Amy FriendNovember 30, 2015

This time of year, the conversation is always the same. It starts with the leftover Halloween candy that people want to get rid of and they think, “Oh, I’ll just take it in to the office to get rid of it”. And, it continues through the holiday season with cookies and baked goodies, Grandma’s care packages, and everyone’s traditional holiday treats that they feel like they have to make every year. A lot of this ends up at the workplace.

If avoiding this endless barrage of treats is a challenge for you, you are going to need a strategy. I would not rely on willpower alone. For many, the nature of willpower is that no matter how much you start out with, its strength will come and go as a function of the demands you put on it. Set specific limits before the temptation is staring you in the face. If you can allow yourself just one bite and that can satisfy you, then stick to it. Personally, I use Brian Johnson’s philosophy, “99% is a Bitch, 100% is a Breeze”. 99% leaves a little wiggle room, enough that could allow you just one bite. If I make it 100% then it’s non-negotiable in my mind. I will not touch anything that my lips may enjoy in the moment but my body will regret in the minutes that follow.

The office is likely a place where you are already subjected to challenges and stress with your work, so it may be even harder to resist Deb’s Delectable Danishes or Paula’s Peppermint Patties. They offer a distraction away from your work but at a cost to your health and fitness goals. Prepare for this!

• Pack your lunch and food for the work day.
• Stock your work area with healthy snacks.
• If cravings attack and it’s not time to eat, consider sipping on some hot tea.
• Go for a walk. Many of us at computer jobs need to move our bodies anyway.
• Enlist a co-worker to be your accountability partner, so when those uncontrollable feelings arise you can go for a walk together.
• Drink plenty of water throughout the day.

Think about how you would like to feel on New Year’s Day, physically and emotionally. We all have the power and control within us to be strong. Acting powerfully one day makes it easier to act powerfully the next day and eventually it may become a habit that requires no willpower. The question is how much do you want it?

Amy