At my work there is this evil thing called “cake day”. It occurs every second Wednesday of every month. This month they are doing it tomorrow because the baker will be on vacation next week. The purpose is to celebrate everyone who is having a birthday in the company. They used to put all the names on the cakes, but now they just have a sign posted next to the cake with all the birthday names. They usually have chocolate, vanilla, and a wild card. Tomorrow it will be cherry. I haven’t tried that one yet >.>. I have a problem with wanting to try every single flavor to find my favorite, and then of course trying them again to make sure >.<. Can’t be too sure. Anyway, this post isn’t about that problem, but an entirely different problem: Free food. In the past, I have had a difficult time saying no to free food. Even if it’s not that good. The cake isn’t that good, not bad, but not super delicious either, but it’s free.
About two months ago I started noticing this pattern of weakness in myself after my boss brought in danishes and I ate five of them simply because they were free. I don’t even like danishes that much. At my work, people bring in free stuff all the time. Today there’s a bag of candy canes and a container of fried chickpeas. Evil, I tell you. I think the root of this bad habit comes from growing up in a relatively poor family. Free food was not very common and of course you don’t turn it down, not when people are starving in the world. Not when you can’t afford much yourself.
Well, now I do. I created the “Just say NO” challenge to help me through it. It’s simple: you earn one point every time you say no to something free and bad for you. Every time you say yes you lose two points. There’s a max of 5 points per day. I make Holidays (actual family parties) an exclusion. They are an opportunity to earn points, but I do not get penalized.
My boyfriend got on board and agreed to provide me with rewards when I hit a certain amount of points. He’s so supportive ^.^! Unfortunately, at the time, food was a heavy motivator so quite a few of my “rewards” are food related. Here’s some of mine.
Rewards
- 10 pts = free cookie of choice
- 25 pts = free movie with the works (popcorn, pop, and candy)
- 50 pts = massage
- 75 pts = Sourdough Day ( I love sourdough bread so much >.<!)
- 100 pts = Three course meal
- 150 pts = Servant Day ( I can make him do anything I want, silly dances and all ^.^)
- 200 pts = Hotel Stay
There’s a few more that I can’t remember, but I have them posted in my cube to motivate me. So far I’ve earned the cookie and movie. I may exchange the massage for half the price of a pair of new running shoes. That’s a bit more motivating to me. Running shoes are expensive >.<.
The weird thing was, after a couple weeks of this challenge, saying no just became automatic. It wasn’t even a conscious thought anymore. I wasn’t getting very many points because it wasn’t registering as a challenge anymore. So we expanded the challenge. Now I also get points for saying no to buying things that are unhealthy for me that I want. So when I stand in front of the vending machine drooling and then walk away, point! When it’s nacho day in the cafeteria and I get a salad, point! When we go to the movies and don’t get any snacks, point!
I got a simple tally counter app on my phone. It’s literally just a plus and minus sign and a number. I am currently at 39 points. The point is this method works for me. I have learned to say no, in most cases. Of course I’m weak at times, but I’m a hell of a lot better than I used to be. I do not feel deprived or rude when I say no anymore. Why? Because it was my choice. I chose to say no and I had a right to.
How to you resist free temptations?
Hopefully Bikiniskinni 
We were pretty poor growing up, too, so I get the challenge to say no! I’ve only really gotten good at it in the last few months. Now I just don’t want to mess up a whole day of good for something bad – unless I’ve planned for a treat.
But really, I just try to make sure I have room in my day for a pb&j on double fiber using natural pb & j. I will never stop loving these sammiches.
EVARRR.
but they help keep the sugar craving down and aren’t completely awful for you. 🙂
Have you tried them grilled? 😉 delicious I tell you.
GRILLED? That sounds wonderful… But nay friend, I have not. With toasted bread in the winter time though – now that’s the business! Need to try grilled. Mmmm….
I totally entered a sandwich into my fitness pal just now to see if it fits in my day – totally does and then some… Yesssss.
Yep just treat it like a grilled cheese. Butter each end of the sandwich. 😉
ahhh free cake day. your office sounds like mine! Although we have “birthday-cake” days. It feels like there is a birthday every 2 weeks! 😦
Well done! It’s an interesting system you have there and one that is working for you:)
I (at the strongest time of my weight loss) used to tell myself, even if it’s free, Wolfgang Puck himself must have made it for me to consider eating it. I’m not cheating for crappy food…that’s not bad, but not great. lol. We had a huge cake at work with many smaller tarts and I didn’t touch it. I’ve lost this mantra and my mojo, but reading this helps to give me a kick in the behind to remember those days and how committed I was to this journey. So thanks for this!
I read this post this owning and have been
I have been thinking about this post all day. There really are no “free” lunches or cakes. It all adds.
I was taught to always clean my plate and that bites me too. Yesterday and the day before someone had cake in the office. It was hard to stay away, but I managed. My afternoon walk yesterday was also timed to miss the cake.
Hang tough sweety. Love that you made this into a game!
Oh i totally feel your pain, I have a 82 yr old grandmother who I live with and look after. She would live on cakes, biscuits and anything sweet given half the chance. I not only had to learn to say no but to kinda reprogram her. Our house is always full of the above so I had to learn will power to not only say no but to not raid the cupboards all the time as I could just gorge if I wanted.
People can make you feel guilty if you say no, as if your insulting them for simply not wanting to over indulge or use your “naughty” allowance on food that isnt always your choice, forgetting what it feels like to be in that situation. Your game is a brilliant idea and its great that your boyfriend is so supportive of you, and like you said after a while making that choice is natural to you.
What a great idea! I love “rewards” for good behaviors. And I used to work in an office where there were free food items, candy jars, etc. all over the place. One thing I’d do is avoid the lunch room where all the free food was kept if at all possible. But you are right, once you start to say no, you realize you don’t need the free food and it’s easy to say no. Especially if you get a good treat in reward for giving up a so-so treat!
This is awesome! I just may have to try this!
I can totally relate – I just automatically take food if it’s free! Because c’mon, it’s free! There’s always a lot of free food floating around where I work..especially at the beginning and end of semesters. Great post!