Handling July 4 parties
merekins
Posts: 228 Member
We have several parties this week and looking for tips on how to get through them without feeling deprived or blowing off the whole week. I don't want to obsessive over what I can eat but I can't go overboard at all of these. How do you balance holidays with multiple get-togethers? What does a person without food issues due in these situations?
0
Replies
-
1. When possible, bring a dish that you know you can eat without stress and that tastes good to you. (ie: I am a mad woman around chips and dip so at my last potluck I brought a decadent white chicken chili that I could indulge on and use to keep myself a little distracted from the dip)
2. Fill half your plate with veggies or salad before adding other items
3. Be cognizant of your choices. Treat it like any other day. You might be tempted to have seconds or a few desserts but remind yourself that isn't your norm. It's just a normal day.
4. However: enjoy your indulgences! Let yourself have that delicious looking cupcake but luxuriate over it. Take a piece of pie and don't like it? Throw the rest away. Don't waste calories/whatever on food you don't like.
5. Give yourself a break. If you have an oopsie (I know I did with those chips and dip...) remind yourself that it's just one day. Someone once told me this: if you were baking a cake and an egg fell on the floor and broke, would you throw the rest of the eggs on the floor? In the same way, if you find you've overindulged, move past it into better choices.
6. Add in exercise! There's usually some opportunity to exercise at these things (a walk, frisbee, badmitten, etc) and it's a great time to do so!
7. water water water water water!9 -
MJ2victory wrote: »1. When possible, bring a dish that you know you can eat without stress and that tastes good to you. (ie: I am a mad woman around chips and dip so at my last potluck I brought a decadent white chicken chili that I could indulge on and use to keep myself a little distracted from the dip)
2. Fill half your plate with veggies or salad before adding other items
3. Be cognizant of your choices. Treat it like any other day. You might be tempted to have seconds or a few desserts but remind yourself that isn't your norm. It's just a normal day.
4. However: enjoy your indulgences! Let yourself have that delicious looking cupcake but luxuriate over it. Take a piece of pie and don't like it? Throw the rest away. Don't waste calories/whatever on food you don't like.
5. Give yourself a break. If you have an oopsie (I know I did with those chips and dip...) remind yourself that it's just one day. Someone once told me this: if you were baking a cake and an egg fell on the floor and broke, would you throw the rest of the eggs on the floor? In the same way, if you find you've overindulged, move past it into better choices.
6. Add in exercise! There's usually some opportunity to exercise at these things (a walk, frisbee, badmitten, etc) and it's a great time to do so!
7. water water water water water!
All of these. I could've written this myself.
0 -
MJ2victory wrote: »4. However: enjoy your indulgences! Let yourself have that delicious looking cupcake but luxuriate over it. Take a piece of pie and don't like it? Throw the rest away. Don't waste calories/whatever on food you don't like.
Omg. People do that?
Omg. People do that!
That seems like such an obvious thing but it would never occur to me to not finish dessert. Even a "not great" cupcake is better than no cupcake. My mom would have had a fit if she saw me throwing a piece of pie away. I certainly would not have been allowed to have something else. She is very much a "you've made your bed, now you have to lay in it." This is something that probably has been lurking in my subconscious. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.2 -
MJ2victory wrote: »1. When possible, bring a dish that you know you can eat without stress and that tastes good to you. (ie: I am a mad woman around chips and dip so at my last potluck I brought a decadent white chicken chili that I could indulge on and use to keep myself a little distracted from the dip)
2. Fill half your plate with veggies or salad before adding other items
3. Be cognizant of your choices. Treat it like any other day. You might be tempted to have seconds or a few desserts but remind yourself that isn't your norm. It's just a normal day.
4. However: enjoy your indulgences! Let yourself have that delicious looking cupcake but luxuriate over it. Take a piece of pie and don't like it? Throw the rest away. Don't waste calories/whatever on food you don't like.
5. Give yourself a break. If you have an oopsie (I know I did with those chips and dip...) remind yourself that it's just one day. Someone once told me this: if you were baking a cake and an egg fell on the floor and broke, would you throw the rest of the eggs on the floor? In the same way, if you find you've overindulged, move past it into better choices.
6. Add in exercise! There's usually some opportunity to exercise at these things (a walk, frisbee, badmitten, etc) and it's a great time to do so!
7. water water water water water!
so take what else someone else took the time to make and then toss it in the trash, really? How about just not take some if yo don't want it??????
I would say just enjoy he party and if you over indulge account for the next day or the following week. yes, staying on track is important; but it should not drown out social events that are fun....2 -
Go and try to focus on enjoying the social aspect of spending time with the people rather than just going to enjoy the food. I admit it can be difficult. I don't like parties or socializing with most people so food is the main reason why parties are enjoyable to me. I mostly go and do math problems in my head while nodding and saying "mmhmm" which makes people think I'm engaged.4
-
MJ2victory wrote: »1. When possible, bring a dish that you know you can eat without stress and that tastes good to you. (ie: I am a mad woman around chips and dip so at my last potluck I brought a decadent white chicken chili that I could indulge on and use to keep myself a little distracted from the dip)
2. Fill half your plate with veggies or salad before adding other items
3. Be cognizant of your choices. Treat it like any other day. You might be tempted to have seconds or a few desserts but remind yourself that isn't your norm. It's just a normal day.
4. However: enjoy your indulgences! Let yourself have that delicious looking cupcake but luxuriate over it. Take a piece of pie and don't like it? Throw the rest away. Don't waste calories/whatever on food you don't like.
5. Give yourself a break. If you have an oopsie (I know I did with those chips and dip...) remind yourself that it's just one day. Someone once told me this: if you were baking a cake and an egg fell on the floor and broke, would you throw the rest of the eggs on the floor? In the same way, if you find you've overindulged, move past it into better choices.
6. Add in exercise! There's usually some opportunity to exercise at these things (a walk, frisbee, badmitten, etc) and it's a great time to do so!
7. water water water water water!
so take what else someone else took the time to make and then toss it in the trash, really? How about just not take some if yo don't want it??????
I would say just enjoy he party and if you over indulge account for the next day or the following week. yes, staying on track is important; but it should not drown out social events that are fun....
I believe she was saying that if you take a piece of pie and taste it and don't like it, it is okay to throw it away rather than feel like she has to eat it. How is she supposed to know she doesn't like it if she hasn't tasted it yet?9 -
MJ2victory wrote: »1. When possible, bring a dish that you know you can eat without stress and that tastes good to you. (ie: I am a mad woman around chips and dip so at my last potluck I brought a decadent white chicken chili that I could indulge on and use to keep myself a little distracted from the dip)
2. Fill half your plate with veggies or salad before adding other items
3. Be cognizant of your choices. Treat it like any other day. You might be tempted to have seconds or a few desserts but remind yourself that isn't your norm. It's just a normal day.
4. However: enjoy your indulgences! Let yourself have that delicious looking cupcake but luxuriate over it. Take a piece of pie and don't like it? Throw the rest away. Don't waste calories/whatever on food you don't like.
5. Give yourself a break. If you have an oopsie (I know I did with those chips and dip...) remind yourself that it's just one day. Someone once told me this: if you were baking a cake and an egg fell on the floor and broke, would you throw the rest of the eggs on the floor? In the same way, if you find you've overindulged, move past it into better choices.
6. Add in exercise! There's usually some opportunity to exercise at these things (a walk, frisbee, badmitten, etc) and it's a great time to do so!
7. water water water water water!
so take what else someone else took the time to make and then toss it in the trash, really? How about just not take some if yo don't want it??????
I would say just enjoy he party and if you over indulge account for the next day or the following week. yes, staying on track is important; but it should not drown out social events that are fun....
Ok, this has always been my thought. I actually gasped out loud when I read it. But...it sounds like a healthier attitude. Why eat something you don't like? I think we've all had things that weren't what we expected. I might ask my family members if they wanted it and then discreetly throw it out if I didn't have any takers.0 -
We all have our own struggles and obviously my advice is informed by mine. I've had a lot of guilt about my overeating that I would ignore (bc feeling your feelings is hard) and it would transfer to a lack of awareness of why I was eating what I was eating. Yeah, maybe it's rude to throw someone's food away but maybe they should have brought a better pie. I put myself first and if I'm going to eat something with that much fat/sugar/carbs/calories, I better enjoy it. I'm not a trash compacter, ya know?4
-
is bringing a bad pie not also rude?!?! lol4
-
so take what else someone else took the time to make and then toss it in the trash, really? How about just not take some if yo don't want it??????
I would say just enjoy he party and if you over indulge account for the next day or the following week. yes, staying on track is important; but it should not drown out social events that are fun....
I think more along the lines of... you take the pie thinking you'll like it, but don't actually like the taste/enjoy it. Why force it down to appease someone?6 -
Take reasonable portions and then stop.
Summer is great for eating fresh fruit and vegetables. Bring some to share and fill out your meal with those lower calorie choices.
If you want to lower calories watch additions like cheese, condiments, sauces, dips or dressings. Go easy on things like bread or chips.
Drink water, unsweetened tea or low calorie drinks.
Be active.
Bring things to do like games or crafts.
Eat a bit lighter the rest of the day, day before, day after. Look at your weekly calories instead of just that day.1 -
MJ2victory wrote: »is bringing a bad pie not also rude?!?! lol
What's a "bad pie" to me may be a favorite for someone else.1 -
janejellyroll wrote: »MJ2victory wrote: »is bringing a bad pie not also rude?!?! lol
What's a "bad pie" to me may be a favorite for someone else.
Clearly parties should have tables where people can set down any dish tried and not liked so that other people can take them.4 -
janejellyroll wrote: »MJ2victory wrote: »is bringing a bad pie not also rude?!?! lol
What's a "bad pie" to me may be a favorite for someone else.
Clearly parties should have tables where people can set down any dish tried and not liked so that other people can take them.
I think you are being sarcastic but it's also kinda brilliant.0 -
Ok guys let's not get caught up on the pie. Some people are of the opinion that it's rude to throw away something taken, I get that. I tried to make a little joke that didn't land and it muddied the waters. I simply originally brought it up as an option to avoid overeating at a potluck.3
-
nicholerohrer wrote: »
so take what else someone else took the time to make and then toss it in the trash, really? How about just not take some if yo don't want it??????
I would say just enjoy he party and if you over indulge account for the next day or the following week. yes, staying on track is important; but it should not drown out social events that are fun....
I think more along the lines of... you take the pie thinking you'll like it, but don't actually like the taste/enjoy it. Why force it down to appease someone?
i read it is..toss it because calories...but I could have mis-read...0 -
MJ2victory wrote: »Ok guys let's not get caught up on the pie. Some people are of the opinion that it's rude to throw away something taken, I get that. I tried to make a little joke that didn't land and it muddied the waters. I simply originally brought it up as an option to avoid overeating at a potluck.
I found it extremely helpful. It's like the clean your plate attitude. There are a lot of expectations to try everyone's dish. That absolutely has contributed to eating things I would have been fine not having.2 -
nicholerohrer wrote: »
so take what else someone else took the time to make and then toss it in the trash, really? How about just not take some if yo don't want it??????
I would say just enjoy he party and if you over indulge account for the next day or the following week. yes, staying on track is important; but it should not drown out social events that are fun....
I think more along the lines of... you take the pie thinking you'll like it, but don't actually like the taste/enjoy it. Why force it down to appease someone?
i read it is..toss it because calories...but I could have mis-read...
I read it as both. If I taste something and I don't like it, I think why eat calories that I am not even enjoying. I just leave it on my plate and when I am done I put the napkin over it and trash it.6 -
MJ2victory wrote: »1. When possible, bring a dish that you know you can eat without stress and that tastes good to you. (ie: I am a mad woman around chips and dip so at my last potluck I brought a decadent white chicken chili that I could indulge on and use to keep myself a little distracted from the dip)
2. Fill half your plate with veggies or salad before adding other items
3. Be cognizant of your choices. Treat it like any other day. You might be tempted to have seconds or a few desserts but remind yourself that isn't your norm. It's just a normal day.
4. However: enjoy your indulgences! Let yourself have that delicious looking cupcake but luxuriate over it. Take a piece of pie and don't like it? Throw the rest away. Don't waste calories/whatever on food you don't like.
5. Give yourself a break. If you have an oopsie (I know I did with those chips and dip...) remind yourself that it's just one day. Someone once told me this: if you were baking a cake and an egg fell on the floor and broke, would you throw the rest of the eggs on the floor? In the same way, if you find you've overindulged, move past it into better choices.
6. Add in exercise! There's usually some opportunity to exercise at these things (a walk, frisbee, badmitten, etc) and it's a great time to do so!
7. water water water water water!
Actually your #4 is extremely helpful to me, I know people are getting caught up on this and thats not the point of this thread, however, thinking back on how many family parties ive been too where I ate something I didnt really enjoy, just because it was on my plate and I didnt want to feel rude. Its doing things like that, that got me overweight. Although obviously i'm still going to try to do that without offending anyone, knowing your calorie goals and not wasting them on something just because its there/ you dont want to offend someone is an obvious, yet brilliant suggestion.5 -
laurenebargar wrote: »MJ2victory wrote: »1. When possible, bring a dish that you know you can eat without stress and that tastes good to you. (ie: I am a mad woman around chips and dip so at my last potluck I brought a decadent white chicken chili that I could indulge on and use to keep myself a little distracted from the dip)
2. Fill half your plate with veggies or salad before adding other items
3. Be cognizant of your choices. Treat it like any other day. You might be tempted to have seconds or a few desserts but remind yourself that isn't your norm. It's just a normal day.
4. However: enjoy your indulgences! Let yourself have that delicious looking cupcake but luxuriate over it. Take a piece of pie and don't like it? Throw the rest away. Don't waste calories/whatever on food you don't like.
5. Give yourself a break. If you have an oopsie (I know I did with those chips and dip...) remind yourself that it's just one day. Someone once told me this: if you were baking a cake and an egg fell on the floor and broke, would you throw the rest of the eggs on the floor? In the same way, if you find you've overindulged, move past it into better choices.
6. Add in exercise! There's usually some opportunity to exercise at these things (a walk, frisbee, badmitten, etc) and it's a great time to do so!
7. water water water water water!
Actually your #4 is extremely helpful to me, I know people are getting caught up on this and thats not the point of this thread, however, thinking back on how many family parties ive been too where I ate something I didnt really enjoy, just because it was on my plate and I didnt want to feel rude. Its doing things like that, that got me overweight. Although obviously i'm still going to try to do that without offending anyone, knowing your calorie goals and not wasting them on something just because its there/ you dont want to offend someone is an obvious, yet brilliant suggestion.
i doubt a a few parties on the fourth are going to ruin ones weight loss ...so if you like the food eat it, if you are worried about the calories then don't eat pie, cookies, cupcakes, etc...either way, it is just one holiday....0 -
laurenebargar wrote: »MJ2victory wrote: »1. When possible, bring a dish that you know you can eat without stress and that tastes good to you. (ie: I am a mad woman around chips and dip so at my last potluck I brought a decadent white chicken chili that I could indulge on and use to keep myself a little distracted from the dip)
2. Fill half your plate with veggies or salad before adding other items
3. Be cognizant of your choices. Treat it like any other day. You might be tempted to have seconds or a few desserts but remind yourself that isn't your norm. It's just a normal day.
4. However: enjoy your indulgences! Let yourself have that delicious looking cupcake but luxuriate over it. Take a piece of pie and don't like it? Throw the rest away. Don't waste calories/whatever on food you don't like.
5. Give yourself a break. If you have an oopsie (I know I did with those chips and dip...) remind yourself that it's just one day. Someone once told me this: if you were baking a cake and an egg fell on the floor and broke, would you throw the rest of the eggs on the floor? In the same way, if you find you've overindulged, move past it into better choices.
6. Add in exercise! There's usually some opportunity to exercise at these things (a walk, frisbee, badmitten, etc) and it's a great time to do so!
7. water water water water water!
Actually your #4 is extremely helpful to me, I know people are getting caught up on this and thats not the point of this thread, however, thinking back on how many family parties ive been too where I ate something I didnt really enjoy, just because it was on my plate and I didnt want to feel rude. Its doing things like that, that got me overweight. Although obviously i'm still going to try to do that without offending anyone, knowing your calorie goals and not wasting them on something just because its there/ you dont want to offend someone is an obvious, yet brilliant suggestion.
i doubt a a few parties on the fourth are going to ruin ones weight loss ...so if you like the food eat it, if you are worried about the calories then don't eat pie, cookies, cupcakes, etc...either way, it is just one holiday....
No its definitely not, and thats not my point at all. I 100% am happy to enjoy myself at a party, however, I'd rather throw away a piece of pie im not enjoying and grab something else, that I would be happy to "spend" my calories on.6 -
I've thrown out food I don't like before. I'm not wasting calories on someone's crappy pie/cake/cookie when I could simply have something else, or save the cals for later when I got home. I would not make it obvious I was ditching the pie, I might feed it to my boyfriend; he's bulking; he can be polite for me and finish lmao8
-
MJ2victory wrote: »4. However: enjoy your indulgences! Let yourself have that delicious looking cupcake but luxuriate over it. Take a piece of pie and don't like it? Throw the rest away. Don't waste calories/whatever on food you don't like.
Omg. People do that?
Omg. People do that!
That seems like such an obvious thing but it would never occur to me to not finish dessert. Even a "not great" cupcake is better than no cupcake. My mom would have had a fit if she saw me throwing a piece of pie away. I certainly would not have been allowed to have something else. She is very much a "you've made your bed, now you have to lay in it." This is something that probably has been lurking in my subconscious. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.
Whether you eat it or throw it away, eventually, it all ends up in the same place...2 -
It helps if I remember I'm allergic to a common ingredient in desserts made from mixes or purchased from stores. Unless I want to break out in hives..... so all I know to do for people trying to maintain calorie control is take a lot of veg, a small portion of meat that's not fried, lots of water, and try to think about something else. I hate these gatherings because they're at the inlaws place and my inlaws are not real fun to be around. They have nothing to say but they ask nosy questions all day. And the thing lasts HOURS. Um.... hmm. Perhaps I need to plan ahead for a splitting migraine or something like that. I'd pay actual money to get to stay home lol.2
-
laurenebargar wrote: »MJ2victory wrote: »1. When possible, bring a dish that you know you can eat without stress and that tastes good to you. (ie: I am a mad woman around chips and dip so at my last potluck I brought a decadent white chicken chili that I could indulge on and use to keep myself a little distracted from the dip)
2. Fill half your plate with veggies or salad before adding other items
3. Be cognizant of your choices. Treat it like any other day. You might be tempted to have seconds or a few desserts but remind yourself that isn't your norm. It's just a normal day.
4. However: enjoy your indulgences! Let yourself have that delicious looking cupcake but luxuriate over it. Take a piece of pie and don't like it? Throw the rest away. Don't waste calories/whatever on food you don't like.
5. Give yourself a break. If you have an oopsie (I know I did with those chips and dip...) remind yourself that it's just one day. Someone once told me this: if you were baking a cake and an egg fell on the floor and broke, would you throw the rest of the eggs on the floor? In the same way, if you find you've overindulged, move past it into better choices.
6. Add in exercise! There's usually some opportunity to exercise at these things (a walk, frisbee, badmitten, etc) and it's a great time to do so!
7. water water water water water!
Actually your #4 is extremely helpful to me, I know people are getting caught up on this and thats not the point of this thread, however, thinking back on how many family parties ive been too where I ate something I didnt really enjoy, just because it was on my plate and I didnt want to feel rude. Its doing things like that, that got me overweight. Although obviously i'm still going to try to do that without offending anyone, knowing your calorie goals and not wasting them on something just because its there/ you dont want to offend someone is an obvious, yet brilliant suggestion.
First I take really, really small portions of unfamiliar food. I'll get more if it turns out I like it.
And since there are a lot more dishes, my "take more" portions are a lot smaller than at home when it's generally just one meat, one starch, one veg.2 -
Eat a healthy meal before you go so you aren't starving. Indulge a little just don't go crazy. Keep up with the exercise. No worries, enjoy!
3 -
^ This.sunsweet77 wrote: »Eat a healthy meal before you go so you aren't starving. Indulge a little just don't go crazy. Keep up with the exercise. No worries, enjoy!
I almost always have a protein shake (2 scoops of Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder, Double Rich Chocolate mixed with some PB2 and maybe some generic "benefiber") before I go anywhere that might entail "eating."
This helps me make sure I get the protein I need for the day in case there are not good choices and it also helps me feel more full so I do not eat as much "junk."
My wife is a great help by reminding me when it is time to leave etc. so I can plan accordingly.
The most annoying part of parties and the like to me -aside from the number of people who I have nothing in common with and no desire to talk to- is that I must tell some people multiple times "No thank you, I don't want to try your grandma's famous mayonnaise-macaroni salad" or whatever.
They just keep pushing. Oh, you have to try this... You can eat something.. Just a little of this and this...
It is almost like some of them are feeling guilty that they do not monitor what they eat so they want to see me gorge myself as a sort of vindication for their habits.
Many of them are the same sort of people that say I am "obsessive" because I stop shoveling food into my mouth long enough to log it in MFP.
"Obsessive is a word that the Lazy often use to describe the Dedicated."2 -
You certainly don't have to announce, "I'M THROWING AWAY THIS PIE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T TASTE GOOD," for heaven's sake. Too funny that people would rather waste calories on something they don't like than risk offending someone. Get a small portion until you know. You can be discreet. The napkin works. "I thought I could handle this but I'm so full" also works if you must make an announcement.
Sorry to continue to pull the thread into an unintended place. LOL1 -
I agree with bringing a healthy dish or two that you can enjoy, and just taking smaller portions of other dishes that you want to try. No need to try everything for the sake of being polite. If someone is really insistent you try something you could always say you're too full or, if you're comfortable with the person, ask to just try a bite of theirs.
Eating a small meal and drinking lots of water before the party helps too, so you're not ravenous by the time you get there.
But as others have said, even if you over-indulge, it's just one day. It won't erase all your efforts, and every day is a new opportunity to make better choices.1 -
MJ2victory wrote: »4. However: enjoy your indulgences! Let yourself have that delicious looking cupcake but luxuriate over it. Take a piece of pie and don't like it? Throw the rest away. Don't waste calories/whatever on food you don't like.
Omg. People do that?
Omg. People do that!
That seems like such an obvious thing but it would never occur to me to not finish dessert. Even a "not great" cupcake is better than no cupcake. My mom would have had a fit if she saw me throwing a piece of pie away. I certainly would not have been allowed to have something else. She is very much a "you've made your bed, now you have to lay in it." This is something that probably has been lurking in my subconscious. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.
Whether you eat it or throw it away, eventually, it all ends up in the same place...
I agree with the above, you can pick if you'd rather throw it in the actual trash can or throw it away in your body as extra calories that you don't need. You're body is not a trash can and you don't need to eat something to be polite if you don't like it. I always have to remind myself of this when I go to parties.4
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 394.1K Introduce Yourself
- 43.9K Getting Started
- 260.4K Health and Weight Loss
- 176.1K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.6K Fitness and Exercise
- 435 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153.1K Motivation and Support
- 8.1K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.4K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.9K MyFitnessPal Information
- 15 News and Announcements
- 1.2K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.7K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions