Food Pushers

No Snacks, no sweets, no seconds. Except on Days that start with S. Too simple for you? Simple is why it works. Look here for questions, introductions, support, success stories.

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Lizzy6
Posts: 54
Joined: Sun Dec 25, 2016 8:22 pm

Food Pushers

Post by Lizzy6 » Sat Nov 16, 2019 1:00 am

Oh boy! I had a terrible time with them today. We had a breakfast at work today. I had already eaten, so I didn't even want to go in the room. I had so many people nagging me. I said "No thank you" as nicely as I could, but they wouldn't stop. Someone finally threatened to not leave until I went to get something. I got some food and threw it away later. I know they meant well, but it was so annoying.

How do you handle food pushers?

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: Food Pushers

Post by automatedeating » Sun Nov 17, 2019 3:51 am

I'm firm, polite, and change the subject. I do not need to eat their food to take care of their emotional needs. Once I realized that, it got easy. Sometimes I say I'm really just not hungry for it; I tell them it looks great and I bet they love baking and I'm sure everyone will enjoy it. How can they force me to eat when I say no thanks?

If someone is particularly annoying, I tell them the food they are proffering spikes my blood sugar (which is true, but I avoid using this line unless someone is overly aggressive).

In summary, they never win on this anymore.

I just reread what you wrote and that person that said they wouldn't leave - oh, my - that would have brought out my biggest smile. "Oh really? You can just sit your ass in here all day then - at least you'll have plenty of food to keep you company. I, on the other hand, will feel light as a feather and have zero regrets that I passed up this sugar-fest." I seriously would have said something in that vein. I also might use a self-deprecating approach - this has NEVER failed. "You are so lucky you can eat that and feel good! If I eat that I always regret it and I feel sluggish later and if I check my blood sugar it's gone up to 160." That works 100% of the time.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

Soprano
Posts: 1184
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2018 8:56 pm
Location: UK

Re: Food Pushers

Post by Soprano » Sun Nov 17, 2019 8:44 am

I definitely wouldn't eat in that situation. No one has the right to control what an adult puts in their body.

Love autos response.

Jx
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.

sharon227
Posts: 292
Joined: Fri May 18, 2018 12:13 pm

Re: Food Pushers

Post by sharon227 » Mon Nov 18, 2019 12:16 pm

Wow that's obnoxious. Sorry you had to deal with that. I'd be very tempted to say “I’m really curious why it's so important to you that I eat something now”, possibly adding “ when I just said I didn’t want to”, but of course that all depends on your work culture and power balance between you and Food Pusher. I do think it's possible to get away with the first part if said in a friendly inquisitive tone and with a smile in some work situations but not others.

cb3g
Posts: 36
Joined: Tue Oct 22, 2019 11:43 pm

Re: Food Pushers

Post by cb3g » Thu Nov 21, 2019 11:44 pm

For me, the best way to deal with it is to just honestly say, "I already ate breakfast and I'm trying not to eat between meals. But thanks!"

I don't like talking about any sort of "diet" with people - I think it's sort of gauche to bring it up - but honestly I feel like it's the most effective thing. In my experience they are then all of a sudden supportive and not offended that you aren't partaking. I did this at a friend's house when she wanted me to have some of the cake she'd made (which I also really wanted but it was still Friday). She totally understood and even offered to pack up a piece for me to have on Saturday, which I gratefully agreed to.

Lizzy6
Posts: 54
Joined: Sun Dec 25, 2016 8:22 pm

Re: Food Pushers

Post by Lizzy6 » Sat Nov 23, 2019 8:52 pm

It was very frustrating. The next time, I will stand my ground. If I have to use my serious face I will. I think that this might be part of learning new eating habits. Saying no will be a must in a food-abundant society.

sharon227
Posts: 292
Joined: Fri May 18, 2018 12:13 pm

Re: Food Pushers

Post by sharon227 » Tue Nov 26, 2019 3:49 am

Learning how to say no is definitely an important skill in modern society if you want to lead a healthy lifestyle!

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DaveMc
Posts: 394
Joined: Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:28 pm

Re: Food Pushers

Post by DaveMc » Fri Nov 29, 2019 12:17 pm

That's incredibly annoying, sorry to hear that it happened to you!

Under normal circumstances, I've usually found that people aren't actually paying that much attention to what other people do or don't eat, so the most I've ever had to do is a quick "I'm trying not to eat between meals" to duck out of that sort of thing.

I would never actually do this, but your story would make me want to turn to the person and say, "All right, please stand by, because I'm going to hurt you now."

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Re: Food Pushers

Post by oolala53 » Sat Nov 30, 2019 11:02 pm

Learning to deal with all kinds of environmental pressures is definitely part of the skill set needed. I have said before that often get inspiration from thinking about my naturally slim nephew-in-law, who rarely gets influenced to eat even one more bite than he wants on his own. I've also seen him leave many a small plate with most of the food he took still on it. Sometimes he will set it aside and claim he will eat it later. I'm not sure there is any data on whether or not he does!
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

Whosonfirst
Posts: 538
Joined: Thu Nov 16, 2006 12:32 pm

Re: Food Pushers

Post by Whosonfirst » Mon Dec 02, 2019 1:02 am

Lizzy6 wrote:
Sat Nov 16, 2019 1:00 am
Oh boy! I had a terrible time with them today. We had a breakfast at work today. I had already eaten, so I didn't even want to go in the room. I had so many people nagging me. I said "No thank you" as nicely as I could, but they wouldn't stop. Someone finally threatened to not leave until I went to get something. I got some food and threw it away later. I know they meant well, but it was so annoying.

How do you handle food pushers?
How is that even possible? If you really can't handle this situation, lying is always good way. Tell the person "threatening" you that you're nauseous, or that you just vomited in the bathroom. Or just enjoy the misery of the person threatening you that really wants you to eat so they won't feel guilty about the amount they're planning on eating, and sit at your desk or work area and pleasantly go about getting work started while they suffer.
https://twitter.com/SipeEngineering
Current weight(9/2020)-212 lbs.
Goal Weight- 205 lbs.
NoS Goal: >= 80% Success days

Lizzy6
Posts: 54
Joined: Sun Dec 25, 2016 8:22 pm

Re: Food Pushers

Post by Lizzy6 » Mon Dec 02, 2019 1:12 am

oolala
My husband is naturally slim. He does not overeat. He eats all things, but I have never seen him binge. He can even eat a few chips and stop. I just think we either have a body that has balanced hormones or we don't. I don't have balanced hormones. I don't want to have to explain to people why I don't want to taste a little bit of the wonderful dessert they made. I would have to say "No thank you. If I eat that spoonful of your fabulous cake, I will want to keep eating sweets for at least a couple of hours." That is the trap. When your body is out of balance, a little bit turns into a lot very quickly.

Whosonfirst
Yes, the person did. He sat right at my desk until I went to the room where the food was being served. It was extremely frustrating!

Whosonfirst
Posts: 538
Joined: Thu Nov 16, 2006 12:32 pm

Re: Food Pushers

Post by Whosonfirst » Mon Dec 02, 2019 1:26 pm

Lizzy6 wrote:
Mon Dec 02, 2019 1:12 am
oolala
My husband is naturally slim. He does not overeat. He eats all things, but I have never seen him binge. He can even eat a few chips and stop. I just think we either have a body that has balanced hormones or we don't. I don't have balanced hormones. I don't want to have to explain to people why I don't want to taste a little bit of the wonderful dessert they made. I would have to say "No thank you. If I eat that spoonful of your fabulous cake, I will want to keep eating sweets for at least a couple of hours." That is the trap. When your body is out of balance, a little bit turns into a lot very quickly.

Whosonfirst
Yes, the person did. He sat right at my desk until I went to the room where the food was being served. It was extremely frustrating!
Sounds like harassment to me. Sometimes you just have be a little rude, or maybe steel your resolve and tell them firmly to bug off. If he's still there, pick up the phone and dial your HR dept.
https://twitter.com/SipeEngineering
Current weight(9/2020)-212 lbs.
Goal Weight- 205 lbs.
NoS Goal: >= 80% Success days

ladybird30
Posts: 1118
Joined: Sun May 07, 2017 10:41 pm

Re: Food Pushers

Post by ladybird30 » Tue Dec 03, 2019 10:30 pm

Hi Lizzy,
now that I know that the man concerned was actually sitting next to your desk while trying to get you to eat, I can understand why you went and collected food which you didn't want. But as far as I am concerned, his behaviour was out of line.
Three meals a day - not too little not too much, but just right

Marina
Posts: 61
Joined: Sat Jun 03, 2017 2:37 pm
Location: Brazil

Re: Food Pushers

Post by Marina » Wed Dec 11, 2019 2:55 pm

I deal with food pushers almost daily at my work. It can be really hard and IN MY OPINION it's not always possible to say what we really want to say in this kind of environment. In a situation like the one you describe i'd have said that i'd take a piece of whatever it was and eat it later. When i do this people usually stop pushing me to eat.
35yo brazilian, female, vegetarian. I've undergone weight loss surgery on march 2019 and am using No-S to as a weight maintenance strategy.

Height: 5'2" (1,58m)
Starting weight: 248 lbs (112,5 kg)
Current weight: 135 lbs (61,3 kg)
Current BMI: 24,6

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Octavia
Posts: 901
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2015 8:01 pm
Location: UK

Re: Food Pushers

Post by Octavia » Sat Jul 18, 2020 9:10 am

Interested to catch up with this thread. I hate having food pushed on me. Sometimes the escalating bleatings of the food pusher can really get my anxiety/adrenaline levels up and I just have to get them to stop before I explode. So in a situation where I know they will insist I eat a piece of specially-bought cake after a huge meal (for instance) I will say yes immediately, make a massive fuss over it, put it to one side and hide it in my handbag when they’re not looking, or give it to DH if he’s there. I enjoy being sneaky and dishonest to people who are purposely manipulating me. It feels like being bullied so I like to get revenge. At other times I will giggle and say ‘Oh, I’m doing this thing of not eating between meals...I’ve been so good...but I’m about to crack...oh, stop it, it just looks so good...I have to have some...oh but I can’t....’ and pretend to be suffering big time. That makes them happy. :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

Desert Rat
Posts: 29
Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2011 8:30 pm
Location: Phoenix, Arizona

Re: Food Pushers

Post by Desert Rat » Sun Jul 19, 2020 4:45 pm

Agreed! I can't stand having food pushed on me. I find it very curious that the food pushers in my life are also hyper-critical of people who are overweight, even if they are overweight themselves. Self-hatred? Crabs in a bucket? IDK.

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Re: Food Pushers

Post by oolala53 » Thu Jul 23, 2020 7:51 am

Octavia, you are deliciously evil. :D
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

User avatar
Octavia
Posts: 901
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2015 8:01 pm
Location: UK

Re: Food Pushers

Post by Octavia » Sat Aug 08, 2020 8:30 am

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Mwahahahaha! :twisted: :twisted:

I should add, this approach can backfire, when you find a disgusting mouldy old bun squashed into your driving license a few weeks later...

GabbyGirl2
Posts: 107
Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2020 11:37 am

Re: Food Pushers

Post by GabbyGirl2 » Tue Aug 11, 2020 2:17 am

I worked in an office several years ago where one day someone ordered pizza for the group. I said no thank you, and one of the guys said loudly, "Are you a part of this office?" I said, "I guess not." I didn't eat any pizza.

User avatar
Octavia
Posts: 901
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2015 8:01 pm
Location: UK

Re: Food Pushers

Post by Octavia » Fri Aug 21, 2020 7:10 pm

Wow, he was an unusually hostile food-pusher, Gabby! :shock: Good reply from you! :)

GabbyGirl2
Posts: 107
Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2020 11:37 am

Re: Food Pushers

Post by GabbyGirl2 » Sat Aug 22, 2020 5:01 pm

Indeed. It was a hostile work environment, too, but I don't think they even had that term yet. My boss used to hole up in his office and look at Penthouse magazines. They used to discuss women's physical characteristics, right there in the office. Fortunately, they did not do it to me directly.

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: Food Pushers

Post by automatedeating » Wed Aug 26, 2020 1:36 pm

OMG Gabby!
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

GabbyGirl2
Posts: 107
Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2020 11:37 am

Re: Food Pushers

Post by GabbyGirl2 » Wed Aug 26, 2020 6:07 pm

Yes; it was hard to work there, and I only stayed 15 months. I guess it could have been worse. They treated me like "one of the guys". I only told them I was leaving because of the excessive travel.

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