Avoiding social gatherings

barbecuesauce

SunnyDayzMomma wrote: »

I'm going to go against the grain, and say, that if temporarily you need to take time by yourself to be healthy, then by all means do it. I'm not saying stop being social and never go out again. I mean that if you feel that 2 weeks of re-focusing on healthy choices and exercise is going to give you a jump-start and help you make better choices after the 2 weeks, then I think it's a great idea. But in those 2 weeks (or however long), don't just sulk and get down on yourself about how little willpower you have and how it makes you lonely. Set a specific time limit. Then focus on ways to gain confidence, motivation, willpower, and how to choose yourself instead of that cupcake or heap of pasta salad. Read a motivational book, pray, read weight loss success stories, log everything because you have the time, learn some new recipes, drop in on a new type of exercise class, take long walks and think about how important your health is, reconnect with yourself. It sounds lovely to me And maybe plan a night out with friends to end your time, unbeknownst to them, and plan ahead and make healthy choices. Like a final exam to your re-focusing time.

How much weight have you lost while keeping away from social gatherings and refocusing on your willpower or whatever? Is this just a hypothetical thing you think would work?

You're not going against the grain so much as going against a lot of successful people who have told OP how to make it work. If you turn into some sort of diet hermit, you're turning calorie restriction into punishment and won't stick with it.

-65 pounds. Had Labor Day the week after starting this and skipped barbecue. Ended up eating gross grocery store cookies that were in the pantry.

Moderation is everything. Study restaurant menus, load up at the vegetable tray and have dabs of high-cal stuff, but don't stay home.

Machka9

SunnyDayzMomma wrote: »

I'm going to go against the grain, and say, that if temporarily you need to take time by yourself to be healthy, then by all means do it. I'm not saying stop being social and never go out again. I mean that if you feel that 2 weeks of re-focusing on healthy choices and exercise is going to give you a jump-start and help you make better choices after the 2 weeks, then I think it's a great idea. But in those 2 weeks (or however long), don't just sulk and get down on yourself about how little willpower you have and how it makes you lonely. Set a specific time limit. Then focus on ways to gain confidence, motivation, willpower, and how to choose yourself instead of that cupcake or heap of pasta salad. Read a motivational book, pray, read weight loss success stories, log everything because you have the time, learn some new recipes, drop in on a new type of exercise class, take long walks and think about how important your health is, reconnect with yourself. It sounds lovely to me And maybe plan a night out with friends to end your time, unbeknownst to them, and plan ahead and make healthy choices. Like a final exam to your re-focusing time.

Actually that's not a bad idea. Sometimes it is good to take a step away from "normal" life (whatever that is for you) for a couple weeks now and then.

I do something like that when I'm training for an event ... my first priority is exercise, specifically cycling. If you want to socialise with me, you get on a bicycle and ride with me. Otherwise, I'll see you after the event. And that has worked very well for me.

azulvioleta6

My trick is to focus on social events with do involve activity and don't involve food. For me, that is social dancing.

Cultivating new, more active friends helps.

Liftng4Lis

Learn moderation and enjoy your life.

MelodyandBarbells

Machka9 wrote: »

SunnyDayzMomma wrote: »

I'm going to go against the grain, and say, that if temporarily you need to take time by yourself to be healthy, then by all means do it. I'm not saying stop being social and never go out again. I mean that if you feel that 2 weeks of re-focusing on healthy choices and exercise is going to give you a jump-start and help you make better choices after the 2 weeks, then I think it's a great idea. But in those 2 weeks (or however long), don't just sulk and get down on yourself about how little willpower you have and how it makes you lonely. Set a specific time limit. Then focus on ways to gain confidence, motivation, willpower, and how to choose yourself instead of that cupcake or heap of pasta salad. Read a motivational book, pray, read weight loss success stories, log everything because you have the time, learn some new recipes, drop in on a new type of exercise class, take long walks and think about how important your health is, reconnect with yourself. It sounds lovely to me And maybe plan a night out with friends to end your time, unbeknownst to them, and plan ahead and make healthy choices. Like a final exam to your re-focusing time.

Actually that's not a bad idea. Sometimes it is good to take a step away from "normal" life (whatever that is for you) for a couple weeks now and then.

I do something like that when I'm training for an event ... my first priority is exercise, specifically cycling. If you want to socialise with me, you get on a bicycle and ride with me. Otherwise, I'll see you after the event. And that has worked very well for me.

Let me guess, that's when the most people tend to hang out with you??

Machka9

JaneiR36 wrote: »

Machka9 wrote: »

SunnyDayzMomma wrote: »

I'm going to go against the grain, and say, that if temporarily you need to take time by yourself to be healthy, then by all means do it. I'm not saying stop being social and never go out again. I mean that if you feel that 2 weeks of re-focusing on healthy choices and exercise is going to give you a jump-start and help you make better choices after the 2 weeks, then I think it's a great idea. But in those 2 weeks (or however long), don't just sulk and get down on yourself about how little willpower you have and how it makes you lonely. Set a specific time limit. Then focus on ways to gain confidence, motivation, willpower, and how to choose yourself instead of that cupcake or heap of pasta salad. Read a motivational book, pray, read weight loss success stories, log everything because you have the time, learn some new recipes, drop in on a new type of exercise class, take long walks and think about how important your health is, reconnect with yourself. It sounds lovely to me And maybe plan a night out with friends to end your time, unbeknownst to them, and plan ahead and make healthy choices. Like a final exam to your re-focusing time.

Actually that's not a bad idea. Sometimes it is good to take a step away from "normal" life (whatever that is for you) for a couple weeks now and then.

I do something like that when I'm training for an event ... my first priority is exercise, specifically cycling. If you want to socialise with me, you get on a bicycle and ride with me. Otherwise, I'll see you after the event. And that has worked very well for me.

Let me guess, that's when the most people tend to hang out with you??

Actually ... yes. Quite a few of my friends are cyclists, and most importantly, my husband is.

azulvioleta6 suggested, "Cultivating new, more active friends helps." and that's true. If you're surrounded by people who think nothing of going for a 75 km bicycle ride ... and then having a BBQ of chicken and salad ... it's a whole lot easier to stay on track while still socialising.

zdyb23456

I find social gatherings to be difficult too. I tend to eat lighter during the day to make up for it.

If it's buffet style, I try to be really critical of the choices available - I ask myself over and over is it really worth the calories? When I'm really honest with myself, a lot of choices just aren't worth it - soggy salads, mushy sides, plain/bland looking dishes... I'd rather save my calories for something worth it blowing my calories for.