Dealing with social events...
temsabi
Posts: 45 Member
So my sister graduated college, my boyfriend just had major surgery (and since I have Irish roots we had a party to celebrate), friends are having goodbye parties, other friends are getting married, and the Giants are back in season. I haven't gone to my exercise class in a week now. I can feel all the weight I lost creeping back on. I'm afraid to weigh myself.
All you party people out there: how do you do it? Spring and summer are full of celebrations (and more importantly, cocktails!) and I can't *not* partake in the festivities. I keep promising myself that after this week things will be back to normal, but it's so easy to get discouraged. How does everyone take time to celebrate with family and friends while also counting calories? MFP says I'm supposed to stick to 1,200 calories a day in order to lose a pound a week but I just can't do it--by the end of the day I'm always hungry, though when I do stick to that limit I find the weight really does fly off... but then that would mean no fun food. Ever.
Help--what are your motivational pointers?! How do you keep the calories down while at parties?
All you party people out there: how do you do it? Spring and summer are full of celebrations (and more importantly, cocktails!) and I can't *not* partake in the festivities. I keep promising myself that after this week things will be back to normal, but it's so easy to get discouraged. How does everyone take time to celebrate with family and friends while also counting calories? MFP says I'm supposed to stick to 1,200 calories a day in order to lose a pound a week but I just can't do it--by the end of the day I'm always hungry, though when I do stick to that limit I find the weight really does fly off... but then that would mean no fun food. Ever.
Help--what are your motivational pointers?! How do you keep the calories down while at parties?
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Replies
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It's sooo hard. Just work to break even. Try to sqeeze in some sort of quick workout and strength training. Don't go to these parties hungry and aim for the lighter stuff. Stay away from the margarita's and blended drinks- way too many calories. BYOB if you want to keep the calories low or mix your wine with diet Sprite.
Don't give up!!0 -
1st: 1200 cals a day is ridiulous. You should be eating more than that, probably more like around 1800 to 2100.
But, besides that, I will eat before I go, so I'm full. Then when I get there, I just tell them that I was really hungry and had to eat, so, that's it. Then, I just drink. I don't hold back on the drinking at parties. You have to live your life, ya know.
That's it. Simple.
The important thing about get-together, parties, and all that is to never ever snack. That's the killer, all the chips and dips and olives and crackers and cheese, that stuff adds up really quick. Just aviod it all. Don't do it. If you're hungry, just have a small plate of food, but no snacks.0 -
I'm interested in any helpful comments because I'm the same. I can be pretty good all week and then the weekend hits and it's parties, eating out, snacking at home (eek!), just extra food that I don't normally eat. But it messed up my weight loss efforts from the good week. It's a never ending cycle.
My guess is I just have to be more careful on the weekend and not let the overindulgences get too unmanageable. I need to find that balance. How much more calories can I eat on the weekend and still manage a good loss for the week?
Good luck to us!
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Be the person who brings the crudite (veggie tray).0
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Practice self control. Bring snacks or eat BEFORE you go these places so you can nibble while you're there, but not pig out.0
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How I have done it is to plan one cheat meal per week. If I know an event or party is coming up, I save it for that. If I don't have a cheat available, I eat before I go-- I usually can resist if I'm not hungry. I put food in my purse and eat it when I need it-- whether it's chicken, cucumbers, celery or a baggie of protein powder that I can shake up with water.
Make the events more about enjoying being around people and socializing than about the food. Really shifts your mindset! How bad to you want to look good in a bikini?0 -
When I stopped drinking I used plenty of "excuses" to explain why wasn't drinking. The best one is probably to tell them that you have to drive. None of my friends would ever question my decision not to drink and drive. Another good one is to tell them your taking allergy medication (which I actully was some of the time, but not all) and I cannot be mixed with alcohol.0
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Eat before you go to the event and only eat the veggies and fruit....find the lowest calorie meat you can...bbq is killer for sodium...bring your own sandwich. Drink water rather rather than the adult beverages. Are people really paying that much attention to what you are or are not eating? Other than my grandma saying that there's plenty and that I should eat more, I don't get any comments about how much or little I eat.0
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Honestly, I just have to eat smaller portions and try my best not to have any desserts. Even if you just break even, at least you aren't gaining.
I went home for Christmas and thought I'd gain 100 pounds but ended up losing some because I practiced lots of self control. I only had a small portion of mashed potatos instead of the three servings I'd normally have. I also loaded up on vegetables and forced myself to eat them first so I didn't eat tons of ham and steak and other stuff.
For dessert I just shared a piece of pie with my mom since we both watch what we eat. And of course drank water instead of any soda 0 -
It is hard but like someond else said, eat healthy snacks before you go to social events AND get in a good workout before. I tend to lose more weight during summer because I am much more active. I prefer having gatherings at my house where I can be in control of the food and drinks. I like making healthier versions of everything. You just have to learn to choose wisely. You can still enjoy yummy foods, but in smaller quantities, as well as drinks.
Good luck and if you want to give yourself some leeway, working out is key!!0 -
MFP says I'm supposed to stick to 1,200 calories a day in order to lose a pound a week but I just can't do it--by the end of the day I'm always hungry, though when I do stick to that limit I find the weight really does fly off... but then that would mean no fun food. Ever.
I'm no expert, but I've found this group to be helpful: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/3817-eat-more-to-weigh-less
I don't know your sizes, but I'm 5'3" and 120 lbs. Eating to maintain, not lose weight, puts me at 1600-1700 calories per day. And I'm not even super-active. Check out the resources there if you want, to learn more about the fuel your body needs each day, etc. http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/ is a great tool to use to see where you should be eating.
As for parties... I can never control myself haha but I do try to stick with the veggie trays and I try to stay away from any dip that's not salsa (i.e. chip-dip, crab dip, ranch veggie dip) because they're usually pull of empty calories and fat (especially if they are mayonnaise-based).
Good luck!0 -
I forgot about the cheat meal thing. Yeah, you could just make a day for a cheat meal once a week. I used to do that. If I knew I was going to a friends BBQ on a Saturday, I would just make that a cheat day and eat whatever I want. Seriously, you will not gain weight from it.0
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Just make better food choices smaller portions and get back on track the next day.0
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I would eat at home before going to a social event and then come for the party, not the food.0
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Be the person who brings the crudite (veggie tray).
This!! I always bring a tray of veggies or fruit to gatherings and if its a party where all of the food is supplied, I eat as much veggies /greens as I can and then look for a lean protein source. I totally have to stay away from the dips and chips! I also try not to go hungry, and drink moderately (generally Vodka and club soda or Captain and diet coke. (Mixed with a lot of water in between drinks.)
Try to get more excersise on the days when you know there is something tempting coming.
You can totally do this!!0 -
I just try a tiny taste of everything and then maybe go back for seconds of whatever was my favorite!0
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you cold drink one glass of red wine and drink it slowly, or what I usually do is drink a tall glass of water plus white vodka (not a lot) and squeeze in some lime for flavor. Its not sweet, is fairly low in calories, and lasts a long time.0
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1st: 1200 cals a day is ridiulous. You should be eating more than that, probably more like around 1800 to 2100.
But, besides that, I will eat before I go, so I'm full. Then when I get there, I just tell them that I was really hungry and had to eat, so, that's it. Then, I just drink. I don't hold back on the drinking at parties. You have to live your life, ya know.
That's it. Simple.
The important thing about get-together, parties, and all that is to never ever snack. That's the killer, all the chips and dips and olives and crackers and cheese, that stuff adds up really quick. Just aviod it all. Don't do it. If you're hungry, just have a small plate of food, but no snacks.
This is really great advice. I like to make light party food, check out Hungry Gril's site http://www.hungry-girl.com/chew she makes light cocktails and great appetizers and you can just bring some along so you don't feel left out of the fun!0 -
If you know you're going to party at night, eat light all day, but eat a lot-- just eat a *kitten*-ton of veggies. All day. That way you'll probably end up stuffed but with 1000 calories to spend.
Pretty much go buy everything on sale from the produce section, eat it raw chopped up small with lemon and salt, make a soup out of it, whatever.
Then at the party get a small plate and fill it once, eat it slowly; have one of your favorite drink, then fizzy water for the rest of the night.
Or... you could always do a massive workout in the morning, really wear yourself out, take a nap, shower, and eat your butt off at the party cuz you earned it 0 -
If this is a buffet setup, have one plate of maybe a couple of foods and that's it. Spend the rest of the time as far away from the food as possible.0
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Wow, thanks for all the great tips! Apart from weddings, my friends are the restaurant types (we live in small apartments!) so snacking isn't the issue for me (I trained myself to stay away from snack food a loooonnnggg time ago, thank goodness!), but it's showing up at a restaurant where, yes, people expect you to eat, but I really have no clue how many calories I'm actually consuming. And I'm one of those people who, if I order only a salad at a restaurant, ends up feeling bitter about life. Not to say people who order salads should feel bitter, I just have this weird complex about salads in restaurants, like I'm missing out on something...
I really like the idea of filling up on veggies beforehand, I guess I just have to plan ahead better--but even then with my calorie allowance having broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower with dip still dips into my numbers quite a bit--it's frustrating! Also, red wine sounds like a much better bet for me if I'm trying to be good...the only problem is my sweet tooth is a very powerful voice in my head! It will definitely take some inner-strength to go for the red wine instead of the margarita! I try to stay away from diet drinks but it may be worth it to mix a bit of diet sprite with wine to help my cravings, thanks
Also, with the 1,200 calories: I work a desk job, so it doesn't shock me the numbers are so low. It would be nice to be able to have more than a latte and bran muffin for breakfast without worrying that I've already ruined my chances for staying within my calorie goal for the day. I'll definitely check-out those Eat More to Weigh Less posts, thank you!!0 -
Parties are the one place I have been able to practice self-control (my weight problem stemmed from bored eating at home). Some tips I've found useful:
1. Drink a tall glass of water before going to the party, or make it your first 'drink' when you get there. Not only will you feel more full, but you'll be hydrated in advance of having alcohol.
2. Pick and choose. You don't need to try every single thing there. Peruse the spread before sampling anything, and decide which things you MUST eat (for me it's shrimp, because I don't get to have it at home) and what you can pass on this time (Auntie Em's lasagna, which I've had a million times).
3. If it's a buffet or a sit-down party, make only ONE plate of food. Do not go back for seconds. This is actually my main strategy. If it doesn't fit on my plate, then I don't eat it. Exceptions to this are raw veggies, salad that isn't soaked in dressing, and steamed vegetables (all-I-can-eat asparagus, woohoo!).
4. When it's time for dessert, follow rules 2 and 3 with one major change--use a much smaller plate. Again, seconds are okay if it's, say, fresh fruit. But don't go back for more of those chocolate-covered peanut butter balls.
5. Someone else mentioned this already--try not to focus on the food while you're there. The party is usually about the company, not what you're eating.
6. Regarding alcohol: I don't drink, so personally it's not an issue for me. However I know I'm in the minority. So do what my family does. When you arrive (and AFTER you've had your water, lol), choose a drink that you can nurse for most of the evening. Even a high-calorie drink can make less of an impact if you're spreading it out throughout the evening. Bloody marys are good for this, as is red wine. Bonus--you drink less without giving it up entirely, and less chance of getting drunk!
7. Last, don't be afraid to tell the host/hostess (BEFORE the party, by calling or taking them aside) that you're watching what you eat!! Everyone's family is different but I find that mine is VERY supportive of my weight loss. Make it clear that you're still going to enjoy everything but that you're reducing how MUCH you eat. My MIL used to ask us all if we had enough and would be really upset if she thought we were still hungry. Sometimes we'd get more food out of guilt! Now, though, she understands what we're doing, and the insistence on seconds has disappeared. She sees us still enjoying ourselves, and she also knows we don't require special foods or anything, and it's made her relax more.
These guidelines have served me well for every party, wedding, get-together, and buffet I've ever gone to. When I break a rule, I FEEL it. Try them out and I hope it helps you!
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I can't not partake at celebrations either. I think keeping up exercise is the key. Get up earlier if you have to, but get in an intense workout. And when you are not celebrating, eat a little lighter than usual. Since you know there will be high calorie days, have low calorie days so that the calories average out over several days.0
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I don't think anyone mentioned this yet, but EXERCISE!!!! The more you exercise the more you can eat!0
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My mother in law always has everyone crowded around her chips and dip in the kitchen, which is separate from the rest of the house. So either I sit alone in the other room away from the food or I bring a huge tray of veggies and dip. When I do that is usually the thing that gets eaten first by everyone. Also since it is summer it is easier to put out a variety of fruit and veggies.
Of course add an extra workout into your day that day and maybe the day after just for safe measure.
Enjoy your alcohol just set a small limit before you leave for the party. I know when I break the 2 drink limit, its on like Donkey Kong. So I set mine limit right there at 2 drinks for the day. Saves a lot of cals. Unless of course it is a SUPER special occasion, say your siblings wedding or something like that.0 -
are you adding exercise calories to your 1200 base calories? 1200 should be your starting point...then add on the exercise calories. At least doing this will give you a little buffer room for parties There are always going to be parties or special events where food is involved. You are wise to learn how to live amongst the parties and adapt accordingly (instead of going off the deep end or avoiding the special events)...this is a life style) 0
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are you adding exercise calories to your 1200 base calories? 1200 should be your starting point...then add on the exercise calories. At least doing this will give you a little buffer room for parties There are always going to be parties or special events where food is involved. You are wise to learn how to live amongst the parties and adapt accordingly (instead of going off the deep end or avoiding the special events)...this is a life style)
I am adding exercise to this, but it's still hard
In all I average around 1,500-1,600/day, but most days I don't have time for exercise because of my work schedule. When I can I go to Zumba after work, but I also have other commitments after work that make it so I can't fit exercise into my schedule everyday without becoming a cranky, sleep-deprived witch. I love the days when I Zumba because it really does help me have a better outlook on my body and life, there just isn't enough time in the day for everything. If only I could quit my job... 0
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