For about two more weeks (resigning tomorrow!) I am employed by a gym. I work in the office doing boring, boring paperwork stuff, but I really still enjoy the atmosphere and the ability to use the gym for free and take classes (Zumba tonight!?!?). I like that I’ve met a lot of people who have lost weight, who are dedicated to their health, and who appreciate talking about food and fitness. It has been a great experience.
One thing I find odd about working at the gym, and our culture as a whole, is the way we use food to celebrate. The monthly staff birthday party to celebrate June birthdays is tomorrow and I’m the lucky girl who gets to go shopping for the food. I was instructed to buy cupcakes, chips, cookies, and soft drinks. There is a whole list of ideas for things I can buy for the party – none of which I would buy if I was shopping for myself because it is all junk.
I’m not again having a piece of cake every once in a while – obviously. But why do we do this all the time? We celebrate birthdays with sugary, fatty foods. We celebrate every special occasion like this. Some of us even take it further and celebrate the little moments with food. Have you ever had a great weigh in and then celebrated with food? Yeah, it happens. We are obsessed with food and use it to celebrate at every opportunity.
I’m tempted to rebel. To take a stand against the ironic and sad fact of ubiquitous food-centric celebrations. I want to just say, “NO, I won’t buy these cupcakes!” (I mean, what are they going to do – fire me? Ha.) It is not even the fact that I would eat them, because I won’t. I never eat the food at the work birthday parties because it is always so sugary and I have no reason to if it is not my birthday. I just don’t want anyone else to eat it either. Half of the people there are overweight if they don’t work on the fitness floor or teach classes. They don’t need cupcakes any more than I do. So why am I being sent to buy them?
Sorry for the complaining. I know I will go buy it so all my coworkers are happy. I’m curious about what you guys think on the subject. Do you celebrate everything with “bad” food? Or is it just for the very, very, very special occasions? Or not at all? Am I crazy to care about this at all since I won’t be eating the stuff?
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{ 32 comments }
That’s really incredible- you work at a GYM and they’re serving those foods? That’s just… crazy. I’m really surprised (and kind of appalled). I think you should rebel and bring…. vegetables. What would they say?
I used to work in a physical therapy clinic in which many of the people were gourmet cooks and bakers. The potlucks there were insane. They even compiled an office cookbook that I have to this day, and it was all super rich stuff. But amazingly, nobody in that place was overweight (including me when I worked there). Hm. Go figure.
Foodie McBody’s last blog post..Be Mindful, and Don’t Suffer
I think you’d be pissed if someone forced their choices on you, so I’d recommend not forcing your choices on them. If they want cake, let them eat cake…
Well, I love food, so often a “date night” means eating out for us. We both enjoy food. What I’m trying to do is recognize food in the way I do anything else. Something cool to enjoy, not something to consume until it pains me (which I’ve often done). I mean, I also enjoy working out, but I don’t do it until I’m about to fall off the machine, so why do I eat to distraction (I have no idea the answer to that). So, ya… It’s important to have a healthy relationship with food, and sometimes that does include celebrating with food for me.
As for junk food and gym people. That’s no big surprise. A lot of physical trainers seem to eat terribly. I don’t get it, but that’s the way it is. And it’ll work for them as long as they never stop working out! If they do – watch out!
@Foodie McBody
That potluck situation sounds awesome. I bet the food was so good and such high quality that it wasn’t a rush to choke it all down. That helps with keeping weight in check.
@Roder
I’m not planning on forcing anything upon them. I’m going to buy the crap but, seriously, they don’t need it. No one does. But hey, whatever! Make your own choices. I’ll buy myself an apple while I’m out. :)
@Mrs. Myers
Haha. Trainers can get away with it, but a lot of the people that work there can’t.
Well I am sad when I don’t get cake for my birthday. Not necessarily at work, but in real life (lol I count work as non real life). I like food, so I do use it to celebrate. I don’t really consider most foods bad. About the only ones I do are fast food because theyre just a bunch of chemicals and make me feel ill. I think you could refuse to buy the food, since I’m sure your work title isn’t “work birthday food purchaser” but I don’t think you can say that others shouldn’t eat it either. You can choose for yourself to not eat it, but you can’t choose for them, since it’s their lives. I’d actually be mad if I were eating something and someone came by and said ew that’s bad food. (unless it had mold or something!!). On the other hand if it’s YOUR birthday they’re celebrating they should definitely not bring in any food you don’t want. And there’s lots of other fun ways to celebrate things that don’t involve eating or drinking. I think its up to each person to celebrate how they like.
I agree with your post 100%. This is one of the big reasons why we have such a high rate of obesity. However, I know that I hate having people force things on me such as my eating habits. I would totally suggest just starting a new tradition in your home when you throw a party or whatever. Provide health foods and maybe others will pick up on it as well. ; >)
Jill Woyjeck’s last blog post..WEIGHT LOSS AND FOOD-FIVE TIPS TO HELP CONTROL WHAT YOU EAT
I admit to being one who has celebrated with food after a good weigh in. I know when I’m doing it that it’s completely illogical and counter-productive, and yet I do it anyway! Eating in general is such a social activity that it’s hard to just treat it normally on “special occasions.” Heck, it’s hard for me to view food normally on any occasion!
erin’s last blog post..What Does It Take?
We’re like pigs to the trough most of the time! It’s actually sickening…
I have nothing about celebrating something special with good food and good company, but we’re celebrating the mundane these days with poor quality treats. This not only makes us fatter and fatter, but it takes away the specialness of truly special occasions. As long as we’re always chasing the next big thing, we’ll never be satisfied…
Hanlie’s last blog post..A little bit of this & a little bit of that
I celebrate with food to a degree. Well, today is my birthday, and this is the one time all year that my Mom makes her amazing lasagna. And we’ll have cake.
But it doesn’t bother me, because it is how I grew up. You bring up a very interesting subject.
I do not celebrate smaller things with food. I eat because I love food. I love the flavors, and I love the feeling of being full. I take this stuff very seriously. For me, a decent diet could not be possible without healthy foods that I love, which are truly in abundant supply, just waiting to be discovered. I do not eat food that I do not enjoy.
I’m rambling. Great topic, Mary.
Art’s last blog post..The King is dead…
My family and culture uses food a lot to celebrate. I wouldn’t say “bad food” like cupcakes or stuff like that but when a baby is born, a wedding happens, a family reunion, a memorial – we feast. We bring all sorts of foods – moose meat stew, neck bones, bannock, berries and fried bannock, and so forth – and we eat.
Every time I get together with my family back home, the tea and bannock is brought out. Food is part our our celebrations. But you know, actual food, not cupcakes and chips and dips and the such.
I still use food as part of my celebrations. When I have a good weigh in, I make sure my next meal includes a favorite food – like bannock or strawberries and lite cool whip or a tiny bit of dark cocoa.
I think it’s part of having a healthy attitude towards food. As long as you keep yourself healthy, that’s all that counts. Let them eat their cupcakes while you rock the weight loss.
Shy Girl’s last blog post..the middle
Let’s face it. We don’t limit ourselves to these foods at celebrations, That’s the real problem. :)
Cake is ok to celebrate with. You said it was for birthdays, right?
Just because we have a problem with cake doesn’t mean everyone else does.
Perhaps if it was balanced out with a fruit and veggie tray that would give everyone a choice. Or just not eat the cake.
Well, when I think about it, yes food is usually involved in most celebrations but it’s not always unhealthy. But like for my birthday (which was a couple of days ago) I went out to an American diner with my friends. I had a cheese burger with bacon, onion rings and a dessert involving brownies, vanilla ice cream, banana, whipped cream and caramel topping.
Bella’s last blog post..Weigh-in for 06/25/09
I’m not going to force anyone to eat like me – I don’t even make my brother do that. He eats fast food for every single meal. But I’m just upset that celebrations are always about the food. Its great to enjoy the meal and eat good and bad food to celebrate… but every single time? For even the little things? I can remember my family sometimes making up excuses to go out and eat at a nice restaurant to celebrate. I am not against celebrating with food, just not all the time and not using things as an excuse to eat.
Mary, I think the whole world celebrates with food! That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but it is really common. In fact, as you have no doubt noticed, I usually blow it on a Sunday. Why? Because I have had a great week. Crazy, huh?
South Beach Steve’s last blog post..Day 346 – Before/During/Soon to be After
@Steve
Yeah most cultures do celebrate with food. :) I just find it funny how often we do. And hilarious that we will work hard all week to lose weight then when we realize we have we go celebrate big time and gain it back. So unproductive. LOL
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with celebrating with food. Even over the little stuff :) But it’s all down to the individual. I mean, I celebrate with food. Hell, every week I have a mini-celebration with fast food for my treat meal. I’m not saying everyone should do it, but I’m saying that everyone should be allowed to make their own choices. I mean, despite my treat meals, my BBQs with mates, the drink ups, the birthdays, I still manage to pull losses. If you want to celebrate with food, go ahead :) If you don’t, more power to ya.
FLG’s last blog post..My Friend, the Endocrinologist – The Return 2
I believe cultures celebrated with food because food was scarce and it was truly a treat to have celebration after a harvest etc. Now we are a wealthy society, we forgot our roots.
Mike’s last blog post..Day 81 Weight 92Kg (202lbs)
I think it’s all about moderation. If you eat well the majority of the time, then why not celebrate with foods you like but that are not exactly healthy? Food is pleasurable, as well as fuel for our bodies. If you treat your body well, give it good foods, then having chips or cake once in a while is not a terrible thing.
Jenn’s last blog post..New Progress Pictures
It is so weird how we are almost ‘trained’ to think like that — celebrating with food on every occasion we can get, big or small. Part of it must be all the advertising and media influence (birthday parties at micky D’s, family lunch buffets, pizza slumber parties, beers with football games, etc.etc.).
I used to celebrate with food too! But now I barely get the occasion to. I tend to turn down social dinners too, especially if it’s with close friends (cuz I can convince them otherwise). Instead, I try to make it an active outing.. like play some sport together or take a walk while catching up with a friend/neighbor, etc.
my3monthchallenge’s last blog post..Note to self
I used to celebrate every weigh in with a food reward. Cut that shizzle out. Ended up not working for me. Works for some people though. *HIGH FIVES* to FLG.
Somethings are meant to be celebrated with some good food. I think it comes down to how much food you eat while celebrating. Moderation.
wildfluffysheep’s last blog post..Changes!
You are right – we celebrate with food all the time. As I lost weight (150 lbs) I became even more aware of how we use food to celebrate milestones in our lives, as rewards for a job well done and for anything else we can think of.
For me, I had to make a conscious decision to start celebrating the person and focusing on them and the event, rather than the food that would be there. The change came slowly, but it came.
Diane, fit to the finish’s last blog post..Don’t You Eat That Food From the Trash!
Well….my family celebrates a lot with pizza, but that necessarily a bad thing. My daughter bakes all the time so the novelty of celebrating with sugar is boring. She just keeps on baking, even when 1/2 the cake/cookies/brownies sits for too long and eventually gets thrown out. Bake-a-holic.
Yum Yucky’s last blog post..Do I Look Fat in This? (Steak Sliders Edition)
My family celebrates with food and I don’t see anything wrong with that. It’s a matter of making choices that are right for you. I look at it like this, just b/c we are going out to celebrate doesn’t mean I have to go all out. I can still have a salad and keep the meal as healthy as possible.
Christina’s last blog post..Sabotage
I was talking about this with my wife the other day. When family comes into town we always go out for ice cream or another dessert. Funny how it happens. Not sure why! Wife and I usually don’t get anything or just share something small. When we celebrate though, we like to go out to eat — usually some place with somewhat healthy choices. Going out is a treat enough for us! Great post.
Blake’s last blog post..The Debate Continues
Guilty here!! I exercise just so I can celebrate afterwards with a bowl of ice cream. I’ve given up ice cream for a while, but only because I’ve given up exercise ;)
TB–Milwaukee’s last blog post..Putting the Winter Eating Habits Away
I’m totally with you. Even if I’m not going to be eating that food, it bothers me that everyone else is eating it and it’s so harmful to them. I mean, if a person is drinking too much alcohol or can’t quite smoking, I usually try to talk to them about it and get them to realize how awful it is for their health and that I’m worried about them… but doing that with food is never taken seriously.
I’m curious- what do you think the staff would do if you offered to bring, say, pita wedges or homemade crackers with cheese and hummus? And homemade cookies? Have you tried suggesting they have veggies or something at these parties instead of a bunch of junk? I started doing that with parties with my friends, and now whenever anyone else has a party they tend to have healthier fare just because they realize how much better it is (and classier, with melted baked brie and homemade crackers for dipping, for example)! It’s awesome.
What an awesome topic! This reminds me that a few months ago I caught a glimpse into the break room at my gym and was horrified to see the employees scarfing down a pizza. And not even a pizza from a restaurant that *might* be healthier, but a straight-up, fast-food pizza. I was shocked. Food does indeed seem to be at the center of our celebrations. This wouldn’t be a bad thing if we celebrated with moderate consumption of healthy foods. But for some reason celebrations seem to create some carnivalesque atmosphere where moderation (or brains!) no longer apply. Healthy living goes straight out the window. Even splurging or gorging would be less harmful if we celebrated things more infrequently. But, instead, we have weekly binge sessions disguised as celebrations. It’s like binging with an audience is less harmful than isolated binging. Oy. My tips? Set the example. It may be hard at first, but then it become second nature. You may get comments here and there, but anyone who really shuns your healthy motives is just screwing themselves. Let them screw away.
Annabel’s last blog post..New Food Find, Protein & the Weekend
I grew up in a family that celebrated everything with food so it became ingrained.. and I got fat!!! Even now, yes, it seems everyone wants to get together for food! We even do it.
I have a friend & we do a lunch walk once a week. I think it just has to be a mind reset! Sometimes I just ask if a person wants to go to a nice place just to relax & have nice scenery around….
It is hard to break habits but that is how many of us lost weight, right!!
Jody – Fit at 51’s last blog post..Dark Chocolate Truffle Makeover
I don’t think it’s crazy at all that you feel that way. And I don’t think you should go buy the stuff, I would replace it all with a fruit and veggie platter and maybe a more healthier cookie option.
BUT I will say that it is not easy getting away from that mentality. It’s a real challenge for me anyway. I even sometimes feel I can have a special treat after working out. What is that all about? I still have a long way to go LOL
You could definitely set an example here by taking a stand and changing up the treat list. Wonder what they would think about that? hee hee
Angie (Losing It and Loving It)’s last blog post..Do you have a positive attitude?
I totally agree! Food is everywhere, and it is so hard to just say no. Way to go refusing!
MackAttack’s last blog post..Day of Rest
Do you know that i have spicy tongue. spicy food i like most many time i have celebrated with it. Nice post.
I loveeeee desserts and sweets, and growing up with an influence from an Italian-Polish side and an Irish side, all of our familty gatherings were particularly caloric to say the least-especially dessert. We’d have just as many options as we had main courses! We’ve tried to be a little healtheir now though as we’re all getting older–try bringing an edible fruit arrangement! Sweet, less calories, and MUCH more nutritious!