How to maintain diet when everyone around you isnt?

Seems like while I still live with my parents, they don't care about eating right. Except for my dad. Kinda. Competitive swimming is helping a little, but I have a serious candy and I'm finally trying to change. For good.

Willpower and your inner strength - that's what it takes...at least for me anyway. I had cupcakes and Krispy Kremes offered to me last night at work. I had to shake my head and say no thank you. Ultimately, you have to think of yourself. Think of your body and how you want it to run on healthy things, not crap. It's hard, absolutely but you have to be strong.

I completely understand your dilemma. Your scenario is part of the same reason I have always failed when trying to diet. But now, at 400+ I say "400+" plus because I have no idea how much I weigh, the scale only goes to 400, I'm pissed off enough at myself to not give a damn what everyone around me is eating. Granted, I just started, only been at it for 2 weeks, but EVERY SINGLE DAY, I've had all kinds of candy, soft drinks and fried, fast foods shoved in front of me. Work is my biggest area of challenge in that respect. We always have a full candy bowl, I'll come in and there will be candy left on my desk, people are always ordering out and offering to share, tonight it was Popeye's chicken, which is a huge weakness for me, but I've just ignored it. I'm responsible for what I eat, not them. It doesn't matter what they eat. So far, in my short time on my journey, it's really just a mindset.

When I have an event like that, I fuel up on healthy food before the event. That way I can partake in a small way, but I'm sufficiently full so that I'm not tempted.

If I don't get a chance to do that, I enjoy a splurge meal and then immediately get back on track.

There's some good advice in here. For me, I plan ahead - if I know I'm going out to dinner, I check the nutrition values of all of their meals and I work with it. Or I make the healthiest choices from the food I like that's on the menu if I can't find the nutritional info.

I also wouldn't sit there suffering carrot sticks, I eat everything in moderation - it really is a budget, as someone up there ^ said. It does get easier though. The more you stick to your calorie goal the better you learn to adapt what you're eating to it. Most of the time now I don't want to overeat, or even eat food that is high in fat or carbs or salt. If I have some, I just have a bit and that's enough - I can't believe how I used to eat when I was 329lbs! At the start though, it did take a lot of will power, but you have to dig deep and find that from somewhere. It's not always easy but it is worth it. 107lbs lost so far for me

I budget a "cheat day" into my calories for the week. When there's a potluck or other social event, that's going to be my cheat day. I eat what I want without being ridiculous. I basically use this day, or days, to eat back my exercise calories.

If people are having chips and I want chips, then I'll have some. I'll grab a bowl and figure out how many calories are in the chips I want to eat and work them into my calories for the day.

IIFYM! I would have chosen the chips over carrots.

I have a battle of wilpower at times as well!!! We have drug reps catering food in our office probably 3 days a week. Although I have brought a "delicious" salad, that savory food looks pretty darn tasty!!! What I have started doing is eatting the food that I brought first, then if I am still hungry I nibble on the good stuff. I have found that I eat more good than bad, and do not hurt the reps feelings for ignoring their food!!! Good luck bud You have done so good!!! 20 lbs is something to be uber proud of!!!! Keep it up, and get back on the wagon!!

It is tough; no doubt about it. You just have to mentally prepare for it. I do not a problem at home since I live alone, but the temptations at work really tests my willpower. You just have to look at the big picture and try to make the best choices for yourself and noone else.

You have to get to the point that you want it so bad and you are so motivated that it doesn't matter what anyone else is eating. Their choices shouldn't affect your choices, but I understand it can be much harder to resist temptation when it's staring you in the face. That's life though and you just have to decide the best way for you to get through it because this has to be a lifetime change so things like that situation will be happening all the time. For me, sometimes I can resist by reminding myself of my goal and how badly I want it. Other times, I indulge but exercise serious portion control and balance it out. Like if we go out to eat- I might get a burger or bbq chicken or something similar that I really want, but then I would only get a side salad or some steamed veggies to go with it instead of carbs or fried foods. Pick the one or two foods you really don't want to miss out on, have a small portion, and then eat healthy otherwise. If you just say "forget it I can't do this" and indulge in everything you will probably feel really guilty later and the huge amount of calories you consumed can make you feel like you fell off the wagon entirely. Whereas eating a small portion of one not so healthy item can usually be fit into your daily calories if you plan well the rest of the day, or you can workout or go for a walk later to make up for it and still finish your day strong! If losing weight and making healthy choices was easy, everyone would do it and obesity wouldn't be so common. Unfortunately it takes work and making hard choices and sticking to your goals. And just remember, we all fail or splurge at some point or another. Everyone has days they probably regret or maybe they just had a cheat day because they had been doing really well for a long time. Take those experiences and learn from them so next time you can make better choices and feel better about it at the end of the day. Many times the easiest way for me to say no to a tempting food or meal is the knowledge of how disappointed I'll be with myself later that night if I give in.