Friends – Helping or Hurting Your Waistline?

How to Encourage Friendships that Don’t Encourage Overindulgence

Seems every time a female client is confessing a wayward moment of overindulgence it includes a friend.  From friends that want to meet for drinks after work, to friends that encourage splurging, to friends that always want to try the newest restaurant, to friends that seem to make a never ending supply of treats, to friends that help us eat through depression – often these friends are sabotaging our best efforts at being healthy.  But, we don’t have to give up our friendships to eat right and stay healthy.  We just need to identify the friend issue and have a plan or redirect the activity.  Here’s how to recognize friend issues so you can keep your friends and your waistline.

 

Friend Issue #1: Happy Hour After Work Friend

A stressful day makes an invitation to happy hour seem like a great idea.  Unfortunately these moments often lead to overdrinking and overeating.  Alcohol is a common way to cope with stress but it loosens inhibitions which means you might be more tempted by poor food choices.

Maintain Your Waistline:

Time to plan.  Plan to partake in happy hour only once per week.  Identify healthy appetizer options online before you arrive and plan what to order.  Don’t look at the menu, order from your plan.  Order a glass of red wine or single shot of white liquor on the rocks with lemon.  Additionally order a glass of water.  Sip the alcohol and water equally, but hold the alcohol in your non-dominant hand to slow your consumption.