How to Lose Weight Without Ruining Your Social Life

Maybe you find it easy to stick to your diet when you’re at home, but parties and eating out throw you off track. Suddenly, you’re surrounded by temptations. You want to have fun with your family and friends instead of thinking about counting calories and measuring portions.

You can make healthy choices while enjoying a social life. However, you’ll have a difficult time keeping weight off unless you’re able to keep your goals in sight when you’re out in public.

Try these ideas to help you turn your family and friends into allies and prepare for many of the most common challenging situations.

Dealing with Your Family and Friends:

1. Ask for help.

Experts say that social support is one reason why groups like Weight Watchers have so many success stories. Let your loved ones know what kind of practical and emotional assistance you need. You may want to join an official support group too, especially if you’re losing significant amounts of weight.

2. Team up.

You probably know someone who shares your desire to slim down. Collaborate so you can keep each other company and hold each other accountable for working out and eating your vegetables.

3. Change the subject.

There may also be people who tend to undermine your positive intentions or just lack much interest in what you ate for breakfast. You’ll be more fun to be around if you talk about things other than your diet.

4. Plan the agenda.

Seek entertainment in places other than restaurants and bars. Invite a friend to go rock climbing. Bring your children to a science museum instead of an ice cream parlor.

5. Take responsibility.

Remember that you control what you eat and drink, and you have to live with the consequences. It will help you to keep any peer pressure in perspective.

Dealing with Eating Out:

1. Preview the menu.

Most restaurants post their menus online these days. Find out what your options are so you can decide what to order without being tempted by having to look at the specials and other fattening dishes.

2. Shrink your servings.

Many restaurants serve jumbo portions. Eat half of what’s on your plate and take the rest home for breakfast. If you think you’ll be prone to gobbling it all down, ask the server to pack up half in advance.

3. Pick the venue.

Some restaurants offer a wider selection of delicious low-calorie items. Have a list of local favorites handy so you can recommend where to go for date nights or weekend brunches.

4. Make substitutions.

Ask your server if you can customize your meal. For example, you may be able to get extra vegetables or a green salad instead of French fries or order your fish grilled instead of fried. If your meal includes sauces, see if you can get them on the side.

5. Circle the salad bar.

You might think that salad is a safe choice, but it depends on the ingredients. See what’s available at the salad bar before you order. Go easy on the shredded cheese, bacon, and heavy dressings. Load up on leafy greens and other vegetables.

6. Have a snack.

If you know that you tend to overindulge in birthday cake or barbecued ribs, curb your appetite before you leave home. Eat a cup of yogurt or hummus on baby carrots.

7. Limit alcohol.

Cocktails contain a lot of empty calories and can make you crave cheeseburgers and buffalo wings. Draw the line at one drink and make it wine or spirits with a zero-calorie mixer like club soda.

Planning ahead and building a strong support system will help you to slim down and still enjoy hanging out with your loved ones.

After all, healthy eating and close relationships both play a big role in your happiness and well-being.

Healthy Lunch Ideas Your Coworkers Will Want to Steal

When you bring lunch to work, do your coworkers run away because of the smell? Or, do they wish they could steal your lunch? If you try these ideas, you'll be the envy of the office. Plus, they're nutritious and healthy!

Lunch doesn't have to be boring, bland, expensive, or unhealthy junk food!

Try these healthy lunch ideas to spice things up:

1. Make an amazing sandwich with portobello mushrooms.

Add layers of mozzarella and cheddar cheese slices to the bread. Then, add your favorite meat and grilled portobello mushrooms.

* Consider adding vegetables such as romaine lettuce, spinach leaves, and tomatoes. Other delicious options include red or white onions, cucumbers, and pickles.

* Remember to pack your favorite condiments like ketchup, mayo, and mustard.

2. Create a lettuce-free salad.

Lettuce can wilt and get soggy by lunchtime, but this salad will hold up through your morning meetings and conference calls.

* Try a lettuce-free salad by cutting and mixing tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley, dill, and corn.

* Another option is to make a lettuce-free salad with corn and beans. Mix corn kernels, kidney beans, lima beans, chopped bell peppers, olives, and tomatoes.

* Make your own salad dressing by using olive oil, salt, and pepper.

3. Make the perfect wrap for lunch.

Instead of buying a wrap from a taco stand or restaurant, make your own. You'll be able to control the ingredients and make it healthier.

* Start with strong corn or flour tortillas that won't fall apart or shred.

* Cover the tortillas with a layer of sour cream. This will help the ingredients stay in place.

* Add your favorite toppings such as shredded cheese, ground beef, onions, tomatoes, and shredded lettuce. Remember to roll the wrap tightly. Wrap it in foil to help it keep its shape.

* If you prefer a low calorie version, then use lettuce wraps instead of tortillas. Simply wrap the ingredients in iceberg or romaine lettuce leaves.

4. Make a power bowl.

Power bowls combine multiple ingredients together into one easy to eat mix. They're a good way to reuse leftovers, and they're convenient for those who have to eat at work. You can make savory or sweet power bowls.

* The key to creating a successful power bowl is to ensure it has a variety of healthy carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

* Try the BBQ power bowl that combines chopped carrots, corn kernels, beans, meat, and bell peppers with rice and BBQ sauce. You can use brown or white rice for this recipe.

* Another option is to make a quinoa power bowl. The quinoa serves as the main carbohydrate. You can add protein by using meat or tofu. Then, add chopped celery, spinach leaves, and tomatoes. For a sweeter version of this recipe, replace the vegetables with dried cranberries and dried apple slices.

5. Create delicious miniature food cups.

One of the issues many people run into at work is they don't have a lot of time to eat, and they often must multitask while having lunch. Miniature food cups make it easy to grab a quick meal.

* You can use foil or paper cupcake liners and fill them with your favorite ingredients.

* For example, one cup can have fruit such as grapes, sliced oranges, and apples. Another cup can have nuts or seeds. A third cup can have cheese, meat, or vegetables.

Lunch can be fun and nutritious. Try these ideas, and your coworkers will want to share lunch with you.

Learn more about your health online when you read the rest of our information here about: Weight Loss guide and also download the free health report available there!

Warren Tattersall has been a full time nutritional consultant for over 35 years and works with people all over the world to help them improve their health, increase their personal energy levels and to use supplements to assist with diet related health issues.

Just send him a note on the form here - Contact Us - to request a personal no obligation one-on-one consultation with Warren

New order website for Australian customers:

For all the subscribers that don't want to talk to anyone, just want to buy their products direct, I'm creating these websites that process orders for you once you register with them.


The Australia GoHerbalifeSite is the first one completed, other countries will come along soon...
Australian customers: Click this link or tap on the banner below to check it out and get registered to place your orders... and remember your 15% discount code: HLIntro15




Did you find this post fun, informative and useful? If so, please share it with others!

If you have a comment, question or suggestion, please leave a comment below!