No More
2011
And when I say no More, I mean no “MORE” cupcakes. For those of you not familiar with these cupcakes, they hail from Chicago, and are very fancy and deluxe!
On Monday of this week, I decided to try to make a pact with myself not to eat any food at work that I didn’t prepare or bring in. I’m sure most of you who work in office can attest that trying to lose weight in an office setting is HARD! There are luncheons, lunch with friends, people bring in donuts, someone has a candy dish, and the list goes on!
So, on Monday I was faced with these fancy cupcakes that a rep brought in. Mind you these cost @ $50 a dozen, so it’s not likely I’ll try them any other way. But, I waited, and waited until they were all gone! Score! I made it. 
Now comes Tuesday and wouldn’t you know it another client of ours brought in Gourmet cupcakes for almost everyone. There were at least 40 cupcakes, it was insane. How can this be happening the WEEK I decide not to eat food at work!?
But when I think about the hundreds of extra calories I could consume every day eating extras like that, no wonder I haven’t been losing any more weight, it’s the food at work!
Then today, boxed lunches left over from a luncheon. The person running the meeting came out to my desk afterwards and gave me a boxed lunch that was left over. You know whats in a boxed lunch..a huge sandwich, a HUGER cookie and chips… It sat on my desk for a good 15 minutes. I actually opened it up contemplating just eating the cookie and that was it… But another co-worker didn’t have time for lunch and was running into a meeting and I gladly handed him my lunch.
I was getting ready for other clients to come in and was straightening up the conference room when I spied the last boxed lunch that no one had taken. I walked over to it, opened the lid and sure enough it was intact…the cookie, the sandwich and the chips….I thought about eating the cookie again!! WTF? But, I walked it around my office and asked if someone wanted it and I gave it away.
So as Bob Harper on the Biggest Loser has talked about before. “There are always going to be temptations EVERY SINGLE DAY, it’s what you decide that will get you to where you want to be.” I’ve been reading this poem which is keeping me motivated, it’s called “The Journey” by Mary Oliver.
One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice –
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
“Mend my life!”
each voice cried.
But you didn’t stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do –
determined to save
the only life you could save.
~ Mary Oliver ~
What does that poem mean to you? I’m taking it as I know what to do to lose weight, and I can’t be swayed by what other people say, or what goes on in my head and that in the end I am the only one who is accountable for losing weight.
I’ve read different opinions on what this poem means, and it seems to mean whatever is going on in your life you can relate to it.
So, 3 days down – of course Halloween in coming and of course the Holidays where we get TONS of food at work, but I will try my hardest to make it through. I’m hoping doing that long enough I won’t even want the junk they put out!!
Also, check out my brother’s latest post, he’s back on his healthy eating/weight loss kick, he even kept the first 3 weeks a secret!
Have a great day everyone!
11 comments
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I had that same problem when I worked at the Art Center – there was a constant barrage of food. Yummy, tempting food. I finally instituted my “no baked goods” policy and that saved me from all of the homemade cakes and goodies, but I remember the leftover box lunches. Those were hard to pass up, but I did, and I’m proud of you for doing the same. It’s not easy to diet in a food-centric workplace, but you can do it, Jenn…I’m cheering you on!!!
Shelley B recently posted..Surgery Update
$50 a dozen! Holy Crow! Do they charge just for looking at them? That is an instance where I say the calories are definitely not worth the price.
Lori recently posted..Fall is here!
I have the same rule at work. No eating if I did not bring it or buy it. It keeps it easy. Though I will admit I would NOT have turned down the cupcakes, I am a sucker for cupcakes!
Thanks for the shout out of encouragement this morning! I was headed to my pre-vacation workout. Now I can enjoy without guilt.
Your site looks great!
Jacky recently posted..Sweet Red Pepper Paste
JUST REMEMBER THAT EVERY TIME YOU SAY “NO” IT MAKES YOU STRONGER! THOSE “NO’S” ADD UP AND IT WILL GET EASIER EACH TIME. YOU ARE WORTH ALL OF THE EFFORT:)
Good for you Jenn! I too work in a food-centric place. One thing that helps me is that my office is a bit tucked away and often by the time I’m walking through a common area where the food might be sitting it’s already gone or really picked over so I’m not as tempted. The other thing that has helped me is to watch the people in the office whom I admire weight-wise. Do you know, those people never pick at the freebie food? Never.
Helen recently posted..Tuesday Ten
My husband has to deal with the same thing at his work too.
Everyday seems to be an obstacle course of muffins, donuts, leftovers, candy dishes, etc… Stay strong, Jenn! They are usually not worth it! Just convenient!
Jenn @ Cooking Aweigh the Pounds recently posted..Chicken, Bean and Cheese Enchiladas
It is very impressive how you conquered many temptations. I faced many of them, I know how hard it is and I am sad to say I wasn’t as strong as you. Many of my friends said that fighting the urge will get easier in time. I just have to build the confidence to fight temptation. I guess I’ll just have to start all over again. Thank you for the inspiring poem. I think it says that I need to save myself.
John recently posted..how to get a girl to like you
Great job! I’m pretty sure I would have failed!!!
Ally @ Sweet & Savory recently posted..Taste of Home Cooking School
way to go, saying no! i often have the same problem at work. every so often i will enjoy whatever treat has been brought in, but i try to skip it otherwise. i like to save my dessert for at home at night anyway!
You did awesome with all of those food challenges! It reminds me of something Dr Phil says in his weight loss book, BE committed, DO What it takes and HAVE what you want – he calls it the BE DO HAVE theory and it works!
Tami@nutmegnotebook recently posted..Black Beans – Slow Cooker Style
Hi Jenn. Yikes, so much temptation at work. Well done for powering through it. $50 for a dozen cupcakes??? YOWZA!!! Have a great week.
Roz recently posted..Gobble-palooza