How come for some people it's.....

Josyurtos23

So easy for them to be careful and watch their portions around fattening food and for me it's so difficult? Goodness I envy those people so much. Especially at parties, ever notice that there is always trays and trays of food loaded with fat and carbs (pasta) and theirs only a small tray of salad and hardly any water?

Any survival tips?

Heather4448

It's probably not easy for some of them.

usmcmp

Some just make it look easy.
Some have worked at it for years.
Some don't like sweets or calorie dense foods (my ex hates candy, it's weird).

My survival tip is to find a way this will work for you long term. Could mean going to less parties. Might also be that you have to eat less earlier in the week to just enjoy the party foods. I use both of those because I'm not going to walk around a party with salad and water.

peterbuller8

I just go to the gym more leading up to a party and use the extra calories burned on the day of the party.

Sara2652

I was discussing this with my sister. There are those weird people out there who don't like sweets and this one lady didn't like cheese *gasp*. This healthy eating thing would be soo much easier if I didn't have the taste buds for all that is salty-sweet-fatty.
If I deny myself to much it always ends up backfiring on me. I guess my plan would be to eat something healthy before hand to fill up on and then treat myself to a limited amount of what looks really good. Sorry I got nothing better as I am no expert.

Machka9

Josyurtos23 wrote: »

So easy for them to be careful and watch their portions around fattening food and for me it's so difficult? Goodness I envy those people so much. Especially at parties, ever notice that there is always trays and trays of food loaded with fat and carbs (pasta) and theirs only a small tray of salad and hardly any water?

I'm the one at the morning teas at work with a slice of watermelon, and a few wedges of pineapple ... while the boardroom table is groaning under meatpies, sausage rolls and cakes.

It's not easy ... but it is about priorities.

I can have the meatpies, sausage rolls and cakes when they fit into my diet. I'm not giving them up forever. However, right now, my priority is to drop a few kg, so I do what it takes.

msdemeanor70

Just because you don't see them struggle, doesn't mean they don't struggle. Maybe their weakness is potato chips or pizza or milkshakes or something else. Maybe they eat a giant piece of cake every Sunday after their run so they don't "have to" have it at those get togethers. Many "bank" calories for special events. Or they take small portions of the higher calorie things they love then top it off with healthier options or vice versa. Maybe fewer parties until you get a handle on good coping mechanisms? Either way ... good luck to you.

livingleanlivingclean

We had a huge morning tea provided at my school yesterday - a table full of cakes, biscuits, savoury pastries, muffins, pies etc.

I was the one sitting eating broccoli, mushrooms, zucchini and eggs. Could I have devoured multiple items from the table? Sure! I eyed off a caramel slice multiple times. My determination to stick with my prelogged and prepped food won though, because I'm more interested in achieving my goals. It certainly wasn't easy!

brb_2013

Maybe you think it's easy but it usually isn't. Sure some people just don't crave foods and tend to eat until they're satisfied and no more. I like to think those folks had a great nutritionally sound upbringing and were always food secure and had very little trauma. Good for them! But the thing is whether you learn it at 3 or 33, it's just a set of skills to learn. Learn about nutrition, learn about fitness and how the body uses energy, and then start changing how you behave to reflect the knowledge you now have. As you go along, learn more about yourself and WHY you chose to do unhealthy things even if it's counter to your goals and knowledge. Figure out why then change it.

Can't tell you how many epiphanies I've had over the past few years. I'd lost 100lbs, new relationship with big potential, had major surgery that changed my face, and then stopped. I still knew all the facts but I just couldn't commit. Now I'm here, almost back to my lowest weight, and I plan to keep on keeping on. It's not always easy to sit at a table with a salad when I can see the pasta and the rolls and the desserts but I do my best with every opportunity. When I cave, like last night and that poor bag of tortilla chips I destroyed, I just pick myself back up. Everyone is capable of change its just a process.

fiddletime

Before I go to a party I try to pre-log: 3 glasses of wine, 2 oz of cheese, 2 oz of turkey, etc. I try to avoid the pastries, but also try to leave 150 cal for candy. I log it all in the morning so I can better plan my day. If I go over by 100 or 200 calories I'm good with that. I really don't want to go over by 2000 calories, so avoid cookies, cakes, etc. If it's a birthday party though, I'll pre-log a 400 cal slice of cake. My daily calories are 1200 plus exercise, so I often go over a little at parties.

Sp1tfire

I have a hard time eating small portions of treats. I just eat them once in a while to lessen it being an issue. I had a big bowl of mac and cheese today and the calories were questionable. I could only ballpark it since it was college caf food and they don't give a crap about portioning according to the signs they post with 'calorie information'. I work at the caf and they told me they're super inaccurate.

88olds

This is exactly as hard as you care to make it.

cwolfman13

I don't go to parties for salad...but most parties I go to have some pretty good grub...mostly different grilled or smoked meats, and platters of this and that and theirs always a veggie tray and around here, usually chips and salsa. I'm not really one to just sit their and eat...I take what I need and socialize...I'm likely to drink way more than I eat.

When I know I'm going for an outing, I just plan for it...usually either no breakfast or a small one or I just do a reasonable brunch or something...so one smalish meal and then I go enjoy myself. I don't sit an hover around the food either...I get my plate, get my food, and then I'm pretty much done save for a nibble here and there.

JenHuedy

One thing I did when I first started was remind myself that I can always have that particular food "later." I had this "get it while you can!" mentality that I carried with me from when I was a kids and my mom went on a no sweets kick. To the point if grandma gave me a little bag of candy to take home my mom would take it away from me before we even pulled out of the driveway. Once I acknowledged that I was an adult and I was in control of what I wanted it made it easier to say no, because not now is different than never again.

Now it's just a habit. If it's something not worth the calories, like a little debbie, I can let it go. But if it's something special, like the Amish pecan rolls a co-worker brought today, I go ahead and have some.

cmriverside

@JenHuedy
Amish pecan rolls? That's a thing? Where do I buy this deliciousness?

tomorrowistoday0000

It's not easy and they've probably failed multiple times before getting it right. Like others have said above, you can have those things anytime so why not wait until you've reached a goal. How do they do it? One word, determination. Focus on your goal, believe in it and you'll find the willpower to say no.

zdyb23456

Maybe the salad eater is vegan? A girl from church almost never ate at social functions. Occasionally I would see her nibble on some fruit. Gluten free eaters tend to be pretty selective at parties as well.

I'm neither and struggle with eating just a normal size portion of yummy foods at parties. I try to be selective and only pick things that truly look delicious that I wouldn't have at home. Then I try to just take a tiny amount, like just 2-3 bites worth. If it's really good I go back for seconds in the hope that it's gone already

Machka9

Funny thing ...

One of the last parties I went to happened to fall on the day I wrote a final exam and I figured I'd have a planned diet break celebration day for finishing that final exam. Although I wasn't going to go crazy with the eating at this potluck-style party, I would sample some of everything, especially any desserts.

We brought a raw veggie tray and a tray of cold cuts, cheese, and crackers.

When we got there, I had a look at what was on offer on the table and ......... it was about 90% vegetarian food. Just about all salads and veggie dishes!!! And not a huge quantity of anything.

I managed to get a small slice of quiche, several tiny spoonfuls of different salads, and a little bit of our cold cuts, cheese and crackers, but when I looked again, that tray had been devoured.

And no desserts whatsoever. No cakes. No pastries. No nothing.

So here I had all these plans to actually eat decadently at one of these potluck-style parties ... but you can't really do that with a tiny wedge of quiche and salad. I ended up nibbling raw carrot sticks from our veggie platter the rest of the evening.

Jruzer

Something else to keep in mind: not everyone struggles with every vice.

I'm not tempted at all toward smoking. I enjoy alcohol but don't have a tendency toward alcoholism. For some people, these are life-ruining addictions.

Just because someone isn't tempted toward gluttony doesn't mean they don't have vices. Perhaps they think to themselves, "How come for some people it's so easy to stay away from gambling?"

demorelli

If it's something occasional i wouldn't worry about it. If you're frequently finding yourself at events and it's a consistent stumbling block, try bringing a bottled water or two with you, have a protein based snack before you go, find a seat on the opposite side of the room, but allow yourself a reasonable treat so you don't feel deprived.

A_perfect_me

Some ideas: have a tiny bit of everything you would like as long as it easily fits your plate OR eat a healthy meal before the party so you'll naturally care to eat less once there and stay hydrated while there.

Good luck finding what works for you ☺

alaskandelight

The struggle is real, but try not to look at what others are eating. As pointed out, ever one has their own vice or calorie needs. I try to bring a healthy option when going to a party. It's usually very appreciated. I am also the same person that brings a ridiculous dessert that causes people to cave...sorry about that. I am personally struggling with the guilt that occurs after I indulge at an event. It's getting easier if I make an effort to be extremely on point the day before, day of, and the day after. Treating yourself is important, only you will know if the food your being tempted with is worth it and practice makes perfect.

joseccastaneda

It like everything else, you just need to improve your habits. I used to see a pizza and would make sure I would finish it. After the hard work i've put in and the habits i've changed, i don't feel the need to do that anymore. Keep going at it and you'll see that your mindset will change.

Lounmoun

Josyurtos23 wrote: »

So easy for them to be careful and watch their portions around fattening food and for me it's so difficult? Goodness I envy those people so much. Especially at parties, ever notice that there is always trays and trays of food loaded with fat and carbs (pasta) and theirs only a small tray of salad and hardly any water?

Any survival tips?

You gain weight when you eat too many calories over your maintence level. You can do that on salad or pasta. The food isn't fattening just how you consume it.

It isn't necessarily easier to watch portion sizes for someone else. It requires thought and deliberate choices with your goals in mind though.

Are you avoiding these foods except when you get to a party? Include them more in your regular diet so you learn reasonable portion sizes that fit your goals. You probably won't go crazy over pasta if you have it regularly.
Prioritize and eat the thing you want most instead of everything at the party.
Pair the higher calorie food in a smaller portion with larger portions of lower calorie foods.
If the choice is pasta and salad at a party have some pasta with a bigger salad.
Watch added cheese, oils, dressings, bread, butter. Choose marinara sauce instead of a creamy pasta sauce.
Drink low cal or no cal beverages.

Look at the bigger picture of your day/week. If you eat/drink more calories at one meal then you can eat lighter at others or exercise more. Plan to eat at maintenance level on holidays or party days.