Tips on social eating?

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abigailjoywiebe
abigailjoywiebe Posts: 4 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I'm a social eater. If someone else is eating, I want to eat with them. I've finally gotten past the point of having to eat with them, but when friends invite me over for dinner and they serve pizza, I have a really hard time saying no and/or don't know how to tell them I'm trying to watch what I eat without being rude. Any tips?
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Replies

  • kittywrangler
    kittywrangler Posts: 81 Member
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    I avoid dinners I can't track. I wish I could help but really I want tips too!
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 8,996 Member
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    Avoiding dinners you can't track doesn't sound a good long term plan.

    My suggestion is to have a small piece of pizza and estimate calories by comparing to something similar on the data base.
    Likewise if going anywhere else, have a small portion and estimate calories.

    And/ or take some low calorie food of your own to share.

    A lifestyle change has to fit into real life and that includes socialising.
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
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    Sometimes is it o.k. to be "rude" when you are doing what is right for yourself. :) It is not really rude anyway -- think of it as a way to show love to yourself.
  • MeiannaLee
    MeiannaLee Posts: 338 Member
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    Have self control
  • ExRelaySprinter
    ExRelaySprinter Posts: 874 Member
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    When i know i'm going to have a big Meal out, i just eat lighter that day and do some extra exercise.
    Then i can enjoy the Pizza or whatever without having to worry too much.
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
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    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10213155/a-guide-to-going-out-to-eat/p1
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,627 Member
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    why cant you eat pizza?

    ask them what they are having and plan for it.

    no biggie.

    i eat pizza, burgers, fast food all the time. had a giant ice cream sunday last night. it was orgasmic.
  • HealthyVitamins
    HealthyVitamins Posts: 432 Member
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    Personally, and if its close friends, I usually ask them what food we are going to be having that night, if its something I don't want to eat like pizza, they are good enough friends for me to feel comfortable by telling them I'll pass.

    If they aren't close friends, and I don't know they are giving me food until I get there, I tell them politely I have already eaten.

    Sorry, if they are offended because I don't want to eat their food then they aren't worth hanging around with :)
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,150 Member
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    Moderation is key. You can have pizza with friends, just make it fit into your allotment.
  • lisalsd1
    lisalsd1 Posts: 1,521 Member
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    "No, thanks." Then if someone is persistent...which has happened to me (for whatever bizarre motives on the other person's part). Say, "yes, the pizza looks delicious. That's why I am not going to eat it. It is a trigger food for me. I am a food addict." The pushiness will usually stop then.
  • dragon_girl26
    dragon_girl26 Posts: 2,187 Member
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    paperpudding wrote: »
    Avoiding dinners you can't track doesn't sound a good long term plan.

    My suggestion is to have a small piece of pizza and estimate calories by comparing to something similar on the data base.
    Likewise if going anywhere else, have a small portion and estimate calories.

    And/ or take some low calorie food of your own to share.

    A lifestyle change has to fit into real life and that includes socialising.
    ^^this.
    Avoiding social gatherings just because there is food is kind of missing the point. in order to be successful with maintenance and weight loss long term, we have to learn how to have a healthy relationship with food and eat it in moderation. I find that planning ahead works really well. If I know what's there, I can plan my day/week around having a slice or two, and you can always bring lower calorie snacks with you! Go, enjoy yourself, and don't miss out on a good time with your friends! That's really what it's all about anyway. :-)
  • 85Cardinals
    85Cardinals Posts: 733 Member
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    When you're in a social situation, just remember CICO!
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
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    My plate is smaller at a buffet. I get myself a drink (even if it is water) and nurse that along. A guest with empty hands will be fussed over by the host so I forestall that.
  • dragon_girl26
    dragon_girl26 Posts: 2,187 Member
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    I would also add that I don't know where you live, but here in the Midwest there are a LOT of delicious things in season right now, like peaches, a few apples, various vegetables... generally, if someone brings in a peck of fresh local peaches to the office to share with everyone, people are usually all in on it. I bet if you had that, or a huge salad with all kinds of fresh delicious looking vegetables in it to share with everyone, you might have similar results. :-)
  • chloeelizabethm
    chloeelizabethm Posts: 184 Member
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    Food envy! I get food envy all the time! Just have what they have, but less of it. And track what you can. Ask for the packaging if at a friend's or what was in it if it's homemade and judge as best you can.
  • iLoveMyPitbull1225
    iLoveMyPitbull1225 Posts: 1,691 Member
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    I had to be rude the other day when someone dropped 3 dozen donuts on my desk at work. I don't care.

    I'm going to echo other suggestions for eating a small portion or bringing something healthy (and still delicious) along to share. People generally love it.
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
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    paperpudding wrote: »
    Avoiding dinners you can't track doesn't sound a good long term plan.

    My suggestion is to have a small piece of pizza and estimate calories by comparing to something similar on the data base.
    Likewise if going anywhere else, have a small portion and estimate calories.

    And/ or take some low calorie food of your own to share.

    A lifestyle change has to fit into real life and that includes socialising.

    ^This.
  • PinkDeerBoy
    PinkDeerBoy Posts: 89 Member
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    You can't just avoid all social gatherings for the rest of your life because there may be food. Learn to eat whatever is being served in moderation, or bring your own dish to pass that better fits into your eating goals. We're always the one in the family bringing the veggie tray now, it seems.
  • kailyw05
    kailyw05 Posts: 80 Member
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    I really hate being the one to say, "I can't eat that because I'm trying to lose weight." I find people immediately look down at my body and either think something positive or negative. Either way I don't like drawing attention to it.

    I also really love pizza and social eating. I eat well at work and at home, so I plan ahead to let the snacks/meal fit into my calories. And if they don't fit, I make up for it in the days following. It's not something that happens often enough that it would make me gain weight. If it slows my weight loss for 1 week, so be it.

    When I start saying no to something I really truly want, I start to feel unhappy with the process and find eventually I just say "screw it" and binge. I want to continue this journey for the rest of my life. Eliminating social eating is not something I am willing to ever do.

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