2nd day into the cutting down on sugar challenge to just get me more aware and making some small changes.
Obstacle: office b-day treat for someone later today.
It’s an awkward situation because we are a smaller office (likely to be only a handful of people present) and the routine is for the dessert to get cut in the presence of everyone and then we all stand around and eat it with the bday person. Sometimes I can pass it off as “I’m saving this for after lunch” because we do it at noon. But today we’ll be doing it at the end of the day.
It’s even more awkward if it is kind of a crappy dessert I don’t want to waste ANY calories or sugar on!!
I can definitely say “pass” but that always brings unpleasant conversation and awkwardness. I’ll probably ask for a small portion and then just take a few bites.
How do you handle these situations with social food??
With so many people with diabetes these days, I don’t think it’s anyone’s business why you aren’t eating some dessert. “I’ll just have a taste”, “I’m on a diet this month.” are fine excuses in my book.
Clearly we are allowed to just say “no thanks”. But, office politics unfortunately! I’ll probably make a game time decision based on who is present if people (because it’s late in the day) grab and run, etc. At worst, a small portion, a few bites, head back to my office and the nearest garbage can (sorry food waste thread!!)
I would take a small piece and just pretend to eat it. Sort of mush it up and play with it.
Gloomy morning but got out for 3.2 miles.
Back to the PT discussion. I’m lucky in that I’ve had a good network and always found great PTs who treated athletes. My PT in Dallas solved things (pelvic rotation issues that caused my hips and hamstrings to be completely out of whack- I had to sit on a tennis ball) that no doctors were able to solve. When I moved to TN I hated moving away from him, but through the running community I found another great one. He helped me through a couple of bad injuries, but then, sadly, he lost his license and had to close his practice due to some misconduct with female patients. (not with me…this guy was a complete geek/nerd and the whole thing was inconceivable to most of us). I was despondent about finding another great sports PT, but the running community to the rescue again and my new fantastic guy is right up the street from my office and also treats a lot of top athletes in the area. You need someone who is versed in ART (Active Release), dry needling and manual manipulation and not someone who just sends you off to a machine to do leg presses or something.
I just always say I’m pre-diabetic, but that won’t work for you since you already know each other. I’d just take a small piece, and take a nibble, then throw it out.
I did my first Boqua today. It was fun, nice low resistance, good for my poor aching muscles… not sure how much it really benefits, but I felt it was a nice stretch with resistance. I haven’t been in a pool in a very long time.
Water based exercises are EXCELLENT and also notorious for not being felt IN the water but you will reap the benefits (and maybe “good” aches and pains) when you’re out of the water!
I will say @conmama since I know you were a little hesitant to get motivated to complete some exercise that getting into a pool in a not warm climate in the winter is a FEAT! Give me everyday of warm outdoor weather in a pool, no problem - I’ll do laps daily! But in the winter the idea of packing a swimsuit and driving to a pool AND putting on a swimsuit AND getting in the water - I applaud you!!!
Office treats needs to be on somebody radar, this is a thing that any healthy company needs to put an end to. Brought in treats, candy, vending machines etc. Unhealthy eaters love company. It is no different from alcoholic codependent behavior. Some offices are just inundated with junk foods. Just the fact that there is perceived pressure is a problem.
Whether it’s a birthday party, wedding, Bar Mitzvah, christening, confirmation, Thanksgiving, 4th of July party, etc., I have no qualms about turning down cake, pie, cookies or any other dessert. I’ve been doing it now for what seems like decades.
If the hosts or anyone within earshot are upset about my choice(s), then that’s totally their problem, not mine. Of course, I decline politely and move on. If an explanation is required, then I just tell them I don’t eat “processed” food. No social pressure felt here.
As for germs in the gym, I always wash my hands at least a couple times and a lot of my work is with the barbell, or pullup bar, so I wipe those down as well, both before and after use. I don’t use any machines (except a treadmill and belt squat), so no need for wiping there. I do my best, and when I leave the gym, I wash my hands again.
This week is a programmed deload week, which means more cardio and lighter weight on the barbell. This will allow me to increase my running mileage, since I’m trying to keep up with @MomofWildChild (no chance, but I admire the amount miles you run everyday). And I finish a WOD for Kobe and his daughter Gianna. CF loves numerology, so we have an 18-minute WOD that includes the numbers, 5, 8, 24 and 13 for the 4 movements.
@abasket , hey thanks for the pat on the back. I have to confuse it was really warm in the pool area. Almost uncomfortable when I walked in. Pool was heated of course, but still a little cool at first. Everyone said I’d feel it tomorrow!
I was a huge dessert person up until about 6 months ago. Blood sugar level that was ok but higher than I want it to be. So I have pretty much eliminated desserts. But haven’t made anything of an official announcement (my wife and kids know). At gatherings, I am the one people offer the corner piece of cake (with extra frosting) and double or triple scoops of ice cream (which I would typically ate). So its a huge change from being that person to being someone who isn’t eating dessert at all.
Most people haven’t noticed. To the extent dessert is a grazing type activity, no one really pays attention to who is taking what and I just avoid the dessert table. To the extent I have been handed the extra frosting piece, I have been mostly successful at deflecting it to someone else. Sometimes depending on the circumstances, I end up having some (though not eating all of it). My dad (in his 80s with my mom recently passing away) loves desserts (especially ice cream). He won’t get dessert unless someone else does. You can see the disappointment on his face if everyone says no to dessert. So I sometimes say yes (and then get the smallest dessert I can). Reducing sugar intake is good too even if its not eliminated altogether. For 20+ years I drank 4-5 regular Pepsi’s every day at work. Drink water now after a kidney stone. Figure if I have one every couple of months (sometimes not that often) its ok.
Because I know you’re dying to know the outcome of “cake-gate”…
I escaped with just a couple of small bites. The dessert was something I wouldn’t waste my calories on - generic grocery store red velvet cake with a bit of glaze. I took a small piece and two bites. Then it became obvious that the trash can in our work kitchen was full from a luncheon so we needed an extra can. I sprang into action, while out of the room, dropped my plate upside down in the can and returned with the can. Now the really sad part was our chairman had filled our freezer today with some quality ice cream treats and I passed on those because I knew the dessert was coming! I would have fully enjoyed one ice cream treat! Maybe another day.
Thanks for the reporting @abasket! Our office is bad when it comes to birthday celebrations. They don’t just buy a grocery store cake. They bring desserts from one of the multiple artisanal bakeries for our monthly birthdays celebrations. However, there is always fruit for those who have the willpower to resist the baked goodies. I usually do not dip into the sweets (I should say, most of the time, when the treat is not macaroons. )
I really like my sweets, but I can easily pass on store bought cakes, even the ones people swear are “great”! Now- a good bakery cake or homemade…different story. Some of the candy jars at work have disappeared- this is a good thing!
I worked in an environment where the lunch room table was covered in treats on a daily basis. Thankfully there was no peer pressure to eat it but it was tempting. I just kept thinking of all the germs that could have gotten on the treats before they reached the office, how many people could have coughed/sneezed on it, etc… If I was tempted, I would do a mindful visualization and then pass. My will power wasn’t strong enough without that exercise ; )
One of my goals for this year has been to cut down on sugar. I’m cooking from scratch, reading labels and avoiding processed food as much as possible. I think I have mentioned that I am staying out of the office candy jar. But I will allow myself treats if I really want them. So…when someone at the office offered me cookies , I told him (very nicely) that I was cutting back on sugar and he was fine with it.
OTOH, when I went to a friends house and she made a really delicious looking dessert, I did eat a small piece (it did not disappoint).
