Social Events and Calories

Fridaklo77

With the holiday parties coming up ... any suggestions on how to keep the eating under control??? I am a huge salt and snacks person... I know this is pbly common sense, but any ideas and what worked for you..

Cheers!

loriq41

Well it is a toughie that is for sure...I would drink a few cups of water beforehand, maybe have a yogurt or some almonds then have little tastes of the things that look good to you. I would limit the alcohol which quite frankly, if I drink at a party I am more likely to say F the diet and eat what I want. Also if you know ahead you could also eat a little less the days prior, work out a bit more in anticipation..that is what I am doing for Thanksgiving. Good luck!

Danni3ll3

I eat small portions of everything I like and then if I go over, I go over and log it. The next day, I get back on the wagon and make sure I don't go over and even go a little less over the following week. Yes, my loss is slower because of it but this is a life time change, not a diet and that is what I plan to continue doing when I get to maintenance.

WhiteRabbit1313

Have a snack ahead of time so you're not ravenous when you arrive. I know, I tend to wait to eat thinking I'll eat too much by eating twice, but the opposite seems to happen. I get hungry and eat EVERYTHING. haha!

Budget in your estimates and eat light meals, accordingly, prior to the party/event. If you know you're having alcohol, plan for the number and types of drinks you will have. (I.e.: 2-four oz. glasses of white wine).

Stick with a one plate minimum, so you SEE what you are about to eat and can't trick yourself into thinking you've had less.

Good luck!

Ninkyou

Plan ahead.

For example, on Thanksgiving, I will be doing a morning hike. I'll snack lightly through the afternoon as I help prep for dinner at MIL's. At dinner, it's game on. I will be eating ALL the foods. In moderation. With dessert. If I go over, I go over. Thanksgiving is only once a year, and so is Christmas. I plan on enjoying them. Sure, my loss may slow down, but it's about the overall picture, and a few days isn't going to kill all my hard work.

mmm_drop

Plan ahead, be more active, and if you do happen to go over your calories while celebrating don't let it completely derail you.

jenniferjeanne84

A few things.

-I chose ahead of time whether this is an event that I'm willing to go over my calories for or not. Ie. for my birthday I figured I would go over, for a halloween party I chose not to. This way I select a few important events in a year vs. every party I go to. In addition as we live in the middle of nowhere most holidays last a week or so, so I pick one day that's my free day.

-I don't miss a workout. Family is over for 3 days? no biggee hubby will take care of them while I go running for an hour. This will let me eat considerable more and reduce my stress. Even surprisingly some inlaws and I went to the gym together for the first time last month during a visit, it was great quality time and burned a tonne of a calories.

-Just because I give myself the ok to go over, it doesn't give me permission to eat without thought. I still will look over my options and make the best choice I can, if I'm drinking I will know the calories of what I'm drinking, if we're eating out I choose the best meal within the options. I keep a tally in my mind for when I go from "going over my daily calories to going over maintenance" and try to be rational about how many days it will take me to burn it off. One day? no biggee. One week? I may think twice about beer #12 and cheesecake #2 (this is over a few days)

-When everything is said and done I just continue on.

lizziebeth1028

With the holiday parties coming up ... any suggestions on how to keep the eating under control??? I am a huge salt and snacks person... I know this is pbly common sense, but any ideas and what worked for you..

Cheers!

Rather than denying myself all the tasty treats there are during the holiday season, I rely on intuitive eating and moderation and still eat all the things I enjoy. The trick is to STOP eating when you're full. That and I make sure I get those big high calorie burning workout in!! Really it's just a handful of days out of the year, just enjoy!!

Mokey41

If it's just a party with snack and stuff out I find that if I don't start eating chips and junk then I don't want it or have the urge to keep eating more. If it's a dinner party then I take small portions of things I think are high calorie and larger portions of veggies, salad, things that I know I can fill up on safely. I don't think you need to stand in a corner with a celery stalk but you also don't have to dive in with both hands. It's not just dieting to lose weight but learning to manage food intake for the rest of your life. You have to learn to control the compulsion to sit and finish off a whole bowl of chips just because it's there.

ellskiNZ

If I'm going to a party, I try to eat before I go, so I don't get there and eat heaps of chips. I also know which alcoholic beverages have the fewest calories and stick to them. I also try and work out that day, so I know I have a few more calories in my budget to spare.

Siansonea

How many parties do people attend during the holidays, anyway? If I know I'm going to a party in the evening, I'll skip lunch, and save calories for all the yummy nommables at the party. And I might still go over my limit, but whatever. Unless you go to five parties a week for the entire month of December, as long as you're mindful, you ought to be okay. :drinker:

Fridaklo77

thanks you guys!!!! Happy eating ...and logging... so happy i found this site