new and worried about social eating

[joan3210]

Hello! I started Atkins 2 weeks ago, and have lost 11 lbs so far. I am having some doubts about my ability to stay on Atkins. My family is a big southern family - with lots of food/social related activities. I will be traveling home in a few weeks, and my mom will have a huge spread (chicken and dumplings, blackberry pie, fried chicken, etc.). How do people handle these situations? When I am in a controlled environment, I am ok. But, to be around all those old "favorites" will be hard.
When I started induction I weighed 185. This morning I weighed 173.5. I would like to get to 150. I look forward to reading and participating on this board. Joan.

[vek]

Re: new and worried about social eating

I envy you! You have a big family and a lot of social events. That's wonderful! Don't be afraid! They are waiting for you to see you and hug you, not to force feed you. So, go there, enjoy at maximum, eat all the chicken available, skip the pie saying that you are too full of chicken, smile, laugh and enjoy all the precious moments with your family!

[blueberrylady]

Re: new and worried about social eating

Hi Joan and welcome. And congrats on your 11 pound loss; that fantasic.

Going home can be so hard on a diet so you have to plan ahead. Try to fill up on protein foods to make it easier to resist the 'goodies'. Boy that blackberry pie sure sounds good but remember, it's not good for you. Maybe you could ask your mom to bake or even microwave some chicken for you or even just fry yours without any breading because you can have the oil. And if she doesn't serve salad, buy your own veggies and make your own. Try to focus on the togetherness and conversation and not so much on the food.

Good luck and have fun!

[Creek]

Re: new and worried about social eating

Hi Joan! Congratulations on the eleven pound loss on Induction!

I'm southern too, my Mom is still living in North Carolina. I've told her about the Atkins way of life, and she is very supportive. When we get together, at her place or mine, she respects that I need low carb food. We always serve meat, salad, and a low carb vegetable that everyone enjoys, and then the other side dishes are for those that don't suffer from carb sensitivity. Have you told your Mom about your new nutritional needs?

Very often, I prepare meals for my extended family and yes, I serve potatoes and bread. It's off limits to me, and my mindset is no different than if I were allergic to those foods.

Only you know if you can be stronger than chicken and dumplings.

[2BME]

Re: new and worried about social eating

Social eating is tough! It is hard to be around your family and you feel the pull to go back to familiar eating habits, but you made the choice to no longer be a slave to the food. There are several options and perhaps a call to your mom to let her know that you would really like fresh salads and veggies. Perhaps if you include her in your eating plan she will be accommodating.

People will only push you as far as you let them.

[gman]

Re: new and worried about social eating

Hello and congratulations on your progress. Yours is an interesting challenge. Is your family open to "you being you" or will they rebel against your diet choices? Here is an out of the box idea: you can't say 'here read this red book,' so we need a one-page description we can give people that explains it. It comes down to math (Low complex carb diet: living energy burned + exercise - cals taken in = weight loss ... High complex carb diet: cals - living energy burned + exercise = weight gain or stick). Who can argue math? That you are eating 2.5 cups of veggies shows you are not just a meat eater. Everyone-is there a one-pager on the web somewhere that we can use for this situation? Should we create one?
Glenn

[jimmyolsenblues]

Re: new and worried about social eating

i started and stopped atkins a lot , but i feel for me , I reached a point sept 1st, where I believed in atkins more than I wanted a piece of bread.

since sept 1, 2007, i have not a had a piece of bread, rice, pasta, or pizza. I believe I can do it. I believe the atkins diet helps me , it works for me. I believe it lessens my appetite. The longer I am on it. The more will power I develop.
Friends know this by now. When there is a birthday cake at work, I say happy birthday and walk away from the celebration. People know my preferences because of how I carry myself and my choices.

I know you could do it.

[sugarsack]

Re: new and worried about social eating

creek.. food alergy, i never thought of it that way.... if i just treat it as an alergy i can stay away from it.. not dwell on what i cant have... alternates.. perfect.. thanx for the tip

[Creek]

Re: new and worried about social eating

Yer welcome! That allergy thing also works in restaurants. Just tell them you're allergic to wheat, white flour and sugar and they will absolutely ask the cook how the food is prepared.

Gman, that is a fantastic idea!! I had the good fortune to sit down with my family and explain, but a one page card of permissables is a great idea! So many people think "low fat" when you discuss a "diet"...they mean well, but just can't quite believe mayonnaise is encouraged.

[Brook]

Re: new and worried about social eating

Hello! I started Atkins 2 weeks ago, and have lost 11 lbs so far. I am having some doubts about my ability to stay on Atkins. My family is a big southern family - with lots of food/social related activities. I will be traveling home in a few weeks, and my mom will have a huge spread (chicken and dumplings, blackberry pie, fried chicken, etc.). How do people handle these situations? When I am in a controlled environment, I am ok. But, to be around all those old "favorites" will be hard.
When I started induction I weighed 185. This morning I weighed 173.5. I would like to get to 150. I look forward to reading and participating on this board. Joan.

What's hard about the way you feel at 173.5 vs 185?

Is a couple of plates of food worth undoing all your hard work and worth risking your self esteem, self control, self worth, and health over?!

"The leading cause of failure is giving up what we want most for what we want at the moment." Do you want 150lbs more than a piece of blackberry pie?

Eat before you go. Bring a cooler packed with foods you can eat and enjoy! Prepare yourself with a couple of canned responses for people that are going to and do your thing! You can enjoy the family and the occasion and still keep your dignity and pride in tact. Do NOT trade what you want most for what you want at the moment.

"I can't eat that. I'm allergic to carbs. I break out in fat!

" As much as I miss those things, I like the pants I'm wearing better."

" I appreciate your concern and you asking, but really, I'm doing what my doctor and I have decided is best for my health. <insert subject change here>"

And in a pinch, if someone won't get off your butt, the one that's always worked best for me (when I'm trying to be nice instead of just bite their head off for being rude- which I do sometimes too) is this...." <Slightly open mouthed astonished look followed immediately by and dead silence> They'll get the hint. Trust me. LOL

Welcome to ADBB! Don't let anyone or anything get between you and your goals and Have fun!

[Creek]

Re: new and worried about social eating

" As much as I miss those things, I like the pants I'm wearing better."

What a great line!!

Gman, look what I found:

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/main-atkins-diet-forum/3286-free-wallet-sized-food-list-print-new-improved.html

[michellekw23]

Re: new and worried about social eating

I am SO with you, girl! Only with my mom, it's strawberry rhubarb pie...but those chicken and dumplins are SO hard to turn down. Luckily, mom also makes these killer green beans cooked with tons of bacon, which is normally off limits if I'm trying to do a low fat, low cal. diet. But when I'm on Atkins, they are a perfect compliment to the chicken. It's kind of a trade off. I don't have any helpful hints, just wanted to tell you that you aren't alone, and that lots of us struggle with this...
I wish you the best!

[SunnySmile501]

Re: new and worried about social eating

I'm from a Southern family with so many members, I have not met some first cousins. I'm the youngest of 10 living siblings and there are 35 grandchildren. My parents families were big, too, so we have lots of get-togethers where the tables are groaning from the weight of the food.

How I handled it was to find ways to make the Southern comfort food or holiday/pignic (not a misspelling for my family) food legal. Since I started this WOE, they have been scarfing down fauxtato salad made with turnips in place of potatoes, cole slaw with Splenda, deviled eggs and barbecued meats that are perfectly legal without ever knowing they were eating low carb as well! For the last pignic, I took a Pink Lemonade cheesecake and every bite was eaten. At another one, I took a Bavarian Strawberry Pie that was perfectly legal, as long as you are on the berry rung, even the crust. I always take enough legal foods that no one would ever guess that I am on a 'diet'.

If you want to make this a way of life, you can find a way to make it happen. You will look for recipes and make old favorites over so you can still indulge while eating healthy. You will move up the rungs so you can have more and more favorites while staying legal. Induction is not forever.

You can make awesome fried chicken with crushed pork rinds and parmesan cheese. You don't get more Southern than fried chicken!

Sunny!

[joee5]

Re: new and worried about social eating

Hello. Social eating, big family ...whatever. If you want to make it here you will. You are destined to succeed, just stay true to yourself and focus on your goal (150). Stay motivated and you'll do fine. God Bless, Joe

[joan3210]

Re: new and worried about social eating

Thanks! My mom's way of showing love is to feed you....but I have started preparing her for the "new" me. I think she is coming around to my way of thinking