Question:
Does anyone do well with their eating plan but then blow it at a picnic?
In June, we went to several graduation parties, then July 4th picnics and now I have several birthday, bridal showers, and other miscellaneous picnics coming up that I have to and want to attend. I do well with my eating program during the week, but then really blow it at parties. Anyone else like this? Is this social anxiety? I am 21 months post and down about 130 pounds. I haven't regained anything and continue to follow the rules outside of the social scene. Immediately after the affair I'm right back on track, no problem. What's up with this behavior? Anyone else have this problem? How do you handle this? — Yolanda J. (posted on July 16, 2004)
July 16, 2004
When you say "blow it", do you overeat tremendously, or just eat
things you normally wouldn't? The fact that you get right back on track
says that you're not really "blowing it" but just stumbling a
little? I like to taste good things when I go to picnics and parties, but
I only eat a tiny bit of it - even though it's something I would never eat
during the week. I think you're entitled to a little treat here and there,
as long as it's not the norm and doesn't make you sick. A little weekend
sampling here and there isn't what got us in to trouble, it's probably
because we ate that way every day!
I don't mean to make light of the rules in any way, but it seems that you
keep yourself in line and are just enjoying the summer?
— ScottieB86
July 16, 2004
It depends on what you mean by blowing it? Do you eat three pieces of cake
and throw up? Or do you just try things that aren't a part of your normal
healthy eating plan? If it's the second one, and you know it's just a
temporary diversion, and you'll be back on the wagon the next day, then I
don't think it's a problem. The only caveat is if it makes you crave more
bad foods and you have trouble getting back to the healthy eating, then you
may have to be more careful. That's what happens to me sometimes. If
that's not happening to you, I wouldn't worry too much :)
— mom2jtx3
July 16, 2004
I don't sweat blowing it occassionally. Just don't make a habit of it. I
figure I pretty much eat NORMAL now. :)
— Danmark
July 16, 2004
I blow it every day! Are you at goal? If not, then stick to the meat and
proteins but let yourself have 1 treat. It's a party. Just don't treat or
eat all afternoon.
— mrsmyranow
July 16, 2004
I think it is a situation where old habits die hard. I am able to digest
most foods, and fairly large quantities. I follow the p"plan"
like you, most of the time. I have very hard time at parties, where food
is in front of me for the taking. I am a grazaholic when it is available.
I don't go looking for "bad" foods, but if I see them I eat them.
I struggle to stay within a 3-4 pound range if weight, and have spoken
with my surgeon about it. I am ty=rying my darnedest not to be one who
regains, and hope I will be successful. I try to get back on track and
weater log myself as soon as I get away from the situation.
— Fixnmyself
July 16, 2004
Hi yolanda! I am still pre-op, but it is very encouraging to see how well
this surgery worked for you in gaining control over your eating! The fact
that you are diciplined enough to get back on track after your "weak
moments" and not let yourself gain weight back really shows the
difference in someone post - op and someone pre - op. I think that this
behavior shows what a huge success you are!!!
— jennifer S.
July 17, 2004
Hi Yolanda....I too have a hard time when out, and night time is hard for
me too. I do really 98% of the time. I tell myslef that I had surgery to
gain a normal healthy life. I feel that eating things we shouldn't is
normal once in ahwile at special occasions. I don't eat crap all day
everyday...but at a birthday party I will have a sliver of cake, or a few
bites of ice cream. On days I know that I will be headed out to somewhere
where I will be tempted, I make sure I am good all day and get all my
protein in before going out. I am almost 1 year post op, and have lost 132
pounds, 15 pounds from goal. I think what you are going through is
normal!!!!! Just be as good as you can most of the time...and I think
you'll be fine!!!!
— jennap
July 17, 2004
I believe this is one of those topics where everyone has a different
opinion and you need to do what you feel comfortable with. For me
personally, I do eat things that I normally do not when ever I go to a get
together, or social thing. I do not eat a whole lot of it, but I do not
deprive myself either. I told myself that I want to eat like a thin
person, and I know many thin people that will have a taste of this or a
little bite of that. If I start to regain my weight then it will have to be
something that I reconsider,but again I think it's up to the individual.
— Geralyn
July 17, 2004
What do you mean by "blow"? Eat everything in sight? Or just
stick a couple toes over the line? I'm far from perfect. I allow a couple
of completely blown days per year (that's all things I normally avoid,
eaten in a grazing way vs the meal format I prefer) and that's Xmas,
Thanksgiving and 4th of July (my fave). The coupla toes over the line
happen at, as you say, big parties or celebrations where the food available
is not what is normally available to me. The rest of the time, I am pretty
stuck to my formula. If I have transgressed enough to trigger a guilt
thing, I just do more protein shakes than normal and eat a little more
frugally for a few days. Now, mind you, we are talking a total of about a
dozen events per year, not a weekly binge. But that's how I manage to keep
myself both sane and at my desired weight. (OK, as sane as *I* ever get,
anyway)
— vitalady
July 19, 2004
I went to a birthday party yesterday. I brought my own Dr. Atkin's vanilla
ice cream, so I didn't feel like I was deprived. I told the host that I am
allergic to cake. When asked what it will do if I ate some, I told them
that I would break out in very bad fat patches! A little laugh and nothing
else was said. Everyone understood!
As far as the picnic thing, take your own food - why set yourself up to go
down a path that has taken you so long to get off of? Or another way I do
the picnic is...we went to a church picnic a couple of Sundays ago, I had a
plastic teaspoon, and so I got to "taste" the foods that I
wanted, as long as it was only one teaspoon size portion! The key is not
to feel like you are the only person in the room not being able to
"eat like a regular person". Good luck, Danette
— Danette C.
July 19, 2004
I went to a birthday party yesterday. I brought my own Dr. Atkin's vanilla
ice cream, so I didn't feel like I was deprived. I told the host that I am
allergic to cake. When asked what it will do if I ate some, I told them
that I would break out in very bad fat patches! A little laugh and nothing
else was said. Everyone understood!
As far as the picnic thing, take your own food - why set yourself up to go
down a path that has taken you so long to get off of? Or another way I do
the picnic is...we went to a church picnic a couple of Sundays ago, I had a
plastic teaspoon, and so I got to "taste" the foods that I
wanted, as long as it was only one teaspoon size portion! The key is not
to feel like you are the only person in the room not being able to
"eat like a regular person". Good luck, Danette
— Danette C.
July 19, 2004
I know I sound like a broken record, but what do you mean by "blowing
it"? I like to sample stuff at picnics/parties, just ensure that it
is in small amounts. No guilt. Since you get right back on track after
the affair and have not regained, you must be doing a good job of
balancing. At 21 months post-op, I'd say you are doing well. I try to
balance too. I try to eat healthy small meals during the day so that I can
have some sweet treats every day. If I keep up the exercise, it works.
And when I do gain, and I do, a slight adjustment is usually all it takes
to turn it around. Enjoy yourself at these social functions, just don't go
overboard and keep an eye on the scale. Thats called normal.
— Cindy R.
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