Avoiding the M&Ms

A large basket of candy sits on a table right next to my boss’s door. This attractive looking basket (Longaberger, no doubt) is joined by a glass candy dish filled with shiny, colored plain M&Ms.

The M&Ms taunt me.

Every time I walk past my boss’s office (which I have to in order to get to the end of the hallway), I can hear the M&Ms, “Oh, look at us! We’re so pretty and chocolaty! Don’t you want to eat some?” I don’t like to be taunted, so I take a dark chocolate Hershey’s Kiss from the basket instead. Take that M&Ms! (But maybe that was their plan the entire time.)

Temptation at work is ever present, at least where junk food is concerned. Usually someone brings in doughnuts, bagels, or homemade cookies. And don’t forget the sheet cakes with 2-inch thick frosting to celebrate the monthly birthdays!

It’s hard. Sometimes I can withstand the temptation, and other days I give in. I wish I didn't have an affinity for chocolate and other sweets, as my boss doesn't seem to. (Either that or she has super human powers enabling her to withstand a mound of chocolate sitting constantly within view and reach!)

But the reality is I will probably always have to deal with temptation for sweets more often than not. The trick is learning healthy ways to deal with the temptation rather than thinking, "Ah, forget it!" and then overdoing it on the chocolate.

One way I find I can minimize temptation is by avoiding certain habits, such as keeping the hands out of the candy basket and feet from walking into the cake laden staff break room. I know there are other things I can do.

Over the next week or so I plan on taking a closer look at what I can do when temptation and cravings strike. I know I can improve a lot in this area! In the meantime, I refuse to let bright, little candies bully me around! ;)

Blog Traffic Exchange Related Posts
  • sugar-cookie.jpgCan You Really Be Addicted to Sugar? I love sugar. You probably already know that! :) I'm also trying to overcome my sweet tooth. Why? Because I eat way too many sweets, it's not what I'd call a healthy diet, it messes with my emotions, and it sure makes keeping a fit and lean figure a big......
  • blog traffic exchangeBeating the Sugar Addiction - Steps 4-7 The steps I summarize here are discussed in more detail in Potatoes, Not Prozac.  If you feel you have a strong attachment to sugar that is keeping you from living freely and healthy, you may want to give this book a read. Click on the following links if you wish to......
  • key.jpgSolution to Sugar Addiction I've talked about the possibility of being addicted to sugar and more of the specifics on how sugar acts like a drug in some individuals. This post will cover the solution to kicking the sugar addiction, according to the book, Potatoes, Not Prozac. I think the following best sums up......
  • evil-egg.jpgDay After A Binge Holidays are prime times to eat way more than is necessary with meals that are extremely rich and loaded with calories! It's fun to visit with family and feast on foods we normally would not allow past our lips, but it's not fun afterwards when we're in a food coma......
  • blog traffic exchangeNoticing Habits - Discoveries From My Food Journal Since I've been keeping a food journal I've noticed a couple of things. First, I seem to crave something sweet after I eat, but it can't be just any sweet. If I try to eat what I'm not craving - say a banana when I really want a big, chewy......
Blog Traffic Exchange Related Websites
  • Healthier FoodFinding the Balance Between Carbs, Fats and Proteins One of the best ways to ensure healthy weight loss is to find the right balance for your meals. Proteins, fats and carbs are all essential, but you need to have the right amount of each to make sure that your diet will work. It can be a little......
  • Pivoine AngelPivoine Angel Perfume Review This is a review of the Pivoine Angel perfume which is a perfume fragrance for women designed by Thierry Mugler. The Pivoine Angel perfume was originally created in the year 2005. The Pivoine Angel perfume is named for Angel Peony in fresh, and it is a scent that is simultaneously......
  • donutsAvoid These Foods Every Day The occasional sinful snack isn't really going to ruin your weight loss endeavor, but the less that you eat of these particular foods, the better off you will tend to be. Why should you be opting for a food choice that is loaded with bad calories and fat, when you......
  • surfingWhat are the Benefits of Surfing? Understanding the benefits of surfing is important if you want to get the most out of this unique endeavor. Here is a look at some of the benefits that are associated with surfing. As you have probably seen, surfing is a sport whereby a person stands on a surfboard, and......
  • Keeping the Pounds OffHow to Keep Weight Off Permanently How many times have you gone on a diet, only to gain back the weight, plus a little dividend? For many people, dieting is a vicious cycle full of ups and downs, and plenty of discouragement. If you want to keep your weight off permanently, you are going to......
Online Stores If you liked this article, vote for it on del.icio.us and stumbleupon.


Categories:

Cravings, Sugar Addiction



Tags:

, , , ,


6 comments ↓
#1 lynnae on 01.23.08 at 9:09 am

I just wanted to tell you I’m really enjoying your site. I have a weakness for anything chocolate, so I know where you’re coming from. Fortunately as a stay at home mom, I have a little more control in that I can avoid bringing M&Ms into the house. :)

And I also wanted to let you know that one of your earlier posts really motivated me. I actually got up at 4:30 this morning to workout. It was brutal, but I feel better than I normally do this time of morning. Now to make it a habit….

#2 Erin on 01.23.08 at 2:08 pm

Oh gosh! I know exactly what you mean! There’s always some kind of candy or junk food on our staff coffee table, and I always end up munching on something sugary and really bad for me! I know I would lose weight faster if I stayed away from the junk, but I usually give in to the temptation! UGH!!!!!

#3 Susan on 01.23.08 at 6:42 pm

Lynnae, Thank you so much! I really appreciate your kind words; that means a lot to me! :)
Good for you for getting up early and exercising! I was right there with you, exercising at about 4:45. :) Yes, the hardest part is making exercise a habit, but once it becomes one, it’s a whole lot easier to do.

Erin, I hear ya! Fending off the pull to eat the junk food at work can be quite a challenge, and a frustrating one at that! I’m going to focus on how I can improve in this area in the following days/weeks.

#4 Jules on 01.25.08 at 9:26 am

ANY kind of chocolate taunts me!!!

#5 Mrs. Micah on 01.29.08 at 11:29 pm

That’s a big hazard of working from home a lot. On the other hand, what we’ve got is what I’ve bought. So that’s a plus…if we run out of chocolate I have to buy more.
And the audiology clinic isn’t too bad about food. But libraries are terrible. Someone keeps making red velvet cake.
My worst food job was at a property management company. Apparently vendors liked to woo us, so we’d always be getting free food, tastings, all that. Plus we had a well-stocked food pantry. My boss gained 15 pounds in her first year there.

#6 Susan on 01.30.08 at 7:35 pm

Is it me, or does the medical field seem heavy laden with snacks?! :) When I worked on the labor and delivery ward, we would be bombarded with goodies! Coworkers would bring in homemade cookies to sample, patients would give us boxes of chocolates as a thank you, the doctors would bring in bagels from Panera on some mornings, and on and on!!! Very nice, but not good for the waistline! :)

Leave a Comment

3 fatty acids breast cancer cancer cells Cravings daily basis diet exercise Exercises fad diet fad diets Fitness Food Journal fruits and vegetables Health and Wellness health and wellness health benefits health problems healthy pregnancy high blood pressure hormones menstrual cycle menstrual period metabolism monounsaturated fats Motivation muscles nutrients Nutrition omega 3 fatty acids physical activity placenta polyunsaturated fats posture pregnancy pregnant women skin care stop eating sugar sugar addicition Sugar Addiction sugar cravings uterus Weight Loss what this means whole grains