Invited out - there will be nibbles - help!

If I were you, I just would have to decline the invitation. I know it will be hard to decline, but it will be even harder to resist the goodies. I have gotten so many invites, and have to tell, I just can't right now. Sometimes, if it is a close friend I will explain exactly why, but if not, I don't go into detail. They all seem to understand.

I love going out but I often avoid it for this very reason!!! My tip is this- volunteer to bring a snack and bring something you know you can have. Fruit salad, vegetable trey, a whole wheat variation of pasta salad, low calorie dessert (chocolate mousse, low calorie ice cream bars). That way, you don't look rude/snobbish by refusing to eat whatever is served, and you know what you're eating and you're more in control. As for the alcohol- do you like red wine? It's relatively healthy in moderation, and you can nurse a glass for an hour!

If I were you, I just would have to decline the invitation. I know it will be hard to decline, but it will be even harder to resist the goodies. I have gotten so many invites, and have to tell, I just can't right now. Sometimes, if it is a close friend I will explain exactly why, but if not, I don't go into detail. They all seem to understand.

Guilty of this one too- If I'm not feeling very motivated or in control, I skip it altogether. Sucks, but so does being fat!

This is a tough one I hate to decline for this reason but if your will power is strong then go with it.

I would plan out how many calories to save for the evening and roughly plan out what to eat. Decide ahead of time how much you will drink, planning it into your calories. And make a small plate of snacks from what is available and eat from that throughout the night. Don't get more or give in to the temptation to nibble from the serving plates. It's hard when you don't know exactly what will be there, but if you do a little research ahead of time, you'll know what choices to make. (ie which cheeses have fewer calories, how many calories in a specific quanity of cheese?) Nuts were tricky for me in the beginning because I assumed all nuts were good. Some have more calories than others. For example, walnuts are a lot higher in calories than I would have thought.

Ultimately, do your best and at least log everything when you get home. (Don't be ashamed to use a phone app while you're at the party, I've done it at Girls' Night before!) If you end up going over, work out a little harder tomorrow to make up for it!!

Have fun!!! It's always ok to enjoy yourself and have some fun snacks... everything in moderation. :-D

Really? you guys miss out on an event with friends for fear of not being able to control yourself. Sit away from the snacks and go and have a great time. If you eat a little too much...move on the next day. Getting healthy can't stop you from enjoying life....what's the point then?

This topic is so helpful. I have a reunion with some high school friends this Saturday and I was wondering about this very thing. Thank God for you people lol

Be fashionably late. You'll want to catch up with everyone in the limited time and you'll be less likely to munch.

Just go. Don't isolate yourself from an evening of fun, but whatever you eat, eat moderately and start with healthiest things first. Going for the fruit and veggies first will keep you from over eating the fatty stuff. Now, If you feel overwhelm midway thru the party excuse yourself early from the gathering, but at least you went and had an evening out and you won't feel like a health nut freak that can't be in the company of others. Do it many time and you will gather your own free strong will of having many healthy outings in the future. In addition, you will gain respect from many of the party goers for your strong will and discipline of not over indulging on junk, which they wish they had themselves. Good luck and have fun!

Oh, in the event there is no healthy items, eat light and moderate maybe eating half of everything that you touch. For example, eat half a cup cake instead of the whole thing, eat a handful of chips and move on...etc. With gatherings that do not have healthy alternatives plan on making an earlier exit than expected if your will is not strong enough yet. Oh, and one more thing, eat before you go. This will will aid you from over indulgence and will help you with the snacking moderately at the gathering.

Thank you all soooo much! I love this place! OK, here's what I've decided to do - an amalgamation of your suggestions! I'm going to eat a small dinner (small for less calories, not to save space for nibbles!) before I go and drink plenty of water, I'm going to be fashionably late (I love that idea, and I know it will work!), I'm going to take along a bottle of diet lemonade to mix with the wine to make a nice long spritzer, I'm going to chop up a load of carrots/cucumber/celery/pepper arrange them nicely on a plate and take a tub of pre-calories calculated houmus - and I'm going to ENJOY myself! Woohoo! :happy: :drinker:

Keep up posted after the event!

I am so glad you were able to figure out a way to still be social without going overboard!!!'

And frankly I'm shocked at all the folks who responded saying not to go...why miss out on life in fear of temptation and the possibility of going over a few hundred extra calories? There is absolutely no need for deprivation or avoidance of social situations in order to lose weight - check out my signature, I'm living proof! Lost 61 pounds and have never regretted a single moment (well, except the fat free cheese incident - blech!) :laugh: