Surviving a Party Prior to 2017

The Christmas season is upon us. I have at least three parties I plan to attend. If one of your New Year’s Resolutions is to lose weight – admit it, almost all of us have that ideal resolution. How do you survive the extra unhealthy calories at a party?

I’ve given several options to begin your New Year’s Resolutions during the month of December in earlier blogs. The purpose is to be firmly ensconced in your new lifestyle that New Year’s Day comes and goes and there is nothing changing in your life. You have adapted to a new way of living that is healthier and wiser – maybe in the longer run, wealthier.

Parties are hard to avoid. Here are some tips that might be of value. Eat before just going. If your party starts at 7 p.m., plan to finish your meal at home a couple of hours prior to the party. You will be full before arriving. Arrive fashionably late – at least a half-hour or more. It gives you less time to frolic around the finger foods. Plan to leave early. Again, it minimizes the exposure to the unhealthy foods.

Finger food plates hold a lot of food, even small ones. Use a napkin and select only one item to eat. Move away from the food line and mingle. Don’t eat the food selection as soon as you move. Hold on to it for a few minutes. It’s nice to hear our voices when we talk to people. Concentrate on another person’s story for a while before eating. Wait a few more minutes before returning to the calorie line. Between each alcoholic drink have a glass of water. Sip it and make it last more than a few minutes.

If you have a sit-down party, then things get a little more exciting. Plates are usually larger. Use the center of your plate as your plate’s border. Pretend it is a salad plate or smaller. Take smaller portions and skip a few, especially those unhealthy options that abound. Let your host know you have already started a new lifestyle and that you are counting your calories or types of food you eat.

There are those occasions when we don’t succeed. I’ve been there. The best of intentions go awry. Enjoy. A single meal, even with extra bread and desserts, will not impact a long-term plan. Think back after the party and try to figure out what triggered your ‘need’ for your food choices. If you ate ahead of time, then hunger was not the issue. If you can identify what triggers your cravings, then it is easier to fight the next time.