I've got a birthday coming up, and honestly...how do you tell people not to give you cake? I've communicated as much to family and coworkers, but they want to give me a cake anyway! I don't want to be rude and refuse a gift, especially if they've made it, but when I've specifically said I can't have cake...that means I can't have cake!

What should I say--"you guys go ahead, I can't"? My gut tells me to be honest and stick to my guns. But it's horribly tempting. Cake is one of my favorite foods... I feel like I'm being sabotaged.

It's tradition to have cake on your birthday so it is hard for people to give it up. Maybe they can make you a carrot cake so you can have a thin slice! I can't refuse cake.

If you don't 'like' cake, don't have any, but if you are just trying to be 100% strict on your diet, then that is usually a mistake for most people, and building the odd treat in is a good idea for longer term compliance.

Now sone people know that a treat will send them into a week long binge, they best avoid treats, but if you are not one of them, then enjoy your birthday, a piece of cake in itself will have no affect on your goals

I made it fairly clear that I couldn't have any cake, but that it wouldn't offend me if other people ate it in my honor. That actually went over surprisingly well. Guess nobody minds so long as they can dig in.

Admire your discipline

Glad it all worked out well in the end

I will always eat cake on my birthday, my husbands or either of my kids. Cake is good and even if I need to workout more I would rather get a little slice of heaven. Your discipline is great but for me something like that would make me cave in no time!

Me too. I will not say no to a small slice of cake on my own birthday or for a family member. Too often, though, especially when working in an office, there are just too many birthdays and celebrations and it seems like there is cake every week.