Need help, have a sticking point

nightangelstars

Hey everyone, I'm a college student from Michigan and I have a small problem. My diet and exercise regime has been working out pretty good while I'm at college in my own apartment, but when I go home for the weekend (which I do approximately every two weeks for the weekend) I always end up backsliding. It's become very frustrating to lose a week's worth of progress in two or three days, but it's also difficult to stick to my regime at home.

I'm frequently a guest at a friend's house (at home) and I feel obligated to eat what he offers, plus I fall into my old snacking habits while I'm there as well. I don't have constant access to a computer so tracking on this site becomes significantly more difficult. I've asked him to be more considerate of my dieting needs, but I don't feel like that's enough (cause the real problem is me, not him). I have a roommate who has a similar problem with home eating habits too. Is there anyone out there who's had a similar problem, who could share a few helpful tips or ideas? I'd really appreciate it!

nightangelstars

Hey everyone, I'm a college student from Michigan and I have a small problem. My diet and exercise regime has been working out pretty good while I'm at college in my own apartment, but when I go home for the weekend (which I do approximately every two weeks for the weekend) I always end up backsliding. It's become very frustrating to lose a week's worth of progress in two or three days, but it's also difficult to stick to my regime at home.

I'm frequently a guest at a friend's house (at home) and I feel obligated to eat what he offers, plus I fall into my old snacking habits while I'm there as well. I don't have constant access to a computer so tracking on this site becomes significantly more difficult. I've asked him to be more considerate of my dieting needs, but I don't feel like that's enough (cause the real problem is me, not him). I have a roommate who has a similar problem with home eating habits too. Is there anyone out there who's had a similar problem, who could share a few helpful tips or ideas? I'd really appreciate it!

babyhippo

You will forever be faced with situations where you are tempted with "good" food. Just remember, small portions....small portions.....small portions! Naturally you want to eat the food that has been prepared and served to you but, you don't have to pile your plate to overflowing.

dakoda

Everywhere you go there are temptations. That's why I believe it's not just a diet, it's a lifestyle change. But to answer your question, I used to have the same problem at college. I still do when I visit a friend's house and they are not dieting.

I started packing food for myself. I'm not talking about full meals, which you could do, too, but I would bring packets of healthy oatmeal, popcorn, soup, a 100-calorie pack, etc. That way if what they were snacking on wasn't healthy, I could whip out something of my own.

You can still splurge every now and then, and you should!! Just do it in moderation and not all the time. If I'm good all week with my diet and exercise, I will treat myself to one "bad" thing on the weekends -- but I make a deal with myself to never have anything fried. Don't deprive yourself, just set boundaries. You have to reward yourself somehow!!

Good luck!! :bigsmile:

catlover

Here's a little story that may help. I hope, I don't drink, ever, because I shouldn't. When I go to Oregon, I always stay with my sister. She drinks, a lot, and many of the activities we do are centered around drinking. Karaoke, barbeques, friends, etc. Everytime I go, someone offers me a drink, and everytime they do, I say no. No drinking is a lifestyle change for me, one I live with every moment of every day. It would be easy to say, sure, why not, after all, you offered and went through all the trouble to make it for me, and it's here, and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Eating is different because we do require food, but we are not required to eat it all food smply because it's offered, or been prepared, etc. At some point we have to be the ones to take all the responsibility for what we do or do not eat and not use others as an excuse. In my case, I do what others have said and take healthy food options for myself and my kids. And since I'm there for free several times a year, I purchase food for dinner and prepare it for everyone. Since my sister works a hectic stressful job, she doesn't cook much. Trust me, everyone in their family apprecates my efforts and I get to try out some of my best stuff. We're all happy and my diet isn't blown totally.

So my advice is BE PREPARED: BE COMMITTED: and BE KIND to yourself if you decide to have snacks instead.

rem1979

JUST SAY NO!!! It doesn't work with just drugs.

I find the same thing too but when people offer, all you have to do is say no thank you. Or even help with the preparation and add some good-for-you-foods to the mix. This way you can have some control in what you are eating.

catlover

My daughter absolutely loves those expensive, high calorie coffee drinks when we go there and I have this rule: I'll buy one on the way into town, one of the way out, and she gets the medium sized one. We don't have her favorite coffee place anywhere near here so it's a nice treat for her without giving her thousands of calories and caffeine every day we are there.