Jenn

One of the challenges people face when trying to lose weight is drinking/ eating out with friends.  I have spoken with a lot of people who feel pressure to drink and eat off-plan when they get together socially. I know people who are trying to lose weight and can’t figure out why the scale doesn’t move, when they are ‘only’ going out a couple of times a week.  I calculated one friend’s calories for her after a night out. She ate and drank over 3500 calories in one evening.  That’s aside from what she ate the rest of the day. She did that a couple of times a week, at least.

When I went out after work with friends while I was on Plan, and they were eating wings and drinking Cosmos while I was eating salad and drinking water, it actually wasn’t super hard for me.  I put it in perspective. Deep fried food and booze will still exist after goal, it’s not like they are stopping production on the stupid things anytime soon, and it’s not like I can never have them again.  I also had a pretty good run before I went on plan; I had been eating junk and drinking alcohol with abandon for a few years solid.  As Warren said in an earlier post, I had to earn moderation back.  When I was on Plan, the majority of my friends honestly didn’t care what I ate, they cared about what THEY were eating.  And they were actually happy to see me doing something good for me that would make me happy – real friends want the best for you.

For the minority (hopefully) of ‘friends’ who heckle you about eating or drinking healthy, don’t be a sheep and a candy-ass. Who gives a crap what your friends are eating. This isn’t grade five. You don’t have to eat what they do. You don’t have to feel ‘weird’ about drinking ‘only’ water in a restaurant, or even a bar.  You’re a freaking grown up, you can eat and drink whatever you want.  If people care, they need to get a life and look at themselves and figure out why they are so preoccupied with what you’re eating or drinking.  Seriously.  Real friends want what’s best for you. If someone wants you to be unhealthy, that says more about them than it does about you. Just sayin’.