Conference rocks::weight_control

    (Just out of curiousity, is the coworker overweight?)
    

    Reply to #1:  Yes, the co-worker is quite overweight...I didn't
    mention it in the original note.  Of course, they are also diabetic
    and shouldn't be eating this....I'd better stop here.  I don't want
    to be judgemental.
    
    At one point I told this person I was trying to lose weight (another
    dieting time a couple of years ago) and they said, but, Patty, you
    wouldn't be you! (this sounded crazy to me...I'm at least 45 lbs.
    overweight).
    
    Ah, well, the saga continues...

    How about fighting fire with fire?
    
    If you're kinda handy around the kitchen and you have the time,
    why don't you bring in your own lo-cal goodies, home-made of course,
    for the group? Like whole bran muffins sweetened with honey and
    raisens. (Leave the butter at home ;-)) Point out that not only
    are your goodies tasty, but they're so good for you too!

                                         -sunny-

    We are all looking for new jobs in my group, and someone is
    constantly offering donuts, etc "To make us all feel better." I
    have finally gotten to the point where I will reply along the lines
    of: "I'll feel much better if I DON'T eat one of those donuts" or
    something similar.  This had a little more of an effect than just
    saying No, thank you.  Now, the offers of food are few and far between.
     Although it's difficult, try to think of some snappy (but mildly
    polite_ comeback - usually it works.
    

    The topic of co-workers "pushing food" came up at a Weight Watchers
    meeting I recently attended.  Our leader stated, in response to
    a member's question about this, that a polite but firm "No thank
    you" is a good way of dealing with it...
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    ...but if the person pushing the food still insists, tell them to
    "Sit on it!"   :-)
    
    
    Paul

    
    
    We can't stop people for doing what they want.  So we have to
    use our heads and either plan on having one and getting away
    and enjoying it or bring in your own food that you like and 
    munch on that and not go off program and feel like part of 
    the group.. I know there is a young lady and a good figure 
    and she brings in goodies now and then.. I just looked at it
    the other day and just said looks good but walked away from it
    and said I'am not even hungry so I went to the Cafe and got some
    Ice water..
    
    Good Luck to you and if you want to write to me if it bothers you
    go ahead..
    
    
    Ann
    
    
    P.S. bring sliced fruit 
    
    
    

    
    I think if someone offers food it should be offered to all out
    of politeness.  But I would never push anyone to eat.  And if
    you know someone is on a diet you can help by saying 'I know
    you won't want a whole piece but would you like a bite size
    piece?'.
    We had a birthday and cake in the office this week and I asked for
    a small piece.  I found it too large so just asked for it to be
    cut in half.  I didn't miss being part of the celebration and I
    didn't have to feel guilty, cause I got a taste.
    A diet shouldn't be something that you can't wait to end so you
    can pig out.  If you aren't deprived during your diet you won't
    be tempted to pig out after it when all the goodies are brought
    around at work.
    Stay strong, we can do it.
    
    Debra
    

    The week before I started Weight Watchers (11 weeks ago), I told
    my co-workers that I was going to be starting a diet and that I
    would need their encouragement and support.
    
    They have been wonderful in helping me out.  They take care to "hide"
    their "goodies" from me instead of standing right in front of
    me and indulging.  
    
    re: .0
    
    Patty - why don't you try talking to them?  Maybe if they can't
    take a hint, you coming out and requesting them to not offer sweets
    (etc, etc.) to you would do the trick.  It's worth a try!
    
    Colleen  

    re .8:
                                                
    Your advice to "talk to them" is good advice indeed.  My mother-in-law
    Mandy started Weight Watchers several weeks ago, and promptly informed
    her coworkers and colleagues that she was on a weightloss program. A
    few weeks later, her birthday came and her coworkers decided to have a
    surprise party for her at afternoon coffee break.  Instead of the mass
    quantities of cake and pastry that one usually finds on such occasions,
    her friends thoughtfully brought things like veggies and dip, pineapple
    chunks on toothpicks, and plain unbuttered popcorn. Oh yes, they did
    sing "Happy Birthday", after which Mandy blew out the single candle
    inserted in the single-serving Weight Watchers' chocolate cake that her
    friends thoughtfully provided.
    
    
    Paul 

    I have found that people are more receptive if you make it sound
    like a health prob.  True, it is, but what I mean is that if someone
    offers me something I would rather not eat and have shoved at me
    repeatedly, I just tell them I think I have lately developed
    sensitivity to eggs, nuts, wheat, chocolate, whatever, and they
    don't ask again.  But if I say, No thanks, I'd rather not, they
    just don't stop!  I figure the reaction produced by over-eating
    (tight clothes, sluggishness) is every bit as valid and undesirable
    and the reaction I have to pollen and dog dander!
    
    Another visualization trick that helps is to think to myself thcooking
    and cleanliness habits are - so I imagine a kid with a cold sneezing
    over the bowl of brownie mix, or the person licking their finger
    after scooping each chocolate cookie onto the sheet.  Believe me,
    it becomes much easier to say No, thanks, and if you add "but I
    can tell you put a lot of work into it" or some other compliment,
    that person has gotten a warm and fuzzy other than seeing you consuming
    what they have made.

    I am laughing but only because someone rationalizes not accepting
    sweets from others the same way I do.....
    
    Hey, if it works, go for it!
    
                                            - Sue
    

re .10 (imagining someone else's cooking/cleanliness)

That's gross!

(I think I'll try it next time :-))

re the problem in general:

I wish I had never heard that personnel was selling those big candy bars to
benefit United Way!  I have a hard enough time dealing with the mediocre stuff
in the machines, let alone better quality stuff.  I'm proud to say I haven't
had any all week! :-)

Luckily, we don't have much of a problem with homemade goodies around here.
It's too convenient to pick up a little on the way to your office.

By the way, WW Magazine (oh, no, not that again!) had a good article on this
subject, too!  Seems they have a lot of relevant things in there.  I'll have
to look it over for some quick tips.

Jill

    I gotta figure, which is more gross: my cellulite or my imagination?
    And when I look in the mirror, I don't see my imagination...!
    
    Anyway, I thought back to what started me on that, and there was
    a time a bunch of us got together to cook dinner, and my best friend
    was in charge of the fruit salad.  She got done mixing everything
    together, we served it, then she looked at me with a real funny
    expression on her face and asked "Where's my Bandaid?" that she
    had on her finger immediately prior to the fruit salad, and not
    had on immediately after!!
    
    Since then, it's been fruit chunks on skewers for me!!

  The wheat allergy helps a lot, though the Carvel down the street from
  my previous place of employment with the half-price sundaes on Wednesday
  was another story!
  
  If what's being passed around is something I can eat (candy, esp fudge,
  is a definite weakness), I try to explain that sugar gives me migraines.
  If you look like you really *WANT* some, but it would make you feel
  sick, maybe they'll feel guilty.  After all, most people don't try
  to push sugar on diabetics!
  
  The small piece approach doesn't work for me.  A crumb of fudge starts
  me on a binge - if there are 3 pounds of it, I'll eat 'em!