[annemarie]

Hi
I'm a newbie. I know this has probably been discussed before but how do you all enjoy yourself while losing weight. I'm single so try and meet up with friends two or three times a week to ease boredom and have company BUT all my socialising revolves around food and alcohol or both. I've even got in to the habit of meeting up with colleagues two or three times a week:? and going out for lunch. Think this is going to be THE biggest hurdle in me losing the weight. Any ideas to help me get round this?
thanks

[Esofia]

Is there somewhere you can lunch within the limits of your diet?

[rainydays]

Try bowling! Drink water or diet soda and bring your own snack in your bag instead of eating high calorie bowling alley food. Also burns calories and is tons of fun!

[Michi702]

Try hosting events every so often at your place. That way, you can make a healthy dinner and still enjoy the socialization. You could either tell people to BYOB or you could offer limited alcohol such as a bottle of white wine. You can try the Skinny Girl cocktail line too, the margarita is only 100 calories for 4 oz and the sangria is a bit more for 5 oz and I know that a lot of beers and malt beverages are coming out with 'lite' versions of current products. There's even diet coke (or coke zero) that you can add a little bit of spirits too.

Don't lose heart - I understand the dilemma, as our skinny friends always wanna go out and eat a billion calories when we do dinner dates!

[Sunshine87]

I am single also and there are several activities that I enjoy that do not involve eating high calorie meals. I live in the US but I think you will get the point.
Having girls' night with my friends (we do eat snacks)
Watching shows online (big brother, friends with benefits, glee, etc.)
Working out
Reading books
I am involved at my church
Go to the dollar-theater (or reg. theater if you do not have one of these)
Take walks with friends
Go to coffee shops to meet friends
Go to Walmart (not sure if you have these but it has absolutely everything, basically shopping)
And I am going bowling tonight
Hope this helps!

[lisa4621]

I find dieting quite solitary at times. It does often feel easier if you stay at home !

If I am going out to a restaurant I will check the menu first and plan my meal that way. If drinking socially I will eat before I leave the house (I never used to do this and would always get hungry when out - lots of kebabs = not good) and I prepare something healthy before I leave so that if I do come back hungry there is something on hand to eat rather than a takeaway.

It is not so difficult when visiting my friends at home, I prepare my own snacks and if we are drinking alcohol I will measure how much vodka I am willing to drink and take that with me along with a bottle of soda water with a dash of lime cordial in it as a mixer.

I used to go out for lunch alot and eat a load of rubbish. Now if I meet friends at lunch I just have a lime and soda and eat my prepared lunch at the office. Most friends are understanding and won't push you to eat with them.

[marie81]

Shopping
Horse riding
swimming
Walking - try some of the national parks (virgina water in surrey is nice)
while the weather is still good have a picnic then you chose the food
pizza express do a "lighter" menu and light wines (very nice)

Shopping really does it for me to be honest try the big shopping centre's i do westfields its so big you cant do it all in one day loads of cals burnt walking around that for 8 hours

Good luck xx

[annemarie]

thanks all,
the bottom line is I need to take it a day at a time but at the same time plan social activities and prioritise my health and weight issues. Think it also means a great deal of assertiveness to say "sorry, not going for dinner, lets go for a walk instead." For example two separate friends have already asked me to meet up this week and it usually involves food and/or alcohol. Needless to say both are tall and slender......just need to bite the bullet and have something light or not go at all. Life isn't always fair and I need to take myself in hand and remember what's important.x

[one small bowl]

I have come to understand that my weight loss efforts must take a priority at this point, and weight maintenance will become the next priority. So, in essence, what I eat will always matter and come first in my life in order to be healthy and feel good. This means that all social and interpersonal relationships cannot be based on food and drinks. I cannot eliminate them, but I can learn to make good choices for myself no matter what others eat at the same time. This holds true for holiday's, special events, birthdays, dinners out with friends and family....any social eating event. I must learn to deal with it in a way that benefits me and not anyone else.

Sometimes I have no choice except what is being served. When that happens, I eat a small amount. I don't let it become a "oh, well I will just eat as much as I want and go back on my plan tomorrow" kind of thing. Each and every meal presentation is my challenge to help myself get or stay at where I want to be.