Social Eating?

Christina_3192

I've been doing very well with following a healthy diet, healthy amount of exercise, but the things I have been struggling the most with are the boredom/emotional and most of all the social eating.

I've gotten the boredom/emotional eating under control by drinking water when I'm bored, or eating a piece of fruit, or just waiting and seeing if I am genuinely hungry, but the social is still a tough one.

I know I am not the only person to struggle with this.

How do you deal with the social situations where everyone is getting food and not making the best choices?
How do you handle a situation where you're out with friends and not hungry but people are getting food?

Tips and advice would be very much appreciated!!

cartrat

yeah--i stopped hanging out with friends so much on the weekdays because i'm trying to cut my drinking and a couple of them are very pressuring for me to have "just one drink! c'mon! just one drink!" and then one drink turns to two drinks and then turns to just "one shot" and yeah... anyway, i know how it feels. none of my friends are very healthy so i plan to meet with them during cheat days/meals or just stand your ground and be like "i'm ordering the grilled salmon, dammit! and i'm going to look hot for doing it while you won't!" just be smart about ordering and if they get something fried, take off the breading. you can do it!

DanaDark

Not hungry? Don't eat. Simple.

You can still talk and hang out with someone when they eat. Might make them also realize they eat too much/often.

Socially, I plan my social activities to the extent if I know there will be snacks/foods, I eat a little less throughout the day so I can enjoy some of the foods there. I try not to worry about going over my calorie goal on such days.

Of course, doesn't mean I dive into a pool of twinkies.

MrDude_1

Intermittent fasting is my main coping mechanism.

google it if you want more information, but in a nutshell heres the jist:


Its still the same amount of calorie intakes per day (not starving yourself or anything)
In most plans, its basically skipping breakfast... (or another meal)
Most healthy people without blood sugar issues either do it easily, or can adapt to it with moderate effort.

by skipping eating at one time, you can eat more at another.









so.. for me, I never eat breakfast.. this isnt a change for me, even old almost 300lb me never ate breakfast. didnt want to eat it ever really.

if I know im going out on a friday night (like tonight) I eat a very very light lunch (or no lunch and just a light snack if im hungery around 3 or 4)... then when I go out with friends, I can blow my calories on restaurant food, and wings and pizza and such...

obviously i dont eat crap like that everyday... but im still out being social. no one knows im on a 'diet'.. its easy, its not stressful. lets me relax and have fun with friends, without being 'that healthnut'...

btw, once you're fit doing this, you become 'that jerk with abs that can eat anything' that everyone else wishes for. lol.


as far as weeknight social outings.. i generally make them later in the evening, unless they're tied to an event. later means 'after dinner'... event means you dont have to eat because you're busy watching the show/movie/bowling/etc... eating is optional.

fitmommy75

Social eating is a tough one for me too. If I am going to a friends house, I always bring a salad or fruit so I know I can graze on that the whole time and be satisfied. As far as going out to eat, that has caused a riff between my husband and myself. If I go out to eat, I try to make healthy choices, but even then it is difficult when someone wants to eat at a restaurant 5 nights a week. So, I stay home and cook for myself.

Christina_3192

Thank you all for your replies and help!!