social life getting in the way of healthy eating

jenn5686
jenn5686 Posts: 16 Member
edited November 12 in Health and Weight Loss
Ugh this is my biggest problem lately. There's always something to do whether it be a work event, dinner with friends, a family party, etc. It's so hard to stay under 1200 calories when I'm not planning out every single thing I eat and making all of my meals & snacks at home. My boyfriend wants me to come to a hockey game on Saturday and I'm actually considering not going b/c I know it is going to involve eating crap food. I hate being that difficult one who is making a fuss about where we eat b/c it's not healthy. Even if you go out and get a salad its more than likely a lot more calories than if you made it at home. I've been lenient in the fact that I allow myself to go over 1200 calories some days, but lately I feel like it's more often than it should be.

Replies

  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    Ugh this is my biggest problem lately. There's always something to do whether it be a work event, dinner with friends, a family party, etc. It's so hard to stay under 1200 calories when I'm not planning out every single thing I eat and making all of my meals & snacks at home. My boyfriend wants me to come to a hockey game on Saturday and I'm actually considering not going b/c I know it is going to involve eating crap food. I hate being that difficult one who is making a fuss about where we eat b/c it's not healthy. Even if you go out and get a salad its more than likely a lot more calories than if you made it at home. I've been lenient in the fact that I allow myself to go over 1200 calories some days, but lately I feel like it's more often than it should be.

    1) Striving to be under 1200 calories might be too low for you.
    2) Is it possible for you to go out with friends, or go to a hockey game, and not eat?
  • sjeagle30
    sjeagle30 Posts: 292 Member
    Ugh this is my biggest problem lately. There's always something to do whether it be a work event, dinner with friends, a family party, etc. It's so hard to stay under 1200 calories when I'm not planning out every single thing I eat and making all of my meals & snacks at home. My boyfriend wants me to come to a hockey game on Saturday and I'm actually considering not going b/c I know it is going to involve eating crap food. I hate being that difficult one who is making a fuss about where we eat b/c it's not healthy. Even if you go out and get a salad its more than likely a lot more calories than if you made it at home. I've been lenient in the fact that I allow myself to go over 1200 calories some days, but lately I feel like it's more often than it should be.

    I understand where you are coming from. I am just going to plan ahead for events like this that come up. My boyfriend wants to go out to eat at Famous Daves tonight and being I just started I was going to say no but inestead i just looked up the menu online and have my meal planned out before we go so I know I will stay within my calories. I have 4 weekends of parties coming up that start at the end of the month and im hoping to have some discipline by then so I can choose wisely. It will be hard and take some getting used to but I think just planning ahead for the events is the key.
  • jenn5686
    jenn5686 Posts: 16 Member
    Eh I'd rather not go at all if I have to sit there watching everyone drink beers and scarf down food. I have very little will power. Suppose that's what I need to work out. That's how I ended up gaining 10lbs in the first place!
    Ugh this is my biggest problem lately. There's always something to do whether it be a work event, dinner with friends, a family party, etc. It's so hard to stay under 1200 calories when I'm not planning out every single thing I eat and making all of my meals & snacks at home. My boyfriend wants me to come to a hockey game on Saturday and I'm actually considering not going b/c I know it is going to involve eating crap food. I hate being that difficult one who is making a fuss about where we eat b/c it's not healthy. Even if you go out and get a salad its more than likely a lot more calories than if you made it at home. I've been lenient in the fact that I allow myself to go over 1200 calories some days, but lately I feel like it's more often than it should be.

    1) Striving to be under 1200 calories might be too low for you.
    2) Is it possible for you to go out with friends, or go to a hockey game, and not eat?
  • cbear017
    cbear017 Posts: 345 Member
    Ugh this is my biggest problem lately. There's always something to do whether it be a work event, dinner with friends, a family party, etc. It's so hard to stay under 1200 calories when I'm not planning out every single thing I eat and making all of my meals & snacks at home. My boyfriend wants me to come to a hockey game on Saturday and I'm actually considering not going b/c I know it is going to involve eating crap food. I hate being that difficult one who is making a fuss about where we eat b/c it's not healthy. Even if you go out and get a salad its more than likely a lot more calories than if you made it at home. I've been lenient in the fact that I allow myself to go over 1200 calories some days, but lately I feel like it's more often than it should be.

    1) Striving to be under 1200 calories might be too low for you.
    2) Is it possible for you to go out with friends, or go to a hockey game, and not eat?

    These ^^^ are two very valid suggestions. #1 is probably more realistic for you. BTW, how tall are you and what is your current weight? Use this info to figure out what a realistic calorie deficit should be for you.
  • jenn5686
    jenn5686 Posts: 16 Member
    I'm 5'1 and 138 lbs. I just want to get down to 130 and then take it from there.
    Ugh this is my biggest problem lately. There's always something to do whether it be a work event, dinner with friends, a family party, etc. It's so hard to stay under 1200 calories when I'm not planning out every single thing I eat and making all of my meals & snacks at home. My boyfriend wants me to come to a hockey game on Saturday and I'm actually considering not going b/c I know it is going to involve eating crap food. I hate being that difficult one who is making a fuss about where we eat b/c it's not healthy. Even if you go out and get a salad its more than likely a lot more calories than if you made it at home. I've been lenient in the fact that I allow myself to go over 1200 calories some days, but lately I feel like it's more often than it should be.

    1) Striving to be under 1200 calories might be too low for you.
    2) Is it possible for you to go out with friends, or go to a hockey game, and not eat?

    These ^^^ are two very valid suggestions. #1 is probably more realistic for you. BTW, how tall are you and what is your current weight? Use this info to figure out what a realistic calorie deficit should be for you.
  • daffodilsoup
    daffodilsoup Posts: 1,972 Member
    Can you pack a granola bar or something in your purse for the game, and then maybe get a big soda or something? If you want this to be a lifestyle change, then ultimately you have to confront your weaknesses and figure out how to overcome them - otherwise, nothing will change.

    When you go out with friends, choose healthy options, or pre-log. I volunteer to be the designated driver when my friends and I go out, so I'm not pressured into drinking (also because drunk me doesn't really like limits).

    Figure out what your weaknesses are and try to plan for them.
  • Phrak
    Phrak Posts: 353 Member
    You say your willpower is weak, why not improve on it and exercise willpower at the hockey game? I was like you at the start, id not go for fear of over consuming. Now watching people eat an drink no longer phases me, i dont let social outtings sabotage my goals anymore.
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    i dont let social outtings sabotage my goals anymore.

    Except for your pants buying goals.
  • cbear017
    cbear017 Posts: 345 Member
    Sidesteal is really knowledgable about this stuff but I'll give it a shot.

    Since I don't know your body fat percentage I used the Mifflin-St Jeor method of calculating your TDEE. Anyhow, according to this your Basal Metabolic Rate is 1309, which multiplied by an activity factor of 1.3 (slightly active) gives you a TDEE of 1702 (maintenace, or what you'd need to consume to maintain your current weight).

    At the most you'll want to cut 20%, which puts you at a daily caloric intake of 1362. At 15%, which IMO is more realistic, it'll be 1447. If you multiply it by 7 to give you your weekly TDEE this might give you more freedom. For example, let's assume you go with 1447. This would give you a weekly TDEE of 10129. You could consume 1200 calories per day Monday to Friday and Sunday and then have 'spike day' of sorts on Saturdays to accomodate your social events and that would give you about 2929 for that one day. It's just another option.
  • _VoV
    _VoV Posts: 1,494 Member
    Sometimes when I'm forced into situations with food options that are suboptimal for my fitness and weight loss goals, I try to psych myself into thinking that these aren't real foods. I will try to conjure up images of these foods being fed to animals on the feedlot to fatten them up, and think: "Is that something I really want?" I keep my thoughts internal, so I don't spoil the fun for anyone else.

    This mental imagery technique can be used in a lot of different ways. Anything that creates a bad association in your mind works. Also, I second bringing something from home that you know fits into your planned day. I'm not a diet soda drinker, but give me some nice seltzer water on tap, and I'm happy.
  • WickedGarden
    WickedGarden Posts: 944 Member
    I also have this problem, I go out with my friends and they like to eat out...a LOT. So I workout in the morning, and have my protein drink. Then snack on veggies for lunch and when dinner comes around, I pick out lighter things to eat, or share something with someone else. "Hey I'll share half a hot dog with you" I still get to indulge a bit, but also am still watching calories.

    I drink water/seltzer water. Pack some of those 100 calorie snack packs with you, or take a container of almonds, you don't *have* to spend outrageous amounts of money on crappy food.
  • jenn5686
    jenn5686 Posts: 16 Member
    Yea it's the same with my boyfriend. He loves to go out for dinner. I love it too but I realize going out to eat 3x a week isn't an option for me if I'm trying to lose weight.
    I also have this problem, I go out with my friends and they like to eat out...a LOT. So I workout in the morning, and have my protein drink. Then snack on veggies for lunch and when dinner comes around, I pick out lighter things to eat, or share something with someone else. "Hey I'll share half a hot dog with you" I still get to indulge a bit, but also am still watching calories.

    I drink water/seltzer water. Pack some of those 100 calorie snack packs with you, or take a container of almonds, you don't *have* to spend outrageous amounts of money on crappy food.
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