Declining invitations out

I recently lost a lot of weight but gained some back. I'm trying to get back on track, but it's so hard with the summer here now. So many invitations to eat out, go out to bars, birthday parties, etc. I can easily watch what I eat while I am out, but the drinking is a whole other story. I find myself declining invites to places and homes where I know there will be a ton of drinking. It sounds stupid but my friends are all big drinkers and I feel awkward not participating. Plus then I get the "are you pregnant" or "come on just one/two/ten won't hurt" "it's just this once" etc etc.

Not looking for advice, it's just a vent, and none of my friends are watching what they eat or drink so they don't really get it, KWIM?

Re: Declining invitations out

That's annoying! I hate being in situations where you feel the pressure to overeat or drink & it's hard to avoid it... it just happens, it's not your fault! I'm sure you're doing great with your diet otherwise, and don't feel bad when you do splurge!

Re: Declining invitations out

It sucks.

I am not a big drinker, but if I'm at a party, I have a very difficult time having self-control around food, especially appetizers and chips and dips and stuff like that.

Is there anything lower in calories that you could bring and just drink that?

Declining invitations out

You have to remain true to yourself and your goals and not care what they say. If you want to drink, you could always pick up Skinny Girl alcohol. There's also tons of drink ideas that are low calorie.

It's frustrating, but don't deny yourself a good social time. :)

Re: Declining invitations out

I, too, find drinking to be a big challenge, esp. this time of year when there are so many outdoor parties and occasions where you would want to enjoy a nice cocktail or glass of wine. So I totally understand where you are coming from.

Is the issue that you feel like you are "out of control" or consume too many alcohol calories when you are out? Or is the issue more that you would be ok not drinking, but you feel pressured by others?

My advice is not to be all or nothing about it. I would just find lower calorie options you like -- for example, I love a crisp glass of white wine or prosecco on a warm day. It's a lower calorie option. So is a light beer. Or even with cocktails, if you mix them with seltzer or diet tonic (I love my gin and tonics, but I always try to use diet tonic), it's not crazy caloric. That way, you can enjoy the party and not feel deprived, but you don't have to drink "calorie bombs."

Also, maybe try to drink more slowly, sip and enjoy... wine is good for that, as it's hard to truly guzzle it down. Unless you are still in college, I doubt your friends are going to count your drinks or notice that you are drinking more slowly.

And if people are pressuring you to drink more, and you don't feel like explaining that you are watching your weight, maybe you can be the driver and have that as a built-in excuse!

But if you want to indulge a bit, I see nothing wrong with fitting a few drinks into your eating plan. If I am drinking, I usually try to cut back or skip dessert at a party, for example, to make up for the alcohol calories. If you add in for the drinks by subtracting somewhere else, it shouldn't sabotage your weight loss efforts too much.

I am also trying lately to limit alcohol to social settings (mostly weekends) and not drinking at home (no more wine with dinner during the week nights, for example), and that has seemed to work out well for me.

Re: Declining invitations out

I go out and tell my friends that I am training for a race. I don't tell them I am trying to lose weight because then I get the "oh come on live a little" or so thin, blah blah blah.

But tell people you have a race coming up, and they get very respectful and don't push it. I get a diet coke, or a fun non alcoholic drink , and enjoy watching people get drunk and act like idiots!

Re: Declining invitations out

Thank you for all the responses! It's my own issue, I know, because I don't drink all that much, but when I do, I don't really like to have just one glass. I think it will work best for me if I cut out the calories elsewhere, and try to find lower calorie drinks that I do like.

I wish I didn't put on weight so damn easily.

Re: Declining invitations out