Along your weight loss journey, it can be hard to manage social situations, especially when your friends and family don’t have the same goals you do. Happy hours, birthday parties and lazy afternoon activities, while tempting, can be counterproductive to your health and fitness goals. They may indulge in that extra piece of birthday cake, but does that mean you have to as well? We’ve put together some tips to help you balance a healthy lifestyle while still having fun with family and friends.
Check in with your Jenny Craig consultant
At Jenny Craig, your weight loss consultant is your ideal support tool. They will be able to work with you to help you to prepare for and manage social situations. Your consultant can help you stay accountable, arm you with strategies to deal with challenging situations, give you suggestions on what to eat while out with friends, and encourage you to make smart choices to help you meet your goals while still having fun with friends.
Make easy food swaps
If you and your friends regularly meet for a coffee or go out for happy hour, make easy food swaps to keep you on track. Choose a small, skim latte or a lovely herbal tea, instead of a large full fat coffee. Such small swaps can easily save you from consuming excess kilojoules. Instead of indulging in nibbles high in kilojoules during happy hour, try eating a snack before you arrive at the bar so you’re not feeling hungry, or opt for a drink like soda with fresh lime, to take your mind off the nibbles. If you are eating out, always remember your healthy plate: Fill ½ your plate with non-starchy vegetables, ¼ of your plate with lean meat and ¼ plate with grains. So at the family BBQ, focus on filling half your plate with delicious salad or grilled vegetables, and hold back on Aunt Mary’s creamy potato salad!
Change your activities
Instead of a lazy afternoon at the movies or sitting by the pool, suggest an activity that can help you and your friends be active and fit some extra steps into your day. Take your dogs for a walk around the park, if the weather’s nice, why not head to the beach for a swim, or try a new walking track that you haven’t been to before – even make a day of it and pack a healthy picnic! You may even surprise yourself and appreciate the change of pace and the chance to do something different.
Plan ahead
If you already know that you won’t be able to avoid that slice of birthday cake or that scoop of ice cream, plan ahead to be able work this into your menu plan, so you don’t have to miss out on that extra treat. Your weight loss consultant can help you to plan this in advance so you don’t throw in the towel on your goals. Stay focused and do some extra activity during the day and make sure you’re making healthy food choices for the remainder of the day, so you can indulge at the birthday party – in moderation of course!
Seek support
Talk to your friends about your motivation to lose weight and your commitment to a healthy lifestyle. Once they understand how important your weight loss goals are to you, they will be more likely to provide you with the support you need along the way. You never know, you may even inspire those around you with your goals and commitment!
