I got an email from Rachel at Brown University asking if I would blog to promote her survey. This is what it reads:
I'm working on my master's degree in Public Health (at Brown Univ. in Rhode Island) with an emphasis in behavioral nutrition. Long story short, I created an online survey about how work environment affects women's eating habits, and I was wondering if you might be willing to post my survey on your blog? This is a project for one of my classes, and it's completely anonymous. The kinds of questions I'm asking are things like:
- During a normal social conversation with people at work, how often do you talk about what, when, or how much to eat?
- How often do you think that the kinds of food you eat at work are different than the kinds you eat at home?
- On a normal day, is there food available in a common area at work?
It's not a test-- no judgment attached to any of the questions. I just want to feel out the blogging community since blogs tend to create a great community for motivation.
I don't currently work in an office environment (except 7 hours a week), but I remember how it was. We had some of the best sub sandwiched ever literally next door to our office, the best bagels, the best everything within reach every day. Some weeks I would go through phases where eating healthfully at work was much easier than it was at home, and then I would get in the habit of my daily enormous sandwich or my very skinny co-worker would convince me to go in with him for the 2 for 1 sundae's at baskin robbins.
Some weeks I would do really well, I would bring my lunch to work, or order sushi, but the delicious food from around the corner always called out to me. And then it was an office birthday.
Does your job environment affect your health?
Every. Single. Day.
Boss brings in goodies. Complete hospital cafeteria at my disposal. Graeters ice cream in the gift shop. Constant smell of cheeseburgers wafts by my office at lunchtime. My officemate eats chili cheese fries almost every day for lunch.
Whoa. Now I’m really proud of myself for sticking to my plans yesterday. Thanks!
What’s the wedding countdown now? I’m so thrilled for you!
I’m with Krissie — I deal with it every single day. Tuesdays and Thursdays company feeds us breakfast, Monday and Wednesday they give us cookies. Cake for every birthday, quarterly review, and holiday.
I have to say no to absolutely everything otherwise I wouldn’t lose an ounce of weight. And still my co-workers try every day… “Cookie? Waffle? Donut? Ice cream?” Boo.
I have trouble with an employee that brings candy, chocolate, and cakes. I literally have to stay away from his area.
I teach lower/middle school and these kids love any excuse to bring in sweets! Birthdays, holidays, finished-the-unit-on-fraction days! Its so difficult to say no to a kid when she tells you that she baked them and waits there to see you take a bite. But I am lucky that I am on my feet most of the day and have to walk 3 flights to my classroom.
I love your blog and your complete honesty and openness!
Great survey, I am happy to help. I hope you (and Rachel) won’t mind if I repost the link on my website as well.
This is to everyone who took my survey (and especially to Lorrie for blogging about it)– Thank you!!!!!!! I think it’s an important topic, and I’m hoping it points me in the right direction to eventually do something useful for people.