Some of us love it and some of us loathe it, that time of year when everyone wants to get together and have a party!!!!!
The agonizing over what to wear, is there a little something that would do in the wardrobe? The trying on!!! No chance, it’ll have to be new!! Colours, styles, classy or sassy, out there or in the corner…..So many decisions to make, and if you’ve been successful in 2023, hopefully, they’ll be easier to make, if not, it may seem like torture.
There will be all that free flowing alcohol, and naturally “As it’s Christmas” you’ll be expected to partake! A glass of sparkling water with a slice of lemon could easily be mistaken for Gin/Vodka it’s important to bear in mind that alcohol does dehydrate you, so the sparkling water would be a good choice between others.
Then of course, it’s the “beige buffet food” laden with calories, and not even that nice. Lot’s of sausage rolls, quiches, sandwiches, pork pies…..the list is endless!! and don’t forget the probable heartburn and indigestion that will come later!! There are often bits of salad as a decoration, why not grab some of that.
Just stop for a moment, and let’s think about the main object of having a party. It could be an opportunity for everyone to get together outside of work, or families that haven’t had the chance to meet up. If you took away all of the people, what would the point of having a party be if there was just you with lots of food and drink?
There are a million and one reasons you could use if you had decided that you were not drinking alcohol, you could;
- Be honest and say you don’t want to!
- Be the driver
- Be on medication
But be wary of saying you are not drinking/eating because you are trying to lose weight as its like a red flag to a bull to some people who will do their utmost to encourage/tempt you to change your mind.
You could also have eaten a healthy meal earlier and are then able to make better choices, so not rush in like a bull in a china shop as you’re starving. Whatever you choose to do, remember, you can balance your other meals throughout the week, you can walk around meeting all the people you may have missed, and of course you can dance!
Let’s keep it in perspective, all to often we throw away a successful week because one thing ruined it. Getting into that mindset means it possibly will! One unwise, unplanned choice is NOT the end of a good week, unless YOU let it!
At a dinner party one should eat wisely but not too well, and talk well but not too wisely.
w somerset maugham
Success Lies in Mind 
Be the driver is a good one for avoiding alcohol as long as you don’t mind drive in the dark but medical reasons is also a good one. Buffet food is a nightmare if it’s provided by someone else. Eat before you go is a good tip.
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Great reinforcement Wendy 👍👍
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I don’t stress when going out and eat what I fancy that way the pressure is off and I just eat healthier on the day and try to avoid carbs and try to be mindful the rest of the week. I find if I over think what to eat I make unwise choices as I want the foods I think I can’t / shouldn’t have
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Great mindset Karen 👏🏻👏🏻
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Loved this post. I’m going to enjoy Christmas this year with my family but at the same time be mindful of the food I choose
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Loving your positivity Tracey 👏🏻👏🏻
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To be honest, I get swept up in all the excitement and forget everything 🤦🏼♀️
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As long as you refocus when you can!!
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“I’m on antibiotics so can’t drink …. Is a favourite of mine, but at a party try to pour your own drinks, that way you can modify, restrict quantity, cheat!
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Great tactics Gill 👏🏻👏🏻
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Definitely choosing healthier options if going for a meal and no pud if drinking alcohol, if going out then reining in the calories throughout the week . Luckily not having any buffet food which is so high in calories and hard to resist now I’m not working 🙌
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Great tactics Helen 👏🏻👏🏻🥰
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In the past, when it comes to dessert, I’ve said “No thanks I’m full from dinner” (usually true but some say theres always room for pudding!) Then when everyone else’s dessert comes through, I pop to the loo so I don’t end up craving what others have and change my mind. By the time I’ve had a pee, everyone’s finished pudding and I have a sense of achievement! If I still want something sweet I take a skinny bar in my bag 👍🏻
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You should feel proud Michaela it’s a great strategy & achievement 👏🏻👏🏻🥰
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I have 4 meals out this week 😩 trying to focus on the in between meals and remembering why I’m doing this 🎄🎄
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Helen I know you can👍👍
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You’re right about buffets when you’re out not being particularly nice so that bit is easy, it’s when they produce a big bowl of chips I crumble!😆
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At least you know your weakness & that’s half the battle Lynne👏🏻
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I very rarely go anywhere that serves a buffet. But if it can’t be avoided I try and chose wisely. Egg sandwich rather than cheese and I usually scoop up some of the salad garnish too, avoiding the beige sausage rolls and quiche. I don’t think eating out in a restaurant is a problem for me as I enjoy healthy food that’s not mucked with. I’m not a pudding person so I rarely have one. Alcohol would be the biggest calorie user for me so I mostly drive to avoid this when I go out.
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Superb tactics Debs 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
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I am on regular medications so drinking is totally out for me.
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1 less thing to worry about 👍👍
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I’ll be putting some of this into practice tonight as my work Christmas party! Definitely the dancing!
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Hope you had a fabulous time 🥰
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I think if you’re in a good place at the beginning of December then it’s easier to make good choices over Christmas. I don’t want to throw the success of the last few months away for the sake of two or three weeks of mindless eating in December.
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Fabulous advice Lesley & totally agree healthy eating is for life 👍🥰
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