I admit that in the early days of my attempts at weight loss, the non-stop holiday parties, office popcorn tins and “once a year” foods created a bit of anxiety.
I have a Free Food, Eat Food mentality that comes from years of being taught not to waste and to be frugal. So heck yes, I was going to enjoy all that unnaturally yellow popcorn and the chocolate truffles floating around the break room.
And at a party, I didn’t know how to just not eat, which seemed to be the solution for others.
I’ve shared my journey over the years to understanding my body and learning to eat intuitively, which means now I leave all stress at the door and pull up a chair.
However, it also means that I actively work to spend time with people NOT around food. It might be our conditioned way to bond, but it’s not the only way…and perhaps not even the best way. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by food obligations, let’s change the story!
The importance of social connections cannot be overlooked in the total health package.
Did you know multiple studies have shown those with the greatest connections live longer {and healthier} lives?
Who wants to die alone early just to get nice abs??
What if we changed the way we celebrate? Does it have to involve food? #health Click To TweetHOW TO ATTEND AND ENJOY
Next time an event comes up and you start to get nervous about over indulging in the wine or the fancy cheese or in my case COOKIES, take a great big deep breath.
Then re-frame the situation by thinking about why you really want to go to the event? To enjoy your friends, for some laughter, to release tensions from work.
Have you been eating well all week long? If you do enjoy a plate of appetizers will it really send you back to old habits? Do you actually still even want that food or are you eating it because the OLD you used to eat it?
Sometimes it’s more about recognizing our inaccurate mindset, than the food!
So if I’m going to force you to go out and be merry, what can you do to enjoy it without worrying about food? Here are a few tips that have worked for me and many others maintaining weight loss, while enjoying healthy eats.
- Eat before you go {if you’are coming from work, etc don’t give yourself an excuse bring an apple or a protein bar}
- Keep your water glass full
- Have a plan – you’re either going to partake with joy or fully abstain. The point of fully abstaining is if you’ve already made some less than great choices earlier in the week you don’t want to even tempt yourself with a taste. The slogan betcha can’t eat just one applies to most party foods too!
- Focus on your friends. Talk, talk, talk. You can’t chew and talk.
- Stand outside or in the room away from the food tables. We have a tendency to congregate around the kitchen which makes it so easy to munch.
- Offer to bring veggies and hummus or a shrimp tray or fruit bowl, anything that makes you feel like you have options.
- If it’s holiday time and parties are plentiful, be selective about which one’s you will really enjoy. That bar food is no where near as wonderful as grandma’s homemade fudge.
- Remember food is not LOVE. We’ve created a lot of holidays centered around food and created a connection in our minds that is untrue, so be aware of this creeping up on you.
20 Food Alternative Get-Togethers
Spending time away from food, means creating memories together that often last much longer than dinner conversation. 
Here are 20 ideas to remove the table and connect more with your friends:
- Take a walk {yes seriously people still do this}.
A recent study showed that when speaking while side by side we feel less afraid to share emotions than when staring directly at someone. - Join a boot camp class or agree to try a P90X together, so you’re creating another healthy lifestyle fiend
- Invite people to your place where you can control the food and bust out Twister
- Encourage friends to do a 5K with you, they’ll need a training partner!
- Checkout a free yoga class – Lululemon, Athleta and others often do a free weekly class
- Embrace nature! Hike, build a snowman, try snow shoeing, ice skate, just get outside
- Head to the dog park or go volunteer at a shelter to get your AWWEEE on
- Play it out – be a kid at the park playing Frisbee or attempting the monkey bars
- Go old school with putt-putt golf or bowling
- Find sand volleyball courts for an afternoon or find an open gym at a YMCA or school
- Try something entirely new to you like tennis or fencing. Learning together forms amazing bonds.
- Join an adult sports league like soccer, kickball or softball
- Hit the spa for mani’s and pedi’s (can’t eat with wet nails!)
- Help with home projects. One weekend paint their living room, the next clean your attic
- Dance party!!! Whether you head out for a girls night or just pull out some Wii games, music is a massive mood booster
- Catch a funny movie (laughing for just over an hour burns 100 calories!)
- Organize a game night and make the focus the fun with light snacks
- Have you been to a concert lately? The theater? Go rock out to Adele or be in awe with Cirque
- Get crafty: make holiday gift baskets together or try a painting class
- Heading to the pool or beach? Don’t just layout, play!
What’s your favorite way to enjoy friends without a calorie explosion?
Other ways to connect with Amanda
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You’re Never Too Slow, Old or Fat
Pippa
I love all these ideas! I’m always dragging friends and colleagues along to yoga classes or bootcamp sessions. Not sure they love me so much for it but it’s good fun nonetheless!
Jill @ RunEatSnap
I love this! When I am back home I still get together with friends to “walk the loop”, a 3 mile loop by our high school that is very popular for walking and running. It’s a great way to catch up and get some fresh air!
amanda
whooop we would be such good friends :) I know many old friends think I”m weird when I suggest these things, but that’s why I fit in to colorado!
Sue
Wow! After reading this post I realize I may just need to seek out new friends!! My current circle of girlfriends would rather drink turpentine than do anything that involves physical activity, in fact just last weekend we spent 3 hours at a restaurant while they ate appetizers, dinner, drinks, and dessert and I tried to be a good sport but really couldn’t enjoy the overindulgence due to a 11 mile run scheduled the next day in preparation for today’s half marathon. I got a ton of flack and when I shared my Tough Mudder story they looked at me like I was an alien – complete with eye rolls. But I’m not going to feel sorry for myself! I will just use this post as a good reminder that I need to spread my wings a little wider and find some new, like minded friends to spend time with. Thanks.
amanda
I can say for certain that many of my running friends have noted their friends changing once they started running more. I personally started this blog eons ago because at the time I didn’t have any support around me, so know your cyber friends are here!!
Kat
I love this post – so much truth here! While my friends and family do love surrounding our get togethers with food, I love the idea of doing something active together instead. In fact, on Thanksgiving my entire family grabbed our dogs and went out for a really nice long walk instead of passing out on the couch from a food coma. Though the food had already been consumed it was nice to get up and do something instead of just lay around!
Taylor Kiser
“Have you been eating well all week long? If you do enjoy a plate of appetizers will it really send you back to old habits? Do you actually still even want that food or are you eating it because the OLD you used to eat it?” These are GREAT questions to ask myself before partaking at holiday parties! And the tips while at the party are fantastic too! The last one in particular really jumped off the screen at me. I don’t think there’s ever been a truer statement than that! Love the 20 non-food get-together ideas! This post is full of great and helpful information!
amanda
Thanks so much Taylor!!! I do think if we pause to ask ourselves a few questions, we often realize we don’t even like what we think we’re required to eat, ha!
lindsay Cotter
one of my favorite things to do with people is to go for hike or walk. It’s truly the best socialization! when it comes to holidays, i try to focus on catching up, friends, laughter! That’s way more important that worrying about the food. Well kinda. IMHO. ;-)
Colorado Gal
Love this! I love getting together with friends for hiking and runs. PS Love that first photo :)
Sarah
So many great ideas! I indulge a little more during the holidays but I’m ok with that. That said sometimes I pay for it, like today.
Long story… one family we were with (really good long time friends) have let their unhealthy habits get even worse and just wanted to eat the whole weekend and eat junk. They also weren’t big fans of getting out and doing things. We were out 5 hours Friday but they grabbed food a few times and the kids whinny about being outside and Saturday plans were changed and cut short as they wanted to go out but didn’t want to be out that long so we didn’t go to the cabin hiking and sledding. While the girls and I didn’t have too much junk it was a lot of food we normally don’t eat. I tried some new cheese as mine wasn’t packaged right and soaked up water on the way up. It didn’t work with my stomach and I was sick all night Saturday and yesterday morning. Still not feeling that great this morning. It was that, sugar, and the alcohol. My husband was the big one who indulged and ate all the “crap” for lack of a better word.
Another reminder our bodies aren’t use to that and it isn’t fun.
Laura
I’m an all things in moderation person. One of my favorite ways to have fellowship with people is over good food, which is more important to me than looking a certain way! Obviously there are always healthy, nutritious choices that are also delicious! I have learned not to let fear of eating too much keep me from enjoying my friends and family…because most gatherings are centered on food, especially around the holidays! <3
Elizabeth Shaw
Such a great post Amanda. I too am all about the non food ways to enjoy the holidays! I always initiate a family walk that is now well received (the first year not so much) lol! I’m looking forward to many hikes with friends too, which is a great way to really get to chat and catch up!
Laura @ This Runner's Recipes
I love these ideas! Hiking, running, and the dog park are my favorite things to do during the holidays (or really, any time of year) that don’t involve food. I enjoy companionship over good food and drink, but that kind of loses its sense of enjoyment when it’s just food upon food upon food and not as much focus on the people.
Alisa Fleming
I love these ideas and needed this list for hanging out with a friend who’s trying to lose weight – brilliant! I’ve been wanting to be supportive and suggest more non-food stuff and there are some great ideas on here that would fit with what she likes.
Emily
I love the connection between how we socialize and how we eat! It is often so overlooked or misunderstood, great lost!
Rebecca | NOURISHED. the blog
Love this post!! Some really great tips here. I know I always try to eat before I go to any party and I definitely make sure I always have water to sip on. Those tricks have been lifesavers for me!
Sonali- The Foodie Physician
Everyone should read this! Going out to lunch or dinner seems to have become the norm for a lot of people. These are some great ideas to change it up and have fun doing it! Thank you for sharing!
Karlie
Such good info I love your mindset!
Meg @ With Salt and Wit
This is a great post! You have some great tips! Everyone needs to read this!