* Be honest. Don’t be afraid to say that you are trying to lose weight and ask for help rather than hindrance, Stettner says. If you don’t speak up, your partner may not know you’d prefer to meet at Saladworks rather than the pizza parlor or at an ice cream shop that also has low-fat yogurt for you instead of pastries. You will get to know a lot about your new partner when you see how they respond to your request. “I always advise discussing eating habits if they’re an issue,” Metsovas says. “Don’t wait until the habits become so unbearable that they inevitably affect your relationship. Explain to your partner how you feel after you eat X, and how overeating, especially unhealthy foods, could hinder your relationship by its effect on your mood and well-being.”
* Check out menus in advance. When you make a date and pick a restaurant, go online and look at the menu to see if there are foods that you can eat. You may need to ask that a dish be prepared broiled rather than fried, or for the chef to substitute marinara for a cream sauce. If the only option is fried, suggest going somewhere else.
* Be the last to order. When you’re dining in a group, this tip has two advantages, Stettner says. One is that everyone else, having put in their order, will be talking and won’t notice what you do. Second, you won’t feel as self-conscious if you hold up the waiter and request changes to a menu item to fit your diet plan. “When you’re the last one to order, you can fine-tune what you’re ordering and do so more discreetly,” says Stettner.
* Snack first. Don’t be starving when you meet a new friend for dinner. When you’re famished, you can’t help overeating. Metsovas’ favorite snack is a handful of almonds at least 30 minutes before a meal. “Almonds contain beneficial fats and fiber to optimize blood sugar and prevent overeating,” she says. Also, make sure you’re well hydrated before the meal and continue to drink water afterward. Drinking wine if you’re hungry is a big no-no, she says. “Wine is also a sugar that could spike your blood sugar.”
* Try sharing. Rather than order your own sundae, suggest sharing. A lot of weight loss is about portion control. It can be fun dipping into your ice cream — or better yet low-fat yogurt — together, and subtly you can let your partner eat more of it than you do if they can afford the calories.
* Find activities you have in common. Suggest activities you can do together that will help you both burn calories. Say you’d rather walk to the movies than take a bus. Or suggest spending Sunday morning riding bikes rather than lazing around.
When you’re in a relationship and socializing, it can be harder to stick to your weight-loss plan. If you want to avoid weight gain during your time together, try to keep the focus on finding out more about your new love interest besides their favorite foods.
* Check out menus in advance. When you make a date and pick a restaurant, go online and look at the menu to see if there are foods that you can eat. You may need to ask that a dish be prepared broiled rather than fried, or for the chef to substitute marinara for a cream sauce. If the only option is fried, suggest going somewhere else.
* Be the last to order. When you’re dining in a group, this tip has two advantages, Stettner says. One is that everyone else, having put in their order, will be talking and won’t notice what you do. Second, you won’t feel as self-conscious if you hold up the waiter and request changes to a menu item to fit your diet plan. “When you’re the last one to order, you can fine-tune what you’re ordering and do so more discreetly,” says Stettner.
* Snack first. Don’t be starving when you meet a new friend for dinner. When you’re famished, you can’t help overeating. Metsovas’ favorite snack is a handful of almonds at least 30 minutes before a meal. “Almonds contain beneficial fats and fiber to optimize blood sugar and prevent overeating,” she says. Also, make sure you’re well hydrated before the meal and continue to drink water afterward. Drinking wine if you’re hungry is a big no-no, she says. “Wine is also a sugar that could spike your blood sugar.”
* Try sharing. Rather than order your own sundae, suggest sharing. A lot of weight loss is about portion control. It can be fun dipping into your ice cream — or better yet low-fat yogurt — together, and subtly you can let your partner eat more of it than you do if they can afford the calories.
* Find activities you have in common. Suggest activities you can do together that will help you both burn calories. Say you’d rather walk to the movies than take a bus. Or suggest spending Sunday morning riding bikes rather than lazing around.
When you’re in a relationship and socializing, it can be harder to stick to your weight-loss plan. If you want to avoid weight gain during your time together, try to keep the focus on finding out more about your new love interest besides their favorite foods.
No comments:
Post a Comment