It’s Not the Food, You Just Suck
November 10th, 2010 
Todd It’s not the car’s fault if you drive like an idiot
Hard words? Yep. Let’s talk about those dreaded snacks! Especially during the holiday season. They’re everywhere. Candy. Cookies. Various baked goods (and oh man, are they good). “How con-VEEN-ient!”
If you work in an office, it’s inevitable, there will be treats around. It starts around Halloween, and continues on through Christmas. Throughout the rest of the year, there may be an occasional box of doughnuts. Here in San Antonio it’s breakfast tacos, and oh my goodness are they good.
Personally, I always blamed the person that brought the food in. “Damn you, Sally! Why’d you have to bring that stuff in here? Now I have to have some.”
I’ve heard others blame the food, saying, “Oh, this cake is just evil. I couldn’t pass it by.” Really, you’re going to blame an inanimate object?
Here’s a revelation for ya—it is not the fault of the person who brings the food into the office, or to the party. The person who made the food is not evil (we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt on that one). The food is certainly not to blame here.
The bottom line is that it’s a cop out to point the finger somewhere else. You know why? ‘Cause when you point at somebody else, there’s three more fingers pointing back at you. Yeah, I know it’s cheesy, but is it wrong? Thought so.
I said it-the person stuffing that food into your face is the one to blame. Of course, if you’re being held against your will, and the hostage taker is forcibly cramming Dannish down your throat, you get a pass. Otherwise, it’s all you.
We all, and yes I’m including myself, have to be strong. Hold true to what you want. Scott Smith at Motivation to Move says that you should keep in mind how you want to feel. If you eat that chocolate covered doughnut, while it would taste oh so good, how are you going to feel afterward?
If you’re trying to eat clean, you will probably feel guilty. There is that bloated “fat” feeling. Then there’s the sugar high which leads to the sugar crash, making you tired and sluggish.
They say (no, I don’t know who “they” are either) that when a wild animal gets a taste of human blood, that it begins to crave it—becoming a man eater. I don’t know about that, but I do know what when I eat a piece of pie, sometime during the day, I’ll think about it again. Heaven help me if there’s any still there.
We all struggle with this. You’re not a freak. You’re not alone. Together we can overcome our shortcomings, and weaknesses. This holiday season, let’s make a pact to be strong. When anybody feels weak, come post a message here and we’ll talk each other down.
Deal?
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20 Responses to “It’s Not the Food, You Just Suck”
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November 10, 2010 at 11:47 am
Dude, I was all set to go off on you at first. But after reading, I see where you wanted to take this.
I agree, this is hard. I work in an office, and it’s not unusual for there to be goodies around. This time of… it’s ten-fold. Everyday somebody is bringing some kind of baked good. Bread, coffee cake, pie, etc. It’s always so tempting when I walk by. One bite here. Another bite later on. By the end of the day, I’ve eaten the equivalent of two pieces when my intention was to just have a small taste.
November 10, 2010 at 12:40 pm
@Tim, I figured that if anybody would get this, it would be you. I know, it comes off a little harsh in the beginning. The whole thing is will power and support. You supply the will power, we’ll provide the support.
November 10, 2010 at 1:21 pm
I agree wholeheartedly. Already happened at a church potluck and there are 3 more scheduled during the holidays. If there are 20 fanilies that’s 20 dishes to try and why do they (yes, who are they?)bring these huge serving spoons(a teaspoon would do). Then there is the skinny husband who needs to gain copious amounts of weight so he buys creme brulee and egg nog, huge chocolate cookies to have with our afternoon coffee each day. It all comes down to choices and I am the they that makes mine. Thank you for the support and this great website.
November 10, 2010 at 1:38 pm
Thanks, I needed that! There is a candy dish in the art center where I have a studio and I get some chocolate (no, not the “good” kind, just some miniature milk chocolate stuff) every day. Other than that, I am pretty good with my algaes and veggies and fruits. But that candy dish gets me every time—-need to decide it is NOT my candy!
November 10, 2010 at 2:36 pm
That was awesome. You’re totally on it with that one. We all totally suck. Time to keep ourselves in check.
November 10, 2010 at 3:55 pm
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November 10, 2010 at 8:13 pm
Ya! Tough love baby. It is hard to be good, you really do need a support system if self-discipline is not working for you.
November 10, 2010 at 9:44 pm
@Peggy, Oh I forgot all about church functions. There’s always food there, and none of it healthy. Be sure to exercise self control.
@Julie, It’s definitely time to keep ourselves in check. Sometimes that’s easier said than done.
@Michelle, Having a support system is paramount in those moments of weakness. I tend to lean on Becca.
November 11, 2010 at 9:10 am
At my office they come by…oh, I know you love dark chocolate (candy in hand), or sometimes choice morsels are left on my keyboard. My will power: let’s say I’m working on it.
Upcoming is “cookie day” where everyone in the dept. is asked to bring two dozen homemade cookies to share. Anyone got a healthy cookie recipie to share?
Good idea Todd, I’ll look for a support buddy at work.
November 11, 2010 at 12:24 pm
@Caroline, a work buddy is an awesome idea. I don’t have any cookie recipes, but that is the glory of Google, right? haha
November 11, 2010 at 1:30 pm
My wife and I try to combat this by working together. Luckily we’re on the same page. It gets really tough when you’re having go work against family and friends as well. B
November 11, 2010 at 10:02 pm
Sometimes family can be the biggest obstacle to overcome. If your spouse is on board, that’s a huge help.
November 16, 2010 at 8:48 am
Todd, thank you for posting this! (And thanks to Ginger for posting the link!)
This holiday season what is helping me say “No” to the homemade holiday baked goods at the office is that I’m now having a chocolate Attune bar (they come in 4 delish flavors) as part of my morning break snack. They contain live cultures (like those in yogurt), they taste like you are cheating (!), and they only have 11g carbs.
Cheers,
Nikki
November 16, 2010 at 12:11 pm
@Nikki, you’re more than welcome. Keeping an alternative in the desk drawer can help curb those office temptations. Just be careful not to go overboard with those either, as I have been known to do in the past.
November 17, 2010 at 7:31 am
Update-Talk about making junk more easily accessible-the company that owns the vending machines where my day job is, just installed credit card terminals on the vending machines. So, now you can get that bag of nacho-cheese-like tortilla chips with your plastic, AND get charged interest on top of it. Nice!
November 17, 2010 at 10:53 pm
I’ll admit it… I’m normally the one bringing the goodies to work for everyone to eat up. Mainly so they aren’t at the house for me to eat
November 18, 2010 at 4:41 am
Thanks for that. We’re having a little potluck party this month, kind of for Christmas I guess and I’ve been trying to find something special to take.. found some good ideas at this site. You know, someone should invent a website where you can write what you’ll be taking, and it would make sure no one brings the same thing!
November 18, 2010 at 1:48 pm
@Shawn, I’m guilty of doing the same thing. Better to share that love with the office than have to buy a new pair of pants.
@Alonzo, There are many great sites out there to find good, healthy recipes. That’s a great idea that you have there. You may be able to do something like that at eVite… I’m not sure though.
November 21, 2010 at 4:32 am
hmmm, quite an original point of view
thanks for the post:)
November 29, 2010 at 7:23 am
@Farouk, I appreciate that. I wanted to come at this from another perspective.