Food everywhere

I don't avoid food events. I like to plan too, but I also like being sociable and enjoying myself with friends. That means being comfortable with my knowledge of calories and portions and learning a bit of self-control to be able to participate as well when others are eating. So go and load up at the veggie tray, enjoy a bit of meat and whatever else they're serving (dessert too! at least for me ) and put in an extra workout or two during the week.

When i have made a resolution about something, i like to be in charge. This christmas holiday is killing me, food everywhere and everyone wants to invite you to eat. I have managed to avoid 3 work christmas dinner and now there's a lunch today. I didn't want to go so badly that i think i had an anxiety attack, woke up at 3:30pm feeling like throwing up but empty stomach meant nothing came up. I had a cup of tea and couldn't go back to sleep. I'll end up going to this lunch because i do not want to be labelled as unsociable (which my manager called me when i told her i might not go) but i feel like i've just started my nutritional journey, had cake at work twice this week already and i am nowhere near where i wanna be for me to be eating unplanned food everyday.

Don't get me wrong, i have no problems with food whatsoever, as long as i have planned for it. I am the sort that plans my meals a day or 2 in advance, i find this really helps me a lot.

Who else is struggling like me? Who has managed to avoid all the invites flowing in left, right and center and how did you do it?

I have the same problem at work. Every year at Christmas I am buried under chocolate, junk food, and incredible home made baked gifts from co-workers and clients. I can't refuse the sweets because it would hurt the feelings of people who baked them. In the past I've thrown it all away and given it away, but always eat some and get sick. I get migraines from too much chocolate and have ended up in the emergency room a couple of times when the headaches went on for days.

My strategies this year (I blew it yesterday but will keep trying):
Eat regular food and make sure I'm never hungry. This includes before going to lunch and dinner. I fill up on steel cut oats with a sliced apple or some other healthy food before I go, then eat something small at the event.
Drink water -- a lot
I'm buying sugarfree gum to keep at work. I am not a fan of aspartame, but a little won't hurt me to survive the next 1-2 weeks and is better than a migraine. I found out that I overeat from stress and because I want a treat and the gum helps with that.

Editing this to add:
Keep a drink with you and a small plate and take forever to eat what's on it. People will be less likely to push food on you if you have something in your hands.
Be nice, have a sense of humor, don't offer into on your diet/lifestyle, and get the subject off yourself and food. Claim an allergy or health problem if you must and change the subject. Ask people to talk about themselves.

Good luck!

I've had 3 Christmas meals so far and just made sure that I 'saved' cals elsewhere and made sensible choices (diet soda instead of alcohol/ fruit juice, fruit salad for dessert etc.). So far I've only once been over maintenance once and that was only by 100 cals. Christmas Eve & day I am with family and intend eating and drinking pretty much what I like but have a hike & a 5k run planned respectively to offset some of the damage. This is about a lifestyle change and so social events will happen I just need to incorporate them in my normal life.

If you can, eat a large healthy meal with lots of protein and fat right before you know you're going to be faced with the holiday feasting. And then when the time comes you'll find it easier to select small portions of healthy food from whatever is offered.

When i have made a resolution about something, i like to be in charge. This christmas holiday is killing me, food everywhere and everyone wants to invite you to eat. I have managed to avoid 3 work christmas dinner and now there's a lunch today. I didn't want to go so badly that i think i had an anxiety attack, woke up at 3:30pm feeling like throwing up but empty stomach meant nothing came up. I had a cup of tea and couldn't go back to sleep. I'll end up going to this lunch because i do not want to be labelled as unsociable (which my manager called me when i told her i might not go) but i feel like i've just started my nutritional journey, had cake at work twice this week already and i am nowhere near where i wanna be for me to be eating unplanned food everyday.

Don't get me wrong, i have no problems with food whatsoever, as long as i have planned for it. I am the sort that plans my meals a day or 2 in advance, i find this really helps me a lot.

Who else is struggling like me? Who has managed to avoid all the invites flowing in left, right and center and how did you do it?

I recently read this quote, however, you have been given a lot of good advice that has helped me as well. "It is not what you eat from November to December, but what you eat from December to November. Enjoy the Holidays!!"

my problem was fitting something into my diary that wasn't planned for but i managed to get round it and actually saved more calories, so i'm happy about that.

I get like this, too. Scrambling to rearrange my carefully laid out plans, whether food or schedule or whatever, sends me into a downward spiral. But I've gotten a lot better about it (food) over time.