How do you maintain when others in your life eat badly?

When I first got sleeved, I lived alone and ate only the right things. It was easy because I knew what to buy, and I didn't buy anything that would temp me to go off my eating plan.

Well the weight loss ( which was exactly what I hoped) brought a new man into my life. He's great. He's also one of those people that eats all day long, and all evening long. He's gotten better about eating his candy bars in his car, on the way home from the store so he doesn't tempt me.

When he wanted  me to make cookies,  I  made him chocolate chip cookies and only had one bite of one.

What do you do to avoid temptation?  The people in our lives can't be expected to hide when they want to eat junk. Then there are those social engagements, where there's all that bad food floating around the party or BBQ or whatever.

I've heard brushing your teeth helps with the temptation to not have something, while someone around you is eating something you love .

What helps you keep that willpower?
thanks!

There's a reason women put on weight after they get married:  Men.  My mother cooks very differently, now, than when my dad was alive in terms of both portions and type of foods. She has always watched what she ate, but now it's easier because if she doesn't want to cook potatoes she doesn't.

Right now, for me, it's easy because I basically gave my husband an ultimatium recently that if he doesn't get his A1C under 6.5 he's going to have to find a divorce lawer.  It's a long story, but living with a young, healthy, non-obese diabetic can suck at times. 

It's a great question, though, and It's not a matter of willpower.  It's a matter of strategy. 

1) Cook 'adaptable' meals  that are VSG friendly. I do Protein, Veg and just enough starch for him (i.e., single baked potato).

2) Sweets & treats -- Easier to say no to with a diabetic, but I also tend to keep things in the house that I can eat like no sugar added Klondike bars.   As for baking.. I love to bake, and I'm an accomplished baker.  One of my degrees is in French Language/Literature. I discovered early on that French teachers/professors give extra credit for baked goods (not kidding, seriously).  I draw a line at baked goods except for really special occasions. If he wants cookies,  an eclair or a scone, he can buy one.

3) Make every bite count -- I tend to cook proteins that really satisfy my palate. I use a lot of spice, I don't skimp on fat or texture.  Curries without rice, etc., rock, for me.

4) Eating out - We have a sharing system. I get a second plate, take some protein, veg, he gets the rest.  .  I have food allergies, so sometimes sharing is not possible. I just appeter or soup, then, generally.

I hope that helps. 

Off topic but:  Fondest food memory of my childhood--our French neighbor spent all day making a Buche Noelle or French Christmas  tree log for us.  I have never tasted any desert as divine since.  I tried to make it once and it was, to say the least, not the same.  sigh..........

They are wonderful :) I did a Croque en Bouche for friends this year. It's kind of like a profiterole tower/xmas tree inside a carmel 'cage.' I fill the profiteroles with a rum pastry cream.  Not particularly VSG friendly, lol, but it's one of those 'Special' things I love to do partially because of the technical aspect of it. 

Dang, I wish we lived closer!  I would take French cooking lessons/baking lessons from you!  I live in Oregon...........sigh again.........

Everything that KrazydogLady said, and if I am really tempted, like while I am baking cookies, I put crest white strips on my teeth for the whole time i am preparing the food, otherwise I will be eating raw cookie dough like theres no tomorrow!

crest white strips are a great idea! I need to use them anyway.

Hope to hear some more responses. I tend to stay home if I am invited somewhere and I know there will be luscious deserts. I need a better plan of action!

I love the crest white strips idea! I have 5 kids, they don't eat like me. I keep gum in my kitchen, I chew it when I cook for them so I don't eat a bite of this or that without thinking. There are a few foods that I do not allow in my house though, like recess pb cups, rocky road ice cream etc. As for snacks, for their lunches etc, I buy things that don't interest me, like chips, or granola bars. They do eat somewhat healthy stuff though. I don't have a husband, they are way harder than kids because you can't really tell them what to eat as much. Men also love to have you join them in their eating, beer drinking, snacking etc. Maybe I will look for a man who had wl surgery, or a fitness buff!

If we are at a party, I will scout out what there is to eat and plan accordingly.  If there is something really decadent, I don't deprive myself.  I will have a couple bites but I will share with a family member or only take a tiny bit.  At bbq's where there is macaroni or potato salad, I will take a tablespoonfull but I make sure to eat my protein first and then just a bite of anything else.  

I believe we have to learn how to live in the real world and saying no to events because of food is just making food master over you.  You need to be master over it.  Since I am the primary grocery shopper, I don't buy things that I feel I or my family don't need.  I do buy snacks for my daughter's lunches but I don't go overboard and buy a bunch of junk.  If my husband wants something then he has to buy it.  I don't buy soda but if he wants it, he will.  

When I'm cooking and tempted to taste, I will make sure that I need to drink something.  Usually I set goals for myself for my water consumption.  I will make sure that I drink an entire glass of water before we are ready to eat dinner.  Thus, this also limits me from nibbling. Sometimes I have  a hard time getting all my water in so this is one trick I use.  

I don't really pay that much attention to what others eat. The worse that happens to me is dh is eating nuts on the couch and I have some too when I wasn't necessarily intending to. If I find myself going overboard on something in the house, I hide it. Out of sight, out of mind.

I did make some rules with my family. I don't buy candy, cookies, soda or chips and, if they want that stuff, they have to buy it themselves and keep it out of the house. I figure no one needs to eat that crap and they already get plenty when they aren't around me so it's not realy a hardship to have them not bring it into the house. Plus it's not likey NEVER buy it and bring it home. But they rarely do and most of it doesn't really tempt me anyway.