I hate birthdays

Look at it this way...birthdays/special occasions/holidays are few and far between compared to every other day. Focus on your goals, and if there's a time you have a celebration planned, enjoy it. Going over wont put you back where you started.

Just have a birthday in mid January and have no close relatives, your birthday will go pretty much completely unnoticed. Works for me! Now this isn't about saying poor me but really, I think I like your version of a birthday more than mine. It's only once a year and you're pretty darn lucky people care about you enough to make a big deal, so embrace it and just get right back to goal afterwards.

For me, one birthday isn't going to derail my progress. Sure someone might have made a cake... that doesn't mean I need to eat the whole thing. I'll have a small slice and usually that's good.

As for a spouse making your favorite food? That's wonderful and a really sweet thing to do. My boyfriend knows my goals and what I will and won't eat. Granted, if he decides to surprise me with something I absolutely love (I can't say no to Crab Rangoon...it's weird), I'll enjoy it, log it and move on.

I also try to plan ahead for celebrations or things that would be "out of the ordinary" for my diet. If I know someone has a birthday or celebration coming up, I'll fit it into my calories, macros, log whatever I indulge on and move on.

Also keep in mind that your weight will fluctuate - weight loss isn't linear and try not to a celebration or enjoying a day or two as a catastrophe. I think as long as you're setting yourself up for good, sustainable habits in the long run, a birthday shouldn't have TOO much of an impact on your long-term goals.

For me, life should be lived. And what I'm doing is a lifestyle. It's not a specific diet, it doesn't have an end date. This is what I do. I weigh my food, track my macros, log to the point of obsession, and I'm ok with that. And if I go out with friends or celebrate that's ok. Because - to me - it's also about the celebration and all of the thought that goes into each celebration.

Sorry for the rant, OP.

Birthdays happen. Thanksgiving dinners happen. You're lucky that you have so much love in your life that someone is there to make food for you and think of you. Count your blessings, log the food, move on.

jahnlaw wrote: »

I hate birthdays. It not about getting older with the aches and pains or my slower metabolism at 48 years. It is about the festive bad foods and drinks that accompanies birthdays. At Christmas and other holidays, there might be a few special weakness presented. But at Birthdays your supposed loving family makes all your favorite foods sometimes at every meal and occasionally, like this past one, all weekend long.

How can you say "no" to your spouse who secretly makes your favorite homemade blueberry muffins or your 12 Hearld daughter who makes a delicious homemade chocolate birthday cake from scratch?

As I soberly stepped on the scale this morning and saw 7 days of good eating and exercise go to waste from a day and a half of self-abuse, I rejoice that birthdays come but once a year and with a new resolve for a better body next year.

You tell your spouse you're watching what you eat and do not want anything special food wise for your birthday.

Unless you eat like your birthday every day, it won't hurt you to do it one day, or even a few days. Your calorie goal will still be there when it's over.

It's one day. I'd rather eat the food that my family lovingly prepared, than not. You can make up for those calories over the coming weeks. It's not the end of the world.

True Story: I gained five lbs in one day after my birthday. It took four weeks to get it back off. I am glad they only come once a year.

Hahaha. I'm exactly the opposite. Because I don't eat these things every day, I LOVE when birthdays give me a reason to eat them. Presents are awesome too. Birthdays are a celebration that I've lived another year, which is the best gift of all. Birthdays are big deals in my family.

Even if the celebration is over the top and I gain a few lbs, so what? I know how to lose them again.

Sad post is sad.

OP, most of the weight you gained is likely water retention from eating higher carb and sodium foods than normal. Give it a few days, hydrate, and don't hate on celebrations because you're trying to lose weight.

ETA: You know your birthday is coming every year....you can always cut your calories back a little bit the few days before to balance out a high calorie day. Same with holidays, parties, nights out, etc....

Birthdays are one of those times where I don't worry that much. I mean, I do try and eat things in moderation, but it's ok to go over from time to time. For example, on Saturday evening my husband's family took us all out for ice cream for my birthday. Now, I had gotten to my limit by that time, but it was nice of them so I agreed. I had one small scoop with hot fudge. Enough to feel treated, but not enough to completely derail the day, even if it did put me over. And the next day, I kept a much closer watch on my calories.


The thing is, a lot of people celebrate with food. You can ask not to do it, but you have to ask yourself if that's really what you want to do for special occasions. If it is, just ask politely for people not to make you food, or let them know you won't be able to eat very much of it. Just remember that these are OCCASIONS, not everyday. Going over on special occasions isn't a big deal. Just log it as best you can and start fresh the next day. You may gain a few ounces out of it, but weight fluctuates daily and depends on other things, like hormones and water weight. If your weight is trending up, then you have to do some damage control. But as long as the overall trend is down, you're fine.

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Well, you talk to your loving family about your goals in advance and what you want to do for your birthday... maybe say clearly that you want to not celebrate with so much food but doing other special things. Give them specific ideas.
If they make you some food you love then you say to them thanks for thinking of me and making an effort. Feel lucky that you have people in your life attempting to do nice things for you. Pre-log the food items and figure out what a reasonable serving would be. Eat it and move on.
Plan to have a maintenance calorie day for your birthday. Don't call it self-abuse.
Get back to your regular eating and exercising.

OP, I can relate as I have felt the same feelings and thought the same thoughts.

But let it go! Rejoice that your family is there to love you and make delicious food for you. Live your life and don't begrudge you daughter, who won't be 12 for very long, a chance to make daddy a special cake.