How to Stay on a Diet When Others Are Eating?

Sticking to a diet when you're at home is one thing. But sticking to a diet in social situations is completely different. At parties, happy hours, and even in the workplace lunch room, you'll be around treats and snacks that can derail your diet. And it's not always easy to get away from the food.

 

These are a few sneaky tricks that smart dieters use to stick to their diet when everyone around them is enjoying high-calorie treats and beverages:

1.Separate from food. This seems like an obvious strategy, but you'd be surprised how often we navigate to the kitchen at parties. Instead, forge a new path. If the group is in the kitchen surrounded by open bowls of chips and other snacks, ask the host for a tour of the house or find a quiet spot for a relaxing chat with an old friend.

2.Face away from the table. If your event is in a one-room space and the food table is set up in half of it, you'll have a hard time separating yourself from the treats that will derail your diet. But you can face away from them. Find a friend (preferably one who is not eating) and position yourself with your back to the buffet or food tables. Then strike up a conversation and talk your way out of diet-ruin.

3.Chew gum. One of the best ways to banish food cravings is to chew gum. Find a strong mint flavor to enjoy and keep it on hand. Chewing gum will leave you with fresh breath and no desire to taste sweet or salty foods. 

4.Avoid alcohol. This tip is especially hard during the holidays. But the fact is that drinking wine, beer or other alcoholic beverages not only adds empty calories to your waistline, but it also diminishes your motivation to stay on a diet. 

5.Keep a drink in your hand. Even if you avoid alcohol, you should still keep a beverage in hand while you're standing around at parties, buffets, and barbecues. It's harder to eat if one hand is occupied. Low calorie or no-calorie drinks help you to feel full and they fill your mouth with flavor so you don't feel deprived.

6.Get busy. Your party host/hostess will love you and sticking to your diet will be easier if you ask for a job at your next social function. Greet guests, set the table, take coats, organize the kids, or offer to do dishes. When you get busy, you have less time to eat and you spend more time socializing.

7.Create positive self-talk. It can be easy to feel deprived if you feel like everyone else gets to eat whatever they want and you have to deny yourself foods or drinks that you love. But you can turn that negative thinking around to help stay on your diet. Before your event, make a list of a couple things that you gain by sticking to your diet at the party, like self-confidence, a feeling of accomplishment, or a guilt-free morning the day after the event.