BBQ's, Ball games and patios...oh my!!

[scotchcanada]

Summer time and bbq's are KILLING me, not to mention the baseball game I was at the other night. I'm sorry - but it's kinda hard to hard to pass up beer and a ballpark dog on a beautiful summer night!!

Needless to say....my frustration is my own fault. I eat so well most of day during work, and most week nights. I stopped having any sort of casual alcoholic beverages and TRY to stick to one night a weekend to indulge.

Anybody have any advice for turning down some of the most fun things to indulge in when they are staring you in the face all night? I'm good for an hour, but then I crumble and hit the spinach dips, taco dips, and all the other dips typical of a classic bbq. I'm no stranger to a rib or two either.

I feel like losing 20lbs required total lock down and I'm just not sure I have the will power for it - especially during the summer (after a LOOOOOOOONG winter).

[Michi702]

Hi Scotch - I feel your pain! We have a lot of cook outs coming up and I feel like as hard as I try to avoid it all, the social aspect of it can be too much to forgo.

My suggestion is that on nights when you know you're going to have a game or cookout, build a hot dog and some other treats into your daily allowance (whether it's calorie counting, WW, or whichever plan you're following). You might have to eat a little lighter in the day and you won't be able to have all the cook out food you want, but part of the diet/lifestyle change is that you have to learn to enjoy everything in moderation.

Another suggestion for offsetting nights where you go off plan and eat a lot of calories would be to work in more exercise that or the next day. A hot dog with bun typically clocks in around 270 calories, which for me translates into at least a half hour doing mild aerobics. Something else to consider, if you have the luxury of bringing your own food, is to try a turkey or chicken hot dog. I think they taste almost exactly like a regular hot dog and they can be half or less of the calories of a plain dog.

Good luck with your goal and you can do it!

[mortonpixie]

Unfortunately - vigilance like that will garner you with the "health nut" among your friends. Though, on the flip side, it's harder to stray when everyone looks to you for the "right" choice!

You know what you need to do - make your choice!

[scotchcanada]

I know - it's all about choices!! I will pray for willpower - and it will be tested THIS weekend. I'm going to definitely be on high alert and try my hardest.

Michi702 - I definitely will take your advice and try to exercise more (or harder) on those days and save my calories for the event. It's things we all know we SHOULD do, but when someone puts it in writing, it makes you feel embarrassed not to...so thanks!