Dieting is no reason to stop living. Sadly though, for most of us dieting and maintaining an active social life seem to be two contradicting factors.
The dilemma of “how do I stay on my diet and still meet my friends for Friday night drinks?” is one that tugs at the hearts of all dieters. The key to overcoming this dilemma lies in learning to alter the unhealthy social and psychological habits most of us fall into when attempting to shed the pounds.
Establish a Healthy Relationship with Food
From an early age we are conditioned to associate food with friends, family and all other things that make us feel special and loved. It is no wonder that as adults we often reward and comfort ourselves with food. In order to establish a healthy relationship with food we need to consciously evaluate our relationship with it, identify any unhealthy factors in our perception of food and attempt to unlearn those perceptions. For example, when at a friend’s birthday party ask yourself, “Do I really need to eat three slices of cake in order to enjoy the company of my friends?” Most of us never consciously ask ourselves this question. But, if you were to ask, the answer would most likely be “no” and you could participate in the celebration without sabotaging your diet.
Learn to Eat Out
You can not always control the eating establishments your friends and family choose. However, by being smart about how you navigate your way through these situations you will be able to have a pleasant experience with your friends and family without ruining your diet. If you end up at an all-you-can-eat buffet sit with your back to the buffet so you can minimize cravings and impulsive eating. It is also possible to control portion sizes at such restaurants by using the smaller salad plates. Almost all restaurants today, including fast food restaurants, have a diet-friendly menu. The meals on these diet-friendly menus often contain smaller portions and diet-friendly alternatives such as grilled chicken instead of fried chicken. When ordering your food don’t be shy about asking the waiters to hold the mayo and place the salad dressing on the side. Utilize these menus to your advantage when dining out with friends and family so that you can enjoy a guilt-free outing.
Dress the Body You Possess Today
Does this sound familiar? “I don’t feel like going out tonight. I have nothing to wear. Everything is either too tight or too loose. Next month, when I loose these stubborn last ten pounds I will go shopping and buy some decent clothes so I can go out with friends or visit my family”. The truth of the matter is that you may or may not be ten pounds lighter next month. The anticipation of loosing weight in the future should not prevent you from dressing the body you possess today. What most people don’t realize is that even if you were to loose ten pounds this would not compel you to throw out your entire wardrobe. At best, you would need to take your skirts and pants to a reputable tailor and have the tailor take the clothing in a couple of inches. This would end up costing you far less than purchasing a new wardrobe.
Inform Friends and Family Members of your Diet Efforts
Almost all of us have been on a diet at one point or another. Whether the goal of the diet has been to lose weight or gain weight we can all relate to those actively dieting. Therefore, don’t be shy about sharing your diet efforts with friends and family. Celebrate weight loss milestones with them and you just might be surprised at the amount of encouragement and support they will give you.
Don’t Be Too Hard on Yourself
During every diet there are times when you will give into temptation and have a piece of your favorite pie or a third beer with friends. This is no reason to abandon your diet efforts. In fact such discretion during dieting is necessary because it helps prevent cravings.
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