For the most part, I plan on just relaxing and enjoying the holiday season. If I gain weight, well...I lost it once, I can lose it again. I do plan to keep up with my exercise, but that's just a given for me. The only time I don't exercise is if I'm sick or injured.
But if I am trying to stay on track at parties, here are my strategies:
1. Grab a non-alcoholic beverage as soon as I arrive and hang onto it the entire time. It's hard to eat and hold a beverage at the same time. Also, if I have a beverage, people are less likely to wonder why I'm not eating.
2. Don't stand by the buffet, food table, etc. Especially don't sit at a table that has a bunch of food on it.
3. Talk to people. It's also hard to eat and talk at the same time. I've been at parties where I've intended to eat more and didn't because I ended up in a long conversation with someone.
4. Load up on salad and crudites.
5. Don't arrive at the party hungry.
6. Remind myself that this party is not my only chance to eat decadent foods. Often when I see all the yummy looking foods at parties, my first thought is that I ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO EAT IT.
It's like I'm afraid I'll never get another chance to eat food like that. It really helps to just take a step back and remind myself that the food that I eat is completely my choice. I can eat whatever I want, whenever I want. I can stop at the store on the way home, buy a giant chocolate cake, and eat the whole thing if I want. Although I would never do that, just reminding myself that I can really helps take the pressure off.
7. Don't drink. Not even one glass of wine. Because once I have even one drink, 1-6 above all go to
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I cannot imagine bringing my own salad to a party. But if the party isn't a catered affair, I'll often offer to bring something and I usually find that these offers are accepted if I suggest actual items I might bring. And I just happen to suggest things that are less caloric. But that won't work for a catered event, like your work party.
I try to only drink once a week though. It's not THAT hard, because my work is pretty demanding so I never do anything on weeknights (unless it's a company event). Basically, of the two nights a week I go out (Fri and Sat), I usually just cut the drinking on one. Lately on Fridays I've been staying in the office late to socialize and then go to a dive bar with a few of the managers, so it's a great networking opportunity, and I generally don't mind not drinking. It's a lot harder when I'm with all my peers who are tossing back shots.
Such good advice Barbara
last night and DH and I polished off a box of Belgian chocolate cookies 
.
but it's not working.
! He has no interest in it and I never go there so that should work!
