How do you stay controlled at parties and gatherings

lovelaughrun
lovelaughrun Posts: 45 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I'm really close to my goal weight and normally pretty strict BUT I'm finding that at parties or gatherings where there's lots of food coming out over a few hours, I get busy chatting and realise a little while later that I've picked at so much food! More than I intended to and once I start I have trouble stopping. Just wondering if anyone has any tips at how to avoid and say no? Doesn't matter if I have a snack before I go, I always end up attacking the food because I love the yummy stuff!

Replies

  • mayancoh
    mayancoh Posts: 56 Member
    Try letting people around you know you are watching what you eat – hopefully after telling them you won’t eat as much…
    Another thing that really helps me is having a big glass of soda (“sparkly water”) with lemon – keep sipping on that to keep your mouth busy :-)
  • SteveJWatson
    SteveJWatson Posts: 1,225 Member
    I dont go to many parties, so when I do, I don't care/log. Its only once in a while and my goal isn't to make my life miserable. As has oft been quoted, you need to consumer 3500cal over your TDEE to gain 1lb so...meh.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    I'm really close to my goal weight and normally pretty strict BUT I'm finding that at parties or gatherings where there's lots of food coming out over a few hours, I get busy chatting and realise a little while later that I've picked at so much food! More than I intended to and once I start I have trouble stopping. Just wondering if anyone has any tips at how to avoid and say no? Doesn't matter if I have a snack before I go, I always end up attacking the food because I love the yummy stuff!

    If you are close to goal you should only be a couple of hundred cals off maintenance, so a bit of party food should fit in your day!
  • lovelaughrun
    lovelaughrun Posts: 45 Member
    I dont go to many parties, so when I do, I don't care/log. Its only once in a while and my goal isn't to make my life miserable. As has oft been quoted, you need to consumer 3500cal over your TDEE to gain 1lb so...meh.

    Oh good to know! And I'll try that sparkling water tip :smile:
  • jo69
    jo69 Posts: 78 Member
    Well most of the parties I go to are at my job so I am mentally prepared. I make sure i get in enough exercise the morning plenty of water and i eat light breakfast maybe consume fruits and then I don't overload, but i give myself a chance to have some yummy things. I may mingle for a moment thenI am back at my desk and don't usually go for seconds..
  • jayareohh924
    jayareohh924 Posts: 4
    I don't go out too often but try eating before you go. Kinda the same mindset of never going grocery shopping when you're hungry. I like the idea above too about keeping your mouth busy too though!
  • Underworld_Dandy
    Underworld_Dandy Posts: 22 Member
    Its a lifestyle choice not a prison sentence.
  • psifi73
    psifi73 Posts: 3 Member
    I'd echo the good advice so far. If you really don't want to eat too much, politely let people know you're watching what you eat - hopefully they won't keep offering everything to you. Make sure you have had a meal or healthy snack before you go so that you're not actually hungry - that way you'll more easily avoid temptation. But most importantly, it's only an occasional treat. Live a little - some social snacking is not going to wreck a goal you've spent weeks or months working towards. :)
  • lovelaughrun
    lovelaughrun Posts: 45 Member
    I agree that I've made a lifestyle choice but unfortunately some weekends are socially busier than others and I guess I haven't learnt how to control my party food habits. Once in a while is fine but when there's a few functions a week, I hate to think of the extra calories I consume when I don't keep track of everything I've snacked on at a party
  • Bambalina_1
    Bambalina_1 Posts: 78 Member
    Hi ya!

    I socialise once a week with my friends or husband this entails wine and good food...I know that I do something once a week so I bank around 50-70cals a day to give me that extra boost and I do some exercise in the morning for another added extra! I eat breakfast and lunch with a couple of snacks taking me to under half of my allowance then I save the rest of it plus the exercise and banked cals for whatever function I'm attending, I generally only go over by 100cals...

    Life would be pretty darn hard without at least one relaxed day a week!

    xx
  • astartig
    astartig Posts: 549 Member
    I'm really close to my goal weight and normally pretty strict BUT I'm finding that at parties or gatherings where there's lots of food coming out over a few hours, I get busy chatting and realise a little while later that I've picked at so much food! More than I intended to and once I start I have trouble stopping. Just wondering if anyone has any tips at how to avoid and say no? Doesn't matter if I have a snack before I go, I always end up attacking the food because I love the yummy stuff!


    what keeps me from picking at food in public places is pure neurosis. How many other people have touched that food with their bare hands or breathed/coughed on it, how and where was it prepared.

    I think of getting sick with the flu or worse.

    it works wonders. I do it because i am neurotic but it's great for not nibbling as well. I kind of wonder if some of my neurosis are indeed my subconscious trying to control my actions for my benefit :)
  • MyJourney1960
    MyJourney1960 Posts: 1,133 Member
    I also don't go to a lot of parties and gatherings but I do have a foodie potluck this week and there are bound to be yummy things there.

    Here is what my sister (who lost a LOT of weight) taught me:
    don't just *eat*. first *case the joint* - look over the food options. see what is there. and decide what you will eat and what you will skip. that's what she does - she is a teacher and they are (apparently ) always getting food - if it's pizza and salad, she'll fill up on the salad and take *a* slice of pizza. if it's chinese, she'll take veggies and chicken and skip the rice/noodles. and so on. but it helps her to first take a look around and make a conscious decision instead of just randomly filling her plate. even if you are a dessert junkie - that's fine, just make *that* your meal and count (to the best of your ability) portions/cals. and remember - "the last bite of ANY FOOD tastes the same as the first bite"
  • MyJourney1960
    MyJourney1960 Posts: 1,133 Member
    and another thing - if you can, offer to bring a dish and make it something healthy and lower cal.
  • annwsz2
    annwsz2 Posts: 8
    I love food too, I eat anything but small portion .....so I can eat many yummy things
  • choijanro
    choijanro Posts: 754 Member
    i will go home early so that i cant eat bad foods and i cant drink liquor because some people will not understand and respect you they will force you or i will not attend on the party :)
  • be_patient
    be_patient Posts: 186 Member
    sugar free gum! :)
  • bexxgirl
    bexxgirl Posts: 260 Member
    I have a real issue with "nibbles" - I have a mental battle with myself every time and then once I start eating some of them, I eat ALL THE NIBBLES.

    So I've learned that I just have to NOT start. There's no argument anymore in my head. It's just 'nope'. Most of the time, the nibbles are a precursor to a meal, anyway, so I just wait and have the meal.

    I know that for me personally, the only way to win that battle is to avoid it. Totally understand that's not workable for some people, but I know my weaknesses!
  • dakitten2
    dakitten2 Posts: 888 Member
    I dont go to many parties, so when I do, I don't care/log. Its only once in a while and my goal isn't to make my life miserable. As has oft been quoted, you need to consumer 3500cal over your TDEE to gain 1lb so...meh.

    Same goes for me. I'm only 1.8 pounds from my goal weight. We have a family celebration once a month. When I first started, I was so strict on myself. I would starve myself all day and when we went out to eat then I wouldn't eat any bread or dessert.

    Now I realize, hey it's only once a month for me and I go ahead and eat normally during the day like I always do and eat whatever I want for dinner. Even if it's an 1800 calorie meal, that's just roughly half a pound.

    I think it would depend on how often you are partying etc. For me once a month is a treat and I can hop right back on track the next day.
  • stefjc
    stefjc Posts: 484 Member
    I eat.

    I know I won't drink too much, I'm the driver, so my ability to make a good choice should be fine.

    And no-one really watches anyone else choose food, they're too busy eating, drinking and chatting. Think about it - do you ever notice someone being picky with food or drink at a party? No? Me either. So why would anyone else notice you or me?

    So now it is down to you. 2 choices:
    1. Eat what you want. If you are close to goal you are going to have the rest of your life practising maintenance, make this step 1.

    2. Obsess about it and run a good night out - and be aware that you will probably end up being one of those neurotic thin women who squeaks about watching their waistline :)

    I know which I will be doing in about 50lbs time :D
  • lovelaughrun
    lovelaughrun Posts: 45 Member
    I have a real issue with "nibbles" - I have a mental battle with myself every time and then once I start eating some of them, I eat ALL THE NIBBLES.

    So I've learned that I just have to NOT start. There's no argument anymore in my head. It's just 'nope'. Most of the time, the nibbles are a precursor to a meal, anyway, so I just wait and have the meal.

    I know that for me personally, the only way to win that battle is to avoid it. Totally understand that's not workable for some people, but I know my weaknesses!

    I'm exactly the same, once I have a little I have trouble stopping. I'll just say no to everything and sip on water and keep my mind focused on my new healthy lifestyle
  • Hellbent_Heidi
    Hellbent_Heidi Posts: 3,669 Member
    Its a lifestyle choice not a prison sentence.
    Exactly!

    Don't beat yourself up over having a day that you eat too many calories, but when you are at a party, do try to be conscious of the fact that you might kick yourself later for what you put in your mouth. Sometimes in those situations I just imagine that whoever brought a certain dish has cats walking on their countertops or something gross like that... it makes it easier to skip over the things I will regret later..
  • Skrib69
    Skrib69 Posts: 687 Member
    I plan it in to my calories as much as I can. If I go over, I pick up the pieces over the next few days. This is for life, so I am not going to let it stop me having fun. Have the fun and work around it. I would think it not a problem unless you were going to lots parties in a short period of time and it becomes impossible to work it into your macros. Then you have to make some decisions!!
  • debaloo
    debaloo Posts: 129 Member
    Eat before you go
    Have a drink in your hand (lemon water or club soda)
    Eat a mint
    If your hungry choose some things that are low calorie, eat it in one sitting and don't pick at food for the rest of the night.
  • morticia16
    morticia16 Posts: 230 Member
    At more function like parties and gatherings I usually drink (sparkling) water and take finger food based around fruit or veggies. If it's a function dinner, I really don't bother - I just don't eat what I feel is not a good choice for me and leave it on the plate. Where I cannot /don't make a fuss is when we have dinner at friends'. If I accept the invitation, I also politely take what the hosts made. But in moderation if it is something that is pushing it way up above my calories goal. But then again, I had my gall bladder removed a few years ago and my intolerance to greasy or cream heavy foods increased and my friends know and respect that. What I don't refuse is chocolate though :)
  • silken555
    silken555 Posts: 478 Member
    If I know I'm going out, I take it into account for my logging. Saturdays are usually my eat anything day, but if I know I'm going out where there may be a lot of food, I just swap the day. I still log everything I ate though. It's harder because I can't weigh anything while I'm out. I also drink a lot of water so I don't go overboard TOO much, but I don't really restrict myself either.

    Edited to add: I can't drink any alcohol due to daily medication so I don't have that to worry about.
  • prairiewalker
    prairiewalker Posts: 184 Member
    go to the dessert table first..grab a dessert plate..NO DESSERT..then go back to the food table and place only plain meat and veggies on your dessert plate..no crackers, salads with dressings or anything made with a "recipe" ..stick to raw or steamed baked single ingredient foods...drink lots of water and add a twist of lemon :) don't sit..stand and mingle or dance, play with whatever games they might have out..remember you will wake up clear headed and energetic by sticking to your routine tonight :flowerforyou:

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