I need advice & suggestions for friends who are coming to stay who are not watching their weight plz

SuseAndo26
SuseAndo26 Posts: 54 Member
edited November 20 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi, I'm new to mfp but certainly not new to losing weight. Need some hints and advice because I'm only very recently back on my journey (started yesterday).

We have friends coming to stay on the weekend and this usually involves takeaway food, snacks and drinks.

I am so concerned about them coming to stay and me throwing my weightloss all out of whack that I'm tempted to cancel the whole thing.

I'm happy to have a few drinks, but food wise I'm just plain scared ..... and weak, particularly because I'm just starting again.

I am really concerned that any progress I make this week will be destroyed and the other thing I have an insanely hard time with is getting back into my healthy eating after the weekend is over.

I really really want to succeed and don't want to ruin everything and end up feeling like I stuffed up the weekend so I might as well just chuck it in.

Any suggestions? Please

Replies

  • SuseAndo26
    SuseAndo26 Posts: 54 Member
    PS: I plan to have fresh fruit and veg snacks (carrot sticks and hommus etc) and Rice crackers on hand.
    I will also have Chicken and meat flavored potato crisps (I am vegetarian so don't eat these).
    I am a massive sweet tooth who is very weak when it comes to sugar and chocolates treats and my girlfriend knows this and her and her kids are sweet tooths too so I know she will come laden with amazingly delicious sugary treats.

    How on earth am I going to get through this relatively unscathed?

    How much willpower and determination do I have I suppose.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    SuseAndo26 wrote: »
    Hi, I'm new to mfp but certainly not new to losing weight. Need some hints and advice because I'm only very recently back on my journey (started yesterday).

    We have friends coming to stay on the weekend and this usually involves takeaway food, snacks and drinks.

    I am so concerned about them coming to stay and me throwing my weightloss all out of whack that I'm tempted to cancel the whole thing.

    I'm happy to have a few drinks, but food wise I'm just plain scared ..... and weak, particularly because I'm just starting again.

    I am really concerned that any progress I make this week will be destroyed and the other thing I have an insanely hard time with is getting back into my healthy eating after the weekend is over.

    I really really want to succeed and don't want to ruin everything and end up feeling like I stuffed up the weekend so I might as well just chuck it in.

    Any suggestions? Please

    Part of the lifestyle change is realizing that it is OK to not be 100% accurate with your logging all the time. The second part is learning that it is OK to "let loose" when you have friends coming to stay over or if you want to go out for dinner, a birthday party etc.

    One thingy ou could is "bank" some calories for the weekend. So eat 50-100 calories a day under and you will have an extra 250 to 500 calories for weekend indulgence.

    You can also go for some better options..instead of eating out why don't you suggest cooking out on your grill or a night in of dinner, where you can control the portion sizes and what is eaten?

    Finally, if you go out and get takeaway food and go over on your calories don't sweat it. You would have to consume 3500 excess calories in one weekend to gain one pound. If you go over then you just log it, own it, and move on to the next day.

  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
    If meals are at your house, eat your usual portions. If you eat out, be mindful of portions and make wise choices from the menu. If they are only staying for a weekend ... it's 48-72 hours ... enough for short term slowing of your progress, not enough to derail unless you are foolish after they leave.

    Enjoy your time with friends. Life is too damned short to stress over everything.
  • andympanda
    andympanda Posts: 763 Member
    your house your rules. Simple as that. If they don't like that, it's their problem.
  • kgeyser
    kgeyser Posts: 22,505 Member
    What about adjusting your goals for the weekend? Progress isn't just about working towards a number on the scale, it's also about changing your mindset and behaviors. If you would normally treat a weekend like this as a blowout, how about making goals like only eating out one night, only eating X number of treats, planning some kind of activity for everyone that involves physical activity, not food (hiking, swimming, backyard games, etc), getting so many servings of fruit/veggies per day- whatever works for you. If you hit those goals, and you're doing better at sticking to your healthy eating plan than you did in the past during weekends like this, that's progress, calorie goal or not.
  • SuseAndo26
    SuseAndo26 Posts: 54 Member
    brianpperkins wrote: »
    If meals are at your house, eat your usual portions. If you eat out, be mindful of portions and make wise choices from the menu. If they are only staying for a weekend ... it's 48-72 hours ... enough for short term slowing of your progress, not enough to derail unless you are foolish after they leave.

    Enjoy your time with friends. Life is too damned short to stress over everything.

    Thankyou, I love these replies.

    If I am "foolish after they leave" makes me feel like I am certainly not a fool and therefore am more determined not to derail over and after the weekend.

    And
    andympanda wrote: »
    your house your rules. Simple as that. If they don't like that, it's their problem.

    You're damn right, it is my house and therefore my rules!

  • Annr
    Annr Posts: 2,765 Member
    yep your place, your rules! I get so annoyed about people not standing up for how things go in their own place. You stock your kitchen with stuff that is healthy, pre-cook stuff that is on your plan, and if they don't wish it, they can go to the store. You can say without hurting anyones feelings, "I am cooking "insert favoritie healthy food here" , and you may have that, or contribute something else for you to have". Simple. Enjoy time with friends or family but its not about the cooking or the drinks.
  • michelegreen99
    michelegreen99 Posts: 28 Member
    I liked that MFP article the other day about having a "Plan B" for situations like this. What I took away was, you may not be 100% perfect during this challenge but what is your plan for it? Some suggestions were, I am going to earn the two cocktails/cookies/bread/whatever that I am going to have during that celebration and in exchange, I'm going to work out an extra 20 minutes each day to earn that indulgence without feeling guilty. Or, I'm going to allow myself to go off program, but for one meal only. Or, I'm going to let myself choose a treat at each meal, but only ONE. Stuff like that. I think it keeps you from feeling completely deprived, lets you enjoy your friends, but also keeps you accountable to YOU and lets you keep control!

    Good luck!
  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
    Look at it this way ... if your friends are there for two days and you exceed your maintenance level by 1500 calories each of those days, you've only wiped out the current week's worth of progress ... a blip on the overall screen. It's not about a huge deficit every day. It's about the long term trends and figuring out how to enjoy real life.
  • BWBTrish
    BWBTrish Posts: 2,817 Member
    Our son and daughter are coming over..and it is simple to me. I make the food, snacks and dinners and breakfasts etc. We all eat the same. I just eat less of everything :)

    But that is my way. Do what is convenient for you. Just enjoy it...walk a bit extra, but life goes on you know. I am really not going to worry about any gain weight or losing. Just normal life. And maybe i will indulge something i dont know. i dont have to be a pig either.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    Make a big casserole before they arrive and stick it in the fridge to reheat ..serve with rice and a big salad

    Skinnytaste.com has lots of good ones ..calorie counted

    I like the chicken cacciatore personally and that's really easy


  • SuseAndo26
    SuseAndo26 Posts: 54 Member
    Unfortunately it is Winter here in Melbourne Australia, and our friends would rather sit outside in their pj's in the cold, wet and wind than do any form of exercise ever... Lol, it's actually a bit of a joke in our household.

    I will get all of my exercise done before they arrive and will make time for myself on Sunday to fit in some exercise for me. Excercise is very important to me and I feel very out of sorts if I don't do any.

    I will certainly have the foods available to everyone that are best for me to stay on track and then I will just have to exercise portion control and self control in anything else.

    When they go home I will give them any leftover treats and snacks to take with them for themselves and the kids to enjoy, therefore limiting my temptation afterwards and assisting me with staying on the right track for the coming week.

    Thanks everyone for your replies. I have taken everything on board & have been armed with some great ideas and advice. :smiley:
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