1 reply to this topic

[marerex]

I weigh in every week when I am in town - usually 3 weeks every month. My husband and I attend lots of celebrations and also dine out every Saturday evening. Try to be careful but obviously I am NOT because I've been gaining weight little by little.

I need my motivation back! Help.

[I Called Jenny]

marerex, on 14 October 2011 - 11:25 AM, said:

I weigh in every week when I am in town - usually 3 weeks every month. My husband and I attend lots of celebrations and also dine out every Saturday evening. Try to be careful but obviously I am NOT because I've been gaining weight little by little.

I need my motivation back! Help.

OK, so you're making it even more difficult on yourself (or circumstances are) for you to get back on the JC train by going to (or having to go to) so many events.

Believe me, I get it. I was a special events coordinator so it was my job to not only attend events but to go to tastings, etc. while I was on the program. Yes, it took me longer to lose the weight but I DID lose it.

However, you have to be EXTRA careful AND EXTRA movtivated when you are forced to do stuff like that but it can be done.

So the question is, HOW MOTIVATED ARE YOU? I mean, what are you true goals? The stronger they are (i.e. wanting to get healthy), the more likely you'll be to work toward staying on track.

But if you TRULY want to stay on track AND lose the weight while going out, here are some suggestions. I'm sure, if you're like most people your first reaction is going to be, "Oh, I can't do that" or "I'd be too embarrassed to do that," or "What would my friends/husband say?" and you know what - those are all excuses. If you REALLY want this, you won't care what other people think because this is about getting you to be the healthiest BEST you you can be. Anything else is just B.S.

Anyway, here are the suggestions. Take them or leave them as you see fit.

Going out to an event? Fine. You can eat your JC dinner before you go and then not eat the dinner when you get there. I often had guests who had loaded up on the food at the cocktail hour and couldn't eat anything at dinner so they would ask for a "to go" container. (Yes, that might not be your favorite choice but it can be done.) Or when the waitstaff person came by, they simply said, "No thanks, I'm full."

Your other choice is to go to the event and when they ask you for your dinner preference, there is usually a grilled something for your choice, so choose that and ask for sauce/gravy on the side. Then make sure you put aside 2/3 to 3/4 of the protein and starch on the side of your plate in a "do not eat from" area. Load up on the veggies and whatever portion that is a left of the protein and carb as your JC portion.

Or, when they ask you for your preference, ask the waiter for a steamed veggie platter with no butter (assuming you've already eaten your JC meal) so you have something to munch on with the other guests.

STAY AWAY FROM THE HORS D'OEUVRES!!!! The only thing that's not going to get you in trouble is the crudites platter and that's ONLY if you also stay away from the dip.

You also have to, obviously, stay away from the dessert. Have the coffee or tea - whatever, but no dessert (that one's a given, right?).

If you MUST drink, have ONE small (4 ounce) glass of white wine. But then you have to DOUBLE your water intake the next day because wine has so much sodium in it.

Otherwise, have sparkling water with a lemon or lime slice, Virgin Mary, or ask for a "skinny margarita" which has about 100 calories in it. (These days, most good bartenders - in a full bar - know how to make one.)

When you go out to dinner with your hubby, make smart choices in what you order and you're smart enough to know what those are. Again, watching portion sizes carefully and getting that "to go" box immediately because if you don't have it on your plate, you won't eat it. Out of sight, out of mouth.

Hope that helps. Let us know how it goes. We're rooting for you.

Phyllis