and forgive her for who she is, thank you <3

I actually started eating smaller portions the past 4 days and did not snack at work. Yesterday after dinner I even had an Oreo but did not get over my daily calories, so this morning I woke up 400gr less, can you believe that.

It definitely motivates me, as I think this is my optimal weight and trying to go below that would be too difficult and not worth stressing over.

So, my goal now is to continue eating smaller portions, no snacking throughout the day, only skyr in the evening (if I'm reaaally hungry) and to maintain what I've achieved.

Good luck to you too, a walk with a friend is such a nice idea, it's both exercise and therapy!

[candoo in reply to YesICan13]

do you know I totally agree.over past years and diets ive never been happy with my weight loss, always that few pounds more, just another half a stone so I never maintained and bounced back, a big bounce sometimes lol. as Ive said I started nhs healthy eating 7 year ago and mostly maintained. ok so I have the odd blip but get back. most of this is getting down to a weight im happy and stopping and maintaining. no problem in treating yourself to an oreo, fact you had one is the secret. cant be long now to your holiday so good luck to the countdown. ps walk did some good, feel it this morning,lol. ooooooh

[YesICan13 Healthy BMI in reply to candoo]

Yes, I know this vicious cycle too well, and for the first time, I feel like I might get out of it for good. Once you find a routine and lifestyle that suit you, it gets easier, and yes we're totally allowed to treat ourselves from time to time. The secret is in moderation

So you've achieved your goal and are now in the maintainers club? Well done!

[candoo in reply to YesICan13]

morning, no not got to my goal yet. id put on a stone from Christmas and ive lost 7lb so still got think 8 lb to go for what I said. then ill stop and maintain. hopefully in time for my hols at end of September. then its when I come off my hols ill need to make sure I get back to my healthy eating cos when I go on holiday I do not think of cals, I might spend first few days being carefull and then few days making sure I don't go ott then its whatever,lol. that's when I need to get back home and straight back on track or them pounds keep going up as I ,... start tomorrow,lol. glad you've found a routine that suits you. have a good day and ill catch up with you soon

[san_ray70 Maintainer]

We have a group where there are lots of biscuits, cakes sweets, just say no thanks and gloat when you next weigh yourself. You can make a burger in a bowl, very tasty.