being fat limits people? well, being healthy limits me....

hehe kinda have to agree with u there! I love not worrying about how many cals Im eating, COUNTING everything, ect. I wonder how much time I spend counting and logging. I do like to work out though.

Sounds like an excuse. If you're a young professional as you claim, surely you know some people who aren't constantly partying and sucking back liquor; make friends who aren't going to tempt you to sabotage your own efforts

surely if you go out dancing try to kurb the drinking a bit(alot)! and do lots of dancing for the exersice!!

Maybe instead of "boozing it up" so to speak you should be finding people who are interested in the active things you do.. gym buddies.. jogging buddies, etc.
Someone who'd rather go eat sushi vs. McDonalds..
Being active shouldn't confine you! It should do the opposite!
You could always go to a bar and drink diet pop or a redbull and just dance your a** off instead of getting *kitten* faced.. Just because everyone else is drinking shouldn't be reason enough for you to, aswell.
If you're a follower like that I guess we can't help you much though. Its your call really.
If others choose to live unhealthy lifestyles, it doesn't mean you should throw everything out the window and just get in where you fit in, otherwise all of us should just give up and pork out with each other- seeing as how "obesity" is apparently an epidemic and everyone "is doing it" lol.
And if you REALLY wanna go out on a limb, you could technically do both. Not sure if you're in a committed relationship or not, but if not you could do what most people do.. Drink ur face off and go home with a random.. have wild sex and burn off all the booze calories! (that was JUST a JOKE!!- it just holds an ounce of thruth) =P
You could join yoga classes or anything like that too- its a great way to get out, meet new people, have fun, AND stay fit.

You're not really doomed, I think you're just being skeptical about your alternatives and thinking on the wrong level of things.

Opppps....OUCH!

Perhaps some time management?

I can understand wanting to go and do 'the fun stuff' that all your cohorts are doing, but perhaps not every night?

There is something to be said for knowing that you are going to have to drag your (possibly hungover) butt out of bed at 7AM the next day to encourage moderation in both the drinking and the amount of time spent hanging at the bar/club/restaurant/etc. This is not to say you should not go, but if you feel like fitness is ruining your social life, work at finding ways of combining the two, or at least mixing them.

Do you go straight out after work? No time for a gym visit before going out? Depending on your work and schedule, there is always the option of squeezing in something quick at lunchtime too!

Find some other people in your area that are interested in some physical activites and hang with them as well as the current crew - mix it up a bit and see if it helps!

We all make choices based on what we want most - generally (it seems to me) the people of MFP are focused on a healthy lifestyle, but it does not have to be to the exclusion of all else. If you want to go out, and feel that not going is not an option, just set your fitness goals accordingly - it will take more time to shed the weight and build the muscle. It can be done, but you will not see results as quickly or dramatically.

i am the same as this, i work full time, i have to train every day and its no less then 1 and half hours as i love it. but also love going out with friends. with the training i have set time every day, with the going out maybe you could involve your friends in abit of fittest, i.e do a circuit session for them, go for a run with the them, thats what im doing at the minute its great, its helping my training and i know im helping them out aswel. instead of going out drinking with them arrange to do something else with them i.e paint balling, go karting, remember ! you have to have a live outside the GYM

I've been where you are. When I first started running and eating well, my mother and husband at the time gave me a hard time. The pounds started dropping, and they didn't really need to, and no one could understand why I was doing what I was doing.

That man is no longer my husband (this wasn't the reason really), and I finally had to sit my mother down and tell her that if she couldn't be supportive, than just don't bring up the subject. I'm doing this for me - my self - esteem, my health, my confidence. Not for her. Not to lose weight.

She now leaves me alone about it.

And now I'm married to a wonderful, supportive man who encourages my work outs when I'm feeling unmotivated. He also accomodates my healthy eating. He's even changed the way he eats because of me. Well, to an extent, :laugh:. We compromised on 2% milk instead of the whole he used to drink, we mostly eat fish and chicken, and if he wants a steak, he'll make me chicken right beside it without even asking because he knows I won't eat it. My stepdaughter even started doing yoga with me!

If people really care about you, they'll be supportive. Even my in-laws, who are from the south and don't think much about calories or fat or carbs, accomodate me at family gatherings and don't get offended if I skip the dessert they made. Tell people why you aren't eating those fried cheese sticks. Tell people why you're only having one glass of wine.

You don't have to drink and eat everything everyone else is to fit in. If you feel like you do, then you're in the wrong crowd. Friends and family should support and encourage, even if they don't share your lifestyle.

being young is tough. all i wanted to do when i was in my 20's was hang out in the bars. and i did. by 30 i was in a size 18 for our wedding. not fun.
thankfully we moved 3 weeks after our wedding and i got out of that group of friends. that is not possible for most people. or maybe it is and we don't realize it's time for a change in our lives. anyways....
my suggestion to you...make friends at the gym! find those that are like minded. you don't have to give up your friends, but they don't have to be your only friends. suggest a movie with your friends. when they head to the bar, head home after the movie. suggest they join you for dinner at your home (cheaper, healthier and fun too) before they go out.
i personally found that if all my "friends" wanted to do was go to the bar with me, then they were interested in the alcohol and not my friendship. and that happens.
so...here are some alternatives: gym with friends, movies, theater, card/game night, dinner party, drive 2 hours to a different city for a healthy dinner...lots of riding time (sober!) and talking time. check for community groups that have similar interest like photography/bike riding/running/hiking/painting/book clubs.
See if you can find a MFP that is from your area!!!
i pray that this helps you. you may notice a shift in your friend list...but you need to do what is best for your health and life. there is only one person in my life at 43 that was in my life when i turned 30 that is not related to me...that is my Husband. i'm okay with that. i am healthier and happier than i have ever been.
hope this helps. prayers to you!
Jane

think about it if you live a healthy lifestyle now you will have a healthy life style when you get older. those people who go out partying all the time, where is it going to get them. yeah it doesnt all have to be about work, moderate yourself. when once a month or week go out and have a good time. yeah partying might sound fun but where is it going to get you??? when you go to gyms or work you meet new people who like to workout, those are the people you want to hang out with. and even with your current friends. you dont have to torture yourself over being healthy or a party person. i maybe go out every now and then, i love to hang out with friends and go to a club or bar, but that doesnt mean you have to choose, its all about balancing.

You can just go to these events and just make up excuses. I have a legitimate one that I am on my provisional drivers license so can't even have one drink. Otherwise, make up some health issue or something :P

You can go out to bars and whatnot with your friends, just don't drink. Get water instead. You can still hang out with your friends and have a good time, you just don't have to partake in all of the activities.