It seems like whatever I do with my friends, eating and drinking is always involved. (Movies, out for lunch, study groups, small house parties, out for dinner, etc.) How can I make it easier to tell my friends I don't want to eat anything? Or how can I still hang out with my friends without feeling cheated because they're all pigging out and I really can't? Thanks everyone!!!!!

[nasus40]

Apryl I have no answer for that one. i gained i do not remember how many lbs eating pizza with my friends when studying. there is no good way to do that. many feel that you think better if you eat, not thecase. Just drink plenty fo water when they are stuffing their face and think to your self they will be heavy when they are older. tyou are trying to make a better life for your self now while it is easier to lose. (not that it will help but...)

[anagram]

How about bottled water? I've noticed my slim daughter and her even slimmer friends always seem to have a bottle of water with them and swig at it all the time. I happen to like our tap water so I refill the bottle when I'm using this helper. They also love pizza but I notice they never eat the crust (my favorite part) but basically just nibble the middle part of the slice. I don't think they do this consciously (which is darn hard to do) but is just a habit they have picked up but one that I'm sure helps keep their weight down. I'm learning a lot from them. I was with several of them the other week. There was a table of goodies. Most ate fruit, a little salad, rolled up turkey slices. They mostly all had cake but just a small piece and then didn't finish it. I mostly focused on one who's almost Calistra's twin. She has two small children and is training for a marathon, had run 19 miles that morning (and yes, she has a job = I think it's three days a week right now but she may have gone back to full time by now). She's pretty, positively glows with health. We can't all have her kind of metabolism but I thought I could learn something from her. When urged to eat, she did - just made good choices and arranged things so that her plate looked almost full.

[Goddess Jessica]

Lite popcorn.

Whenever I make a bag, everyone wants some and I don't feel left out. Keeps my hands and mouth busy.