How do you stay within your cal limit while socializing??

Hmmm, that is tough if everyone is ordering appetizers to share - so tempting! There are some restaurants I go to where I not only check the menu first, but I pre-log the foods. Texas Roadhouse for example - if I don't put in my diary just ONE of those amazing piping hot rolls, I'll eat three. And then I get my salad before my meal, and I'm full before the entree ever hits the table!

But yeah, if you don't know what they are going to order, it's tough, other than to just do your best guess, maybe only take one or a small piece of each appetizer and put them on your plate all at once so it looks sort of full, and others are less likely to make comments (so annoying, isn't it?). Drink plenty of water, eat the appetizers very slowly, and maybe your meal will arrive before you've eaten them all, and you can have your server take the small plate away.

Best of luck - if nothing else, as long as you're not doing this every day, even once a week shouldn't be too bad as long as you're consistent the rest of the week!

I don't socialise.

Seriously though, depending how often it happens I usually just treat social situations as my cheat day and stay strict the rest of the time. If it happens too much and starts to affect my progress I might try to fit in some extra cardio during the week or go for the lower calorie options, but I try not to stress and generally things work out OK.

i dont eat other peoples food?

or i eat at maintenance.

or I get in an extra workout.

not hard.

It sounds to me like your biggest problem right now is that you're relying on willpower alone. I would say that it's a little inconsiderate for people to continue to order these things to share after you've asked them not to. Maybe they'd be willing to just order it for themselves? Or keep it on a side of the table that's out of your reach?

There are a few things you can try otherwise. One might be to order a lower-calorie appetizer if you can. You still might go over your calories, but if it keeps you from eating higher-calorie food it might be worth it to you? Another idea would be to try meeting at different restaurants, ones with healthier options. Yet another thing that might work is to invite friends over for dinner at your home instead of going out. This can be a "my place this week, your place next week" kind of thing, or maybe a potluck (or pitch-in, depending on where you're from) where everyone brings a dish.

Another idea would be to try social activities that don't revolve around eating food. Shopping, playing cards, sports (playing or spectating), board games, movies, hiking, stargazing, crafts, and volunteering are all things you can do together that don't necessarily put you in a restaurant setting.

Good luck and I hope you find something that works for you!

Order something that you can eat without blowing your calorie goals (Like the veggie platter). Sitting there and not eating while everyone else is eating is not an option that works, obviously. And you are right, you CAN'T expect people to forego ordering food that they want/like because you are on a diet... so it is always going to come down to your self control.

Finally, you do not always have to go eating to socialize. Try an outdoors activity with your friends. Or invite them to your house for dinner, where you can control the kinds of foods that will be served.

Pretty sure it's not fair to tell a whole table of people to order salads just because you don't have room for excess.

Don't share. Order your own plate of something you know fits into your goals, bank calories for your social evenings, or eat before you go so you're not hungry and will power is easier.

I also live by the motto, if I didn't buy it, it's not mine therefore not a temptation. I work in someone's home, they always always offer me a muffin from breakfast, pizza with the kids when I stay late, try to pawn leftover sweets off on me etc. I just politely say "Oh, thanks!" and never indulge. If they've noticed they haven't said anything or been offended. If they ever insist I'd probably take it home for my husband and roommate if they'd like. But this motto of "it's not mine!" really really helps. Like right now there is Nutella in my cupboard, but it was given to my husband as a joke gift and doesn't belong to me so it's so incredibly easy to leave it be. Adopt this sort of mentality to the shared plates and you'll see it as less tempting. At least if you have morals against taking things that aren't directly yours

Oh and of course I know it's simply polite to share this is just a way to resist for me

GuitarJerry wrote: »

I don't share my food. So, I think it's weird to be a hypocrite and take food from other peoples plates. I don't understand this. Why would people share food. It's mine or yours, not ours.

In my circles appetizers are meant for sharing.

When I'm just eating with my OH, I don't have much of an issue. I plan to take half the entree home and go easy on appetizers and drinks.

When we eat with friends, I know this far in advance and budget calories that week and exercise more the day of. I can expect to consume triple my normal calories. (I rarely drink at home.)

If you're actually socializing, you're not eating. If you're sitting in a social situation, but being one of the less social participants, that leaves time to eat, and typically over-eat. The more you are the one being social, the less time you have to stop and take bite after bite after bite. The more you chat everyone up, the less time they have to analyze how much you're putting on your own plate! I'm a big-talker, and I find I end up taking about 75% of my food home in social/food gatherings because I've spent so much time talking that I've hardly touched my food. Become the chatty one of the group!