We don't really have pot-luck anything, but we do take late night taco bell trips. I've taken to leaving my wallet behind and drinking water beforehand (it's usually not long before I go to bed.) It's working so far.
What kind of plan are you following? Are you calorie counting? If so, keep a running list of choices of menu options that are on the lower caloric end. You don't need to tell your friends anything about your diet, because it's hardly noticeable that someone is eating a "fresco chicken soft taco" for 150 calories when everyone else is eating something heavier from the Taco Bell menu.
What kind of plan are you following? Are you calorie counting? If so, keep a running list of choices of menu options that are on the lower caloric end. You don't need to tell your friends anything about your diet, because it's hardly noticeable that someone is eating a "fresco chicken soft taco" for 150 calories when everyone else is eating something heavier from the Taco Bell menu.
I'm not on an "official" plan. I'm a member on SparkPeople, so I can track my calories for each meal and my amount of exercise. I only go grocery shopping once a week, and I can't always afford everything on my list, so usually I eat what's available throughout the day. Kashi cereal for breakfast, fruits/yogurts/veggies for snacks and veg and meats for dinner if I can ^.^ And whenever I eat out at a fast food place or something and I end up being forced to buy something I look up the nutrition beforehand and decide ahead of time what to get and what to eat when I get home.
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First of all: kudos on trying to lose weight while you're in college! I think that as difficult as it is to lose weight, college and its circumstances often make it a lot tougher (especially if you live on campus and have to suffer through dining hall food, hahaha.)
In terms of your specific issue with peer pressure...I agree with the others who have suggested bringing some healthier options with you. Or if you're going out, see if you can find out ahead of time what the restaurant has to offer. A lot of restaurants have menus on their websites, and that way you can plan ahead before you go!
Thank you Snoofie I've always had it in my mind that I wanted to lose weight, but never had the freedom or resources xD Moving to college actually inspired me to really do it because I can buy all my own food without having to embarrassingly ask my mom if we can buy extra lettuce and like 20 other things I like xD
I'm definitely going to keep everything in mind I've got some take and go snacks at the ready
Congratulations your steps to take control over your food - living independently is a blessing!
We have a Shoestring Meal Forum for budget tips, but I want to recommend this website:
Budget Bytes It's not a weight loss site, but there are so many ideas of inexpensive and balanced meals, and so many little substitutions you can make in order to make them more waist-line friendly.
Around here, we have several East and South Asian markets that have great produce, rice, beans, herbs, tofu, and meats at lower costs than the chain supermarkets. If you have an Aldi, Shoprite, Pricerite, Save A Lot or other bargain market, they can be a blessing for staples like cans of tomatoes, eggs, cheese, beans, frozen peas and corn, whole wheat pasta, brown rice, bread, condiments, etc.
It's very rare that you'll see me get more than a few items at a "regular" overpriced grocery store. Once I realized my cost savings, I just can't go back.
The more whole foods, the better your cost savings. You may need to spend some time making up baggies of dried fruits/nuts instead of buying it prepackaged, or cook a dish and freeze it instead of buying frozen meals, or make your own servings of flavored yogurt from a large tub and add your own sweetener/fruit, or make your own hummus, but the cost and price outweighs that small amount of prep time that it takes.
Thank you I officially bookmarked Budget Bytes =D It looks like a great site ^.^ Unfortunately, there are no budget grocery places where I live, but I take advantage of coupons like crazy!
I have this strange phobia about telling people I'm trying to lose weight, as though they won't notice I'm fat if I don't explicitly tell them. It's bizarre. I guess it might be because I consider it a really personal goal and I can't imagine any response I would really find encouraging (short of "I noticed, you've lost so much weight already").
I'm pretty sensitive about my weight, to be honest, and I sometimes take things the wrong way emotionally even if I logically know that no harm was meant. In the wrong mood, I can interpret something as innocent as "congratulations!" as "good, you're so fat."
I was finishing up college when I was seeking my dx. I didn't actually get it til a few years after, but I was closing in. And do NOT talk about your weight loss goals in public. It invites comments you don't need to hear sometimes.
First, I'd try to eat before going, have snacks on hand, etc.
Second? What I sometimes would say to get people off my back about my food choices when they were yanking my chain? Because not all of them are polite all the time? That my doc told me to watch my cholesterol. My dad already had heart attacks. I didn't need to go on that path. There.
My doc DID tell me to watch it but what doc doesn't!? My Dad did have heart attacks. I didn't need to go on that path. So I wasn't exactly lying. But what it did for me?
Shut them up and over time it became the "normal thing" for me to be more careful around junk food and nobody batted an eye any more. Subway and Wendy's (which at the time offered a salad bar and those flat pita bread sanwiches and still has a sour cream baked potato) were good compromise college eats. Dennys could be worked with -- plain scrambled eggs or veggie omelet for instance. So were Boston Market and now I'd add Chipotle. (That wasn't around back then.) So it isn't like you can't still live the student life on student budget and be with friends.
Later I changed it to "prediabetic" because it was easier to go with that (esp with strangers or casual acquaintances) than explain PCOS/IR diagnosis. Everyone knows diabetes, everyone knows cholesterol. Not everyone knows PCOS! And I don't feel like explaining my personal private health stuff to whoever comes along! It is personal private health stuff!
PRH - I think that makes sense. I sometimes feel the same way, that whatever anyone says is meant to be hurtful, even if the words themselves aren't. Especially when I go home and visit my mom, my Aunt is usually there and she always says "Wow, hun. you've lost a lot!" When really I hadn't lost anything at all =/ It felt condescending, really.
Astrophe - Thank you for those words of encouragement And definitely the advice! More than likely if anyone asks I'll just tell them I might be diabetic (which is actually true, I need to see a doc soon) or just not mention anything. Turn down the offers for junk food, and if I do go out, eat healthy!
Once again I went out with friends last night to a mexican place. I go salad and a really low cal enchilada and a side of black beans Overall my count didn't exceed 500, which was pretty impressive, I thought xD
I know it's commonplace but I'm still baffled that others try to dictate what another person eats. You aren't going to tell your friends that they can't go exercise or they can't take that life saving medicine. Basically, it amounts to the same thing. If you're at a weight you find unhealthy or have high cholesterol or blood pressure, you are making an effort to improve your health. Just because it doesn't come in a pill form doesn't mean it isn't improving your health.
Woah! Sorry, I never saw this reply I completely agree though. I don't think other people should have any say in what others eat (except in children-parent relationships and for health reasons etc.) and all it does is hurt instead of help. Weight loss is a great thing when done properly, and there's nothing wrong with wanting to be at a healthier weight
I completely agree though. I don't think other people should have any say in what others eat (except in children-parent relationships and for health reasons etc.) and all it does is hurt instead of help. Weight loss is a great thing when done properly, and there's nothing wrong with wanting to be at a healthier weight 
