(BlackDoctor.org) — Once summer hits, most people find themselves much busier than usual. Endless barbecues, business lunches and fundraisers, end-of-the-work-week drinks and dinners, and even more partying on the weekend – all while you’re trying to diet. Sound familiar?
Do Diet Plans + Busy Social Calendars Always = Pounds That Won’t Go Away?
Trying to sync your diet plan with a packed summer social calendar could be like mixing oil and water — a frustrating, if not impossible, effort. Sooner or later it becomes obvious why those pounds are sticking around instead of melting away.
You can control portion sizes and calories when you’re making your own food. But enter a room with a buffet table, an open bar, and circulating trays of bacon-wrapped shrimp, and who can keep track?
RELATED: 4 Ways to Avoid Summer BBQ Bloat
5 Tips for Sticking to Your Diet at a Social Event
Here’s how to keep your weight-loss plans on track with even the busiest social calendar…
1. Never arrive hungry.
Hunger will weaken your resolve. The best approach is to eat before you go, like a snack or mini-meal that’s light, filling, and healthy.
“Take the edge off your appetite by eating a piece of fruit, a low-fat yogurt, soup, or a salad before leaving home,” advises Molly Gee, RD, MEd, a nutritionist at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
2. Be polite, but firm, when turning down food.
“First say ‘thank you’ and then say ‘not right now, maybe later,’ or whatever seems to be appropriate,” says Gee.
If you’re not sure you know how to politely turn down your hostess’ carefully chosen goodies, do some role-playing with a trusted friend, colleague, or the mirror.
3. Avoid temptation.
When you first enter a room, take note of where the buffet table, bar, and dessert table are — and avoid them.
“Out of sight, out of mind is important in this situation,” says Gee.
Even if you see something tasty on a pal’s plate, you will have to