Social life always involves food!

I've just started a healthy diet 4 days ago and I've realised how much my social life involves food!

My friends always want to order pizza, go for milkshakes, go out for lunch etc. and it would be really unsociable for me not to join in.

How do you guys manage in these situations?

I tend to look at social outings as not revolving around food but more good company and good conversation. If I know where I am going ahead of time I will check out the menu on line to be better prepared knowing my options. But at this point I know what to order to keep it healthy and I'm not afraid to ask for modifications. But you're four days in so it's going to be a little tough with a bit of a learning curve. Just try and research even using your phone at the restaurant and log everything would be my advise. Good luck!

This!^

After you have lost the weight these will still be issues, albeit on a smaller scale. You're not going to be able to eat exactly like you did before going on a diet (or the weight will come back).

I can't remember the last time I had a milkshake.....years. Pick your battles....milkshake aren't worth it to me....pizza on the other hand.....

Try find some mutual activities that don't revolve around food. Order a salad with your pizza and eat the salad first. This will help prevent you from eating too much. On the subject of pizza.....thin crust, veggie, light cheese (if you have a say).

Plan better. If you know you are going out for dinner, have a really light lunch. For dinner, start with (broth based) soup or a salad. Many people ask for the doggie bag up front and put 1/2 of their meal in it before starting to eat.

Pretty much all of the above. I do allow myself to indulge every once in a while, but I always get back to my routine the next day. It takes some learning and a lot of self control. What I will try to do when going out with friends after work is to eat before I go, so I can just have a water or tea and then maybe a small appetizer or a salad. That way I'm still eating and don't feel like the odd man out. Or, if you know a few days ahead of time that you're going out, plan ahead. Do a harder workout the day before, earn some more calories and don't eat them all back until you go out. Tons of options, you just have to find what works best for you. Good luck!

Well pizza is relatively easy to fit in your day, just have one or two slices... For the rest, most places have lighter options really. I'd still go out...

Totalling your calories for the week and try to leave enough room for one bad splurge day. At least you'll know ahead of time of a social outing. If not, then you'll have to make up for those additional calories in the days to follow. The important thing is to not go too overboard with the amounts that you intake. If you stick to moderation, even a milkshake or pizza won't totally blow through 3500 calories (or the 1 lb total) deficit. So maybe you don't lose any weight that week, then you either have to cut down to lose 0.5 lbs that week or be ok with staying the same for the week.

Your call on which is more important for the day/week of the gathering.

Your "why" for wanting to gain back control of your health has to be powerful enough to manage your desires when you are out at social engagements. As you know these times it's going to be HARD. But remember nothing worth doing is going to be easy. Good luck.... From my experience after losing the weight I wanted I'm so happy I did not give into my temptations at events like these because maintenance is so much more enjoyable then losing weight.

I say go ahead and explain things to your friends- at least the close ones. You might even find that some of them had been thinking about getting healthy and will join you in your endeavors.

I have found that people will be the most supportive when you take the time to explain WHY your eating habits are changing. Don't get preachy, just lay out the basics. I work with my brother and we used to eat out twice a week for lunch. Now we only eat out twice a month and pick places with healthy options. He's fine with that.

I just go and eat less of whatever it is.

An example would be tomorrow...I'm having lunch with an old friend. We both loved Chick-Fil-A in the past so that is where we are meeting up. I don't really go there now (if I get fast food there are other places I prefer) but I will be ordering a 12 pc grilled nugget and large fruit cup. Years ago, I would have ordered an original chicken sandwich slathered in mayo and had waffle fries with more mayo & ketchup to dip them in. Those days are gone, no big deal.

Also...don't be afraid to suggest something else that will work better for you, or if it's a place that you really can't "afford" (calorie wise) to indulge that day, then just get a drink or a small side item.

Unless your friends are real jerks they will learn to live with it. I have noticed that the people who seem to have the most trouble with this (here on the forums) are those who make a really major production about what they are eating. I know thinking back to past meals with friends, I can barely recall the times that some of them just had a beer or tea and split an order of onion rings with someone else. But I do remember the person freaking out about huge portions, talking a lot about their diet throughout the meal, and requesting everything be specially made and gluten-free and so forth. Don't draw too much attention to your order being different, and if others do...I find that it helps to insist (truthfully) that you really ENJOY what you ordered. It helps put a positive spin on it and a friend who is genuinely "sad" to see you sitting there with what they perceive as a less yummy meal will feel less concerned when you say, for example, "I've been craving guacamole all day" as you eat your steamed veg, chicken & guac on the side.

I go to Weight Watchers and they just had a meeting about this.
Their suggestions were to plan different types of outings:
Like go to an art festival or sporting event
with a girl friend, go get manicures together
go for a hike
frisbee golf
swimming
mall shopping
if its friends, invite them over for poker night instead.

I know these are not applicable all the time, but I have managed to cut down on eating out with friends, but still have fun