Labor Day BBQs -- help, need willpower

Trish1c
Trish1c Posts: 549 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Please give me some willpower tips. We have 3 BBQs this weekend. B)

Tonight I can probably stick to mostly protein. I'm the designated driver so I won't be drinking.

Tomorrow I am going to want to graze all day. The saving grace will hopefully be lots of swimming. I'm going to try to walk 2 miles before we head over. I have volunteered to be the designated driver so I can't drink.

Sunday I already know alcohol will be my downfall. Again I'm hoping for some balance with a walk before hand & swimming but I'm afraid it might rain or be cool.

What do you all do when faced with picnic tables full of food?

Replies

  • sllm1
    sllm1 Posts: 2,130 Member
    I watch everyone else eat too much and take mental note of it. It sounds weird, but watching everyone else binge somehow helps me not to.

    I take food to the party/tailgate/cookout that I know the calorie content of. I take very small portions of sweets (mini brownie bites, for example). I eat other food, of course, but knowing what I'm bringing helps me plan.

    I do try to get in a workout or some walking to add calories.

    If I know (sort of) what will be there, I will pre-log an estimate of what I think I will eat and just take it slow. I can make adjustments to the plan later if needed, but it gives me a plan and a goal.

    Sometimes I can skip breakfast or dinner and just make it a "grazing" day and it still works out okay.
  • SuzySunshine99
    SuzySunshine99 Posts: 2,989 Member
    If there are any kind of "activities" at the BBQs...swimming, volleyball, games, even just running around with kids, it will take your mind off grazing. Have a good time and eat and drink in moderation, but don't just sit and stare at the tables of food. If you end up overeating, just log it and move on. One weekend is not going to derail you.
  • LazSommer
    LazSommer Posts: 1,851 Member
    I eat as much grilled chicken as humanly possible. seriously
  • PaulaWallaDingDong
    PaulaWallaDingDong Posts: 4,641 Member
    edited September 2016
    So glad I'm working the holiday. Double-time and a half and NO potato salad!
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    I eat till I'm full, drink what I like, stay active and enjoy the weekend. We have 2 cook outs, a family reunion and birthday party this weekend. I'm not a bit worried. It's only one weekend.
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    It will be hold the (really yummy) baked beans for me, but eat all the bbq chicken, steak and burgers I can consume!
  • kgirlhart
    kgirlhart Posts: 5,158 Member
    Trish1c wrote: »
    Please give me some willpower tips. We have 3 BBQs this weekend. B)

    Tonight I can probably stick to mostly protein. I'm the designated driver so I won't be drinking.

    Tomorrow I am going to want to graze all day. The saving grace will hopefully be lots of swimming. I'm going to try to walk 2 miles before we head over. I have volunteered to be the designated driver so I can't drink.

    Sunday I already know alcohol will be my downfall. Again I'm hoping for some balance with a walk before hand & swimming but I'm afraid it might rain or be cool.

    What do you all do when faced with picnic tables full of food?

    I do the things that you are planning to do. Try to get in a good walk before you go. Eat light before you go to the BBQ. Being the DD is a good way to avoid alcohol calories. And then just log it the best you can and enjoy the weekend. Labor Day weekend is once per year. You'll be ok.
  • nowine4me
    nowine4me Posts: 3,985 Member
    I put my beer in a koozie or solid color cup so people aren't pestering me about refills. I also drink a to of water between drinks. Helps control the amount of beer/wine but also keeps you hydrated to prevent a hangover and having the munchies the following day. Sounds like a fun weekend!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Trish1c wrote: »
    Please give me some willpower tips. We have 3 BBQs this weekend. B)

    Tonight I can probably stick to mostly protein. I'm the designated driver so I won't be drinking.

    Tomorrow I am going to want to graze all day. The saving grace will hopefully be lots of swimming. I'm going to try to walk 2 miles before we head over. I have volunteered to be the designated driver so I can't drink.

    Sunday I already know alcohol will be my downfall. Again I'm hoping for some balance with a walk before hand & swimming but I'm afraid it might rain or be cool.

    What do you all do when faced with picnic tables full of food?

    I just enjoy myself...it's not like it's an everyday thing. My health and fitness aren't predicated on a few holidays and special occasions...my health and fitness are predicated on what I'm doing most of the time.

    That said, I'm not really a pigger outer...I don't find pigging out to be enjoyable in the least...so I get a plate of food and I eat it...it's usually pretty reasonable.
  • sgt1372
    sgt1372 Posts: 3,997 Member
    Portion control and only drink water.
  • craigbrenn
    craigbrenn Posts: 3 Member
    If you're really worried about it, then eat a snack of veggies before you go. This will help you to get full quicker at the cookout. Also take a long some strong mints (such as Altoids), they change the taste of foods and helps to cleanse your palate faster. That has worked for me before. Luckily, I am planning the cookout this year so I get to be in charge of the menu. However, I agree with everyone else as well, have fun. If you go in with the mindset that this is going to be really hard and impossible to do, then chances are you won't have much fun or you'll just set yourself up to fail harder.
  • Trish1c
    Trish1c Posts: 549 Member
    I'm not worried per se. I do know I ate & drank a lot -- sometimes almost 3,000 calories at the last 2 picnics. About 1,000 calories were alcohol.

    Again, it's certainly not an everyday thing & it will be combined with movement but if anybody had some strategies, I'd be thrilled to hear them.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    Take no more than half the portion size your eyes think they want, unless it's raw veggies or green salad with few calories. Eat slowly. Drink lots of water in between servings & alcohol. Take lots of swims! Have fun.
  • PinkSuede
    PinkSuede Posts: 49 Member
    I would try eating at home before the bbq that way there's less room to indulge and you can save what room you have left for whatever is there that you really want whether that's cake or potato salad or whatever. And I second drinking only water. That cuts back on so many calories. If you drink alcohol limit yourself to 1 and sip it.
  • kcn2bluesky
    kcn2bluesky Posts: 187 Member
    For social events like this, I put small portions of the things I want on my plate. And I tell myself I can always go back and get more if I want it. While I'm eating, I converse with those around me, catch up on things with them, eat slowly and enjoy the food. I also keep an eye on the alcohol intake, because one drink can easily lead to 5 and then the moderation of food is over at that point. LOL
  • 25lbsorbust
    25lbsorbust Posts: 225 Member
    Eat at home first! That way you don't have the same experience as going grocery shopping hungry... never leads to anything good. Have a big, filling, low-cal meal at home, lots of water, and then have a little bit of everything you want. If you're still hungry, you could go big on fruits/veggies.
  • kcn2bluesky
    kcn2bluesky Posts: 187 Member
    25lbsorbust wrote: »
    Eat at home first! That way you don't have the same experience as going grocery shopping hungry... never leads to anything good. Have a big, filling, low-cal meal at home, lots of water, and then have a little bit of everything you want. If you're still hungry, you could go big on fruits/veggies.

    Great idea! I'm filing this one away for the holiday season which is going to be here before we know it.
  • Trish1c
    Trish1c Posts: 549 Member
    So the BBQs were calorie disasters.

    I ate almost 2400 calories on Saturday. I was shocked to learn how many calories were in the tortilla chips I ate.

    But I drank too much wine on Sunday, almost 1200 calories worth, my daily total allotment, but I did keep my food under.

    It was too cold to swim either day so there was no exercise to balance it out.
  • geneticsteacher
    geneticsteacher Posts: 623 Member
    Lesson learned: either pie OR cake. Not both! :o

Categories