By Tina Haupert
Before finding my Feel Great Weight, much of my social life revolved around food-focused get-togethers with friends. My calendar always seemed to be packed with birthday dinners, barbecues, and Sunday brunches. At these events, it was difficult to stick to my diet because I saw my friends feasting on fattening foods and gulping-down cocktails. Needless to say, the more active my social life became, the more pounds I piled on.
When I began my weight-loss journey, I worried that it would be hard to shed the pounds without shedding some of my less-than-healthy friends. But I also knew that it wouldn't be any fun to fit into my skinny jeans if I could only wear them at home, alone and friendless.
At first, my friends were not at all supportive of my weight-loss efforts and continued to tempt me with rounds of cocktails and fatty appetizers at happy hour. Most of the time, I ended up caving in and indulging. My friends were my diet's worst enemies! I soon realized that if I didn't make some changes to my social life, I would never lose weight. But I also didn't want to choose between my friends and having a waistline. Here's what I did.
Pay attention
It's a great joy for me to share a meal or a few cocktails with my friends, but when I dined with them, I often lost track of how much I ate. In the excitement of conversation, I didn't notice how many tortilla chips I'd eaten or if I was on my second (or third) dinner roll. Lingering at the table didn't help either: the longer I stayed at the table, the more I ate. I'd order another beer, snack on a plate of cold french fries, or finish off a friend's brownie sundae. Now, when I am finished eating, I put my napkin (and any other trash, like a straw wrapper) on top of my plate. It signals to the server that he can take away my plate, plus it stops me from picking at it. I never want to eat off a plate with garbage on it!
I also try to pace myself with the slowest eater at the table, which helps me pay attention to how much I am eating instead of wolfing down my food without a second thought. And I make my cocktails last forever by taking little sips instead of big gulps. Sometimes I'll drink them so slowly that they become warm and unappetizing. It's so much easier to abandon a lukewarm beer than an ice-cold one!
friends-diet-200.jpg and encouraged me to succeed. I started by copying their healthy habits, which helped with my own weight-loss efforts.
Gradually, our get-togethers became less food-focused. We attended yoga classes, went hiking, played tennis, and took day trips to nearby destinations. And if we decided to grab a bite to eat, it wasn't greasy bar food. Instead, we'd enjoy a nonfat latte or a single glass of wine with a light dish. These friends were good for my health!
Be a role model
My healthy friends helped me discover new eating patterns, diets, and exercise, and soon I wanted to share my newly formed habits with others. I started making gym dates and walking daily with my coworkers on our lunch break. Inevitably, our exercise talks centered on healthy living, which was the perfect way for me to share my own tips and advice. Having friends rely on me was also a huge motivator to keep me on track with my weight loss. I wanted to set a good example for others! Starting my food blog was also a fun and creative way to keep me accountable for what I ate.
Don't make excuses
From the beginning, I was open and honest with my pals about my desire to lose weight. While at first my friends were not supportive, eventually they respected my desire to get healthy. Even though I appreciated my friends' support, losing weight really came down to what worked best for me. My new healthy habits were lifelong changes that paid off in the end.
Read Tina's daily food and fitness blog, Carrots 'N' Cake.