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Getting in Shape
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peer pressure at work

Maureen61210Maureen61210 member
10 Comments
in Getting in Shape
Is eating healthy at work hard for anyone else? My coworkers love to eat and they aren't terribly supportive of healthy eating.  They are ordering Chinese today and seem really annoyed that I am planning to eat the lunch I brought.  It is not that I don't want be a part of the party, it is just that I don't have the points to spend on eggrolls. :) Does anyone else feel pressure to join in the social eating at their jobs?
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Re: peer pressure at work

  • kikipaniakikipania
    100 Comments
    The reason why they are annoyed at  you is most likely because they KNOW they shouldn't be eating that stuff either, but they don't have the self-control to eat healthy. It's a form of jealously, and in some cases your peers will intentionally TRY to sabotage your healthy eating just to make themselves feel better.

    For that reason alone, yes, it's definitely hard to eat healthy around others (especially others who don't want to eat healthy and don't respect your decision to be healthy). When it comes to lunchtime, I would just eat away from them. You don't need them dangling their Chinese in front of your face while you munch on your salad.
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  • Maureen61210Maureen61210 member
    10 Comments
    That is actually a really good point.. if I make better choices, they have to think about theirs too much.  I was proud, though.  I ate my soup and salad and pudding as planned. :)
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  • tinydancer842tinydancer842
    1000 Comments
    YES!!! There is always bad food to be eaten at my office & if you say "no thank you" people will get upset. Girls I work with will literally dangle chocolate in front of my face expecting me to eat it. I usually leave work during my lunch break & eat my sandwich in the car & grab a coffee at starbucks. I think that makes them more suspicious b/c they think I don't eat lol. Either way, don't let them get to you!! 
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  • Michelle DawsonMichelle Dawson
    10 Comments
    My boss actually likes to  try out recipes and bring them in for all of us to taste test. It kills me knowing that there is creamy spinach dip and nachos and all sorts of yummy stuff just beggnig to be eaten. But in the end, I just remind myself that I have lost 6 pounds in 2 weeks by following my diet. And I don't kill myself doing 30 minutes of Tae Bo every morning just to blow it on cookies and chips!!
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  • nfseymournfseymour member
    First Comment

    I teach and having students bring in goodies for you and having to turn them down is sometimes the hardest part of my day.  BUT...I WILL lose this weight.  I WILL look amazing in my dress, and no look or sneers from my students or co-workers is going to stop me...

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  • LaurenjwardLaurenjward member
    First Comment
    edited January 2010
    I sometimes have the same thing. So, I take my healthy lunch and go to the bookstore, by myself, then I have time to look at wedding magazines and eat healthy. It helps! Someone else at work did a "no sugar" challenge and had a bunch of people participate - it made it easier when we were all doing something healthy together. Everyone felt involved and we cheered each other on, plus there was the competitive side of us who wanted to win the prize! Honesty was key - anytime someone would cheat we had to confess to the group and add a point to our score. Person with the least amount of points won!Smile
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  • tommyandytommyandy member
    500 Comments
    To make the peer pressure at work easier to bear, stick the money that would have been used for take out lunches into a ' new clothes' envelope.  Keep it as cash & total it up each week then email the dollar amount to your work email address.  Whenever you feel tempted, just look at the large pile of money you have saved.  You may also want to plan ahead to join them for lunch once every other week & pick the healthiest option.    
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  • vitamintvitamint
    100 Comments
    be strong, food pushers are everywhere!  Keep up the good work...
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  • MissuskeekersMissuskeekers
    10 Comments
    I get that all the time at work, especially on Saturdays when someone runs out to get everyone McDonalds or Wendy's or Pizza. I am a huge lover of french fries so everyone always looks at me like I am crazy when I turn them down.

    All I really have to say though is "I need to fit into my wedding dress" and then people tend to understand.
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  • PDXMarthaPDXMartha member
    10 Comments
    I"ve found just saying "my dress is pretty expensive and I need to wear it in X months" or "gotta fit in my dress" is really effective at shutting up coworkers.  As long as you ARE eating, and eating more than lettuce and grapefruit or something, they should be okay.  If you're being unhealthy by eating too little, then that's a different story and they're looking out for your better being.  Chinese food can be very healthy, just steer clear of those egg rolls or fried stuff! 
    You could also claim money as a reason not to order out.
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  • puokgirlpuokgirl
    100 Comments

    My coworkers always tried really hard to be supportive - I was very lucky.  But even still, they would sometimes try to sabotage without realizing that they were doing it.  I've always been up front with them and said that I really can't eat ___ right now because I'm ____ far from my goal.

    I've also tried to make sure that I have things I can eat at all of the nearby fast food restaurants.  That way when they ask if I want some fast food, I can still join in with them all.  It makes me feel less left out, and it doesn't give them the impression that I'm "better" than them or standoffish.

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  • jzwiebeljzwiebel member
    First Comment

    You are defintiely not alone in this! I work at a restaurant and every time they make a batch of something in the back they expect me to eat some of it and to be the "taste tester". Everyone else there is bigger than me so they don't understand that I want to lose weight before my wedding. Plus I love fried foods, so turning those down while I'm carrying plates full of it out to people all night is super hard. I just go home at the end of the night, write in my food journal, and feel proud that I turned down all of that delicious, definitely not nutritious food. I feel a real sense of accomplishment when I realize just how much temptation I put up with during the day. Especially when I jump on the scale and see that I dropped three pounds throughout the week =)
    Be strong and have faith in yourself! You can do it! And if people at work don't support you now just wait until they see your wedding pictures. Then they will understand =)

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  • kd.josephkd.joseph
    5000 Comments Combo Breaker
    I had the same problem when I started my new job. We all usually bring our lunches from home, and eat in the conference room together. But I got the whole "your not part of the team" speech when they go out and the office buys from time to time. But I stuck to my guns.
    But the next time they went out I just made that my cheat day for the week. People are actually proud that I keep to my diet like I do, but you have to reward yourself sometimes. Order the fries, just don't eat them all, and only do it once a week.
    But I did cry when I went home that day, a month into a job and I'm deemed the non-team player. Makes you feel bad for making good choices.

    It's funny now after a year, most the people in my office are watching what they eat. And I'm just supportive. I have to agree with Kiki, its more about them and their bad habits then you.
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  • JenniferG47JenniferG47 member
    10 Comments
    If you know the day before that people will be ordering Chinese, you should try cooking your own healthy version and bring it in. It's really easy to make chicken fried rice with no oil, Sweet and Sour chicken "balls" made with boneless/skinless chicken breast and no-oil beef and broccoli! If Friday is always "Pizza Day" try bringing in ingredients and building your own pizza (whole-wheat English muffin, pizza sauce, turkey pepperoni, mushrooms and low-fat cheese = delicious) This way you can still feel like part of the team, and you get a sense of satisfaction knowing you are eating the same thing...only healthier!
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  • Jamie?SanvilleJamie?Sanville
    First Comment
    Yes, I've had this problem too.  The first time i started dieting at work, everyone made comments, so i gave up. Then i gained more weight.  then i got engaged.  that was when i decided i absolutely had to lose the weight.  i let it be known again that i was dieting, and same thing. well the wedding got close, and i decided i was gonna start eating better, taking alli, the fda approved pill, and not say a word about it to anyone but my fiance- not his family (who are our co-workers that critisized me!). and now, through ignoring them, i've lost 20 lbs. its not my goal, but its close (my goal was 35) and i still have a little time though.  just keep it up, ignore them, and whatever you do, dont let them make you stop, in any way!!! i just think of where i would be had i not listened to my co-workers- please, learn from my mistake, dont make it yourself. and good luck, you CAN do it!!!
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  • Dae27Dae27 member
    First Comment
    Actually things are a bit different for me in that I find that when I'm stressed at work,  I look for the sweet, fattening unhealthy stuff. Emotional eater. But I've started to work on it but it is VERY HARD. To every one Just keep up and do not give up no matter what happens!!!!!
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  • Maureen61210Maureen61210 member
    10 Comments
    These are such great ideas! Thank you for all the support!
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