Cakes and Treats at Work

[WhatTheFlipToDo]

I have worked at my current work place for about a year. I have been consistently a size 12 in clothes for two decades yet I have put on over a stone in that time and size 14 clothes are getting tight. The only variable between this job and my last one is a permanently well stocked table of ‘treats’. So, biscuits, those little M&S tubs of cake bites, donuts, Rocky bars. You name it.

It is a job where you end up incredibly tired sometimes and I have little will power around chocolate at the best of times but when I'm tired it’s a million times worse. Essentially, I eat far more sweet things now due to this bloody table of junk food. Obviously, as I eat things I replace them but then I just eat them again. I don’t know what to do. I’d like to ask the team to save treats for an actual occasional treat but, simultaneously, if I’m the only one who has no will power, is it fair to request they adapt their behaviour for me?

I feel the views in this article sum up my own well. https://amp.theguardian.com/society/2023/jan/17/people-should-not-take-cakes-in-to-the-office-suggests-food-watchdog-chief

Am I being unreasonable to want the team to cut back on the treats so I don’t get even fatter or is this my problem to manage? Genuinely contemplating leaving as I just will not be able to manage my weight without a change in workplace culture.

Sounds like my workplace OP.

But YABVU, we're all responsible for what we put in our bodies and how often.

Temptation is tough but it's part of life.

I once had an interview at a really lovely school (private). The deputy was telling us how she’s put on a stone because lunch is free (choice of several hot meals). There were chocolate covered strawberries being handed round at break and free hot drinks/snacks available at all times. It wasn’t the main reason, but this was definitely a factor in me withdrawing from the interview (after lunch!).

I don’t know why posters are saying it’s only OP’s problem - others in the office may feel the same.

Tbh I find the whole thing weird - why is a table of “treats” necessary in a workplace? I’ve never had one anywhere I worked. It’s like a kids’s party.

I don't think anyone should be punished for overeating, because it's a complex issue. However, punishing people who don't overeat because one person can't control themselves is an even more ridiculous idea! Could you take something and cut it little pieces and allow yourself like one piece an hour or something?

I dont think you can police what is brought into the office as those snacks can be had in small amounts with no impact on health. I will have a couple of biscuits in the office but stop at that and always burn the energy off running around at work.

I would have an honest chat with colleagues, just say your looking to eat healthier and ask if there’s anywhere else they could put them. Is there a cupboard they could be stored in not too close to your desk (other side of the office)?

That does sound like a lot of treats but regardless of how tempting it is, it is still your responsibility to manage what you eat. No one is forcing you to eat it. You can’t expect your colleagues to not have treats because you can’t control yourself. If they don’t have a problem with it then it’s not fair to them to change just to accommodate you.

Conflicting study results.

Woukd it really be punishing everyone not to have cakes and biscuits on tap? Some people won’t be that interested, some people will have to battle with their willpower and I imagine it will be the minority who enjoy the odd treat.

The culture of snacking does make a big difference. I can’t imagine you would have a table like this in a French or Japanese office.

OP, as someone with terrible willpower around chocolate and cakes, you have my sympathies.

More and more evidence to say “willpower” has very little to do with weight loss and weight gain but it’s a convenient thing to beat all the “fat” people with.

Treats are brought into my work place sometimes but as they are in the kitchen and I struggle with the kitchen door as I’m a wheelchair user that’s enough to stop me from bothering. Can the treats be put somewhere, where more effort is needed to grab some?

In my opinion they shouldn’t be brought in all the time but few people would agree. Chances are you aren’t the only one thinking it though in your office. I wonder if you can frame is as being something to benefit everyone’s health? Perhaps using the new UPF research (ultra processed foods are bad for us) to push not having so much available all the time?

A good few years ago I had to make a conscious decision not to eat stuff at work as it was always in the kitchen.

I am still over weight, but have totally controlled my eating at work, which is one small step!

But that is entirely a YOU problem. It is not up to your colleagues to stop you from eating these things - it is up to you.

I say this because I live with DH - who thinks I should never have biscuits in the house 'because then he eats them all'. Sorry DH but tough shit - if I can regulate my biscuit eating so can you

don’t most of us struggle when there is ‘all you can eat’?

Short answer: no.

Well then it’s OP and anyone else who eats more than they want to and then blames other people for tempting them.

My work has stuff once or twice a week, I think I would find it really hard if it was tons of treats every day. What I do is, there are certain things I allow myself and skip the rest. So if someone brings in Tunnock's teacakes I will definitely have one, or some really good quality chocolate. Luckily it's on the kitchen table so I'm not looking at it all day long.

I work somewhere like this. Funny thing is none of are obese, or even overweight. Because we have willpower and don’t gorge ourselves just because it’s there.

I am overweight, I have issues with food and perhaps a complex re being seen as the fat one who eats the treats at work but deep down I also know I can't just have one so I have none at all. I won't even glance at them, it's a flat no.

You do have the opportunity to say no. Even if I get a "go on, there's only one left, take it", I'll say no or promise to give it to the kids/DH and I do give it to them.

I think it's encouraged for team building around getting a treat and a cup or tea/coffee with a chat. These things are OK within limits or else we'd have to stop Christmas parties, leaving dos, etc., just because some people can't handle themselves.

@IndigoLaFaye More and more evidence to say “willpower” has very little to do with weight loss and weight gain

There really isn’t. Almost every piece of evidence still acknowledges that diet and lifestyle play a bigger role than things like genetics.
Ultimately will power is more important than UPF’s, if you don’t eat them they can’t have any impact.

More and more evidence to say “willpower” has very little to do with weight loss and weight gain but it’s a convenient thing to beat all the “fat” people with.

True, but for me me cakes and chocolate are my kryptonite while my sister and best friend can easily resist.

I get your point - but are you suggesting that other people must never have thees things around because you can't resist them? Or do you accept that it is ok for them to have them because they can eat them in moderation ?

Am I the only one who thinks that if you mention it at work, you'll find a lot of people will agree with you?

Most people these days are a bit overweight, but we still feel obliged to buy treats, because other people did it yesterday etc, and we don't want to appear mean.

Why not discuss it?

No, I am not suggesting that other people must never have these things around because I struggle to resist them. Just sympathising with OP about the struggle.

You'll have to find some way of improving your willpower and resisting, but I say that with sympathy and no judgement because I'd bloody struggle too.

It's a funny tradition to have started at all. Most people don't need the extra temptation and wouldn't really appreciate it...and so many workplaces like to trot out their support of healthy habits through things like Cycle to Work. I wonder how it began.

Take your own healthy treat’s into work and make it your mission to convert them. I take home baked goodies in, not healthy at all, most eat them, some don’t.

You need to retrain your brain as sugar is literally poison as far as health is concerned.