Tips for Maintaining Weight Goals at Social Events

The hurdles of social events and weight management

One of the most crucial parts of reaching and maintaining your weight loss goals is getting into a routine that works for you. But it can be challenging to keep to it when social events and holidays are always popping up as obstacles to navigate. You may be specially tested around Christmas when food comes in its masses, and everyone indulges in their favourite treats.

Luckily, it’s not impossible to continue your weight loss journey while still enjoying yourself with your friends and family. Enjoying the food you love is not a crime, and you shouldn’t punish yourself for a night or week of out-of-cycle habits. It’s all about finding a balance, staying focused, and learning to get back in the game.

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A waiter carrying party food at a social event

Understanding the Challenges

There are many reasons why we sometimes struggle to stay on track with our weight when social situations come up, below are some examples of what many of us experience:

Family gatherings

Family gatherings, such as Christmas, weddings, or birthday parties, can especially strain on temptations, when buffets, alcohol, and nibbles, are in every direction. It doesn’t get any easier if relatives make unhelpful comments or don’t understand why you’re trying to avoid certain foods.

Office parties

Whether it’s a small leaving do or a company-wide Christmas bash, an office party can be an equally tricky environment for people trying to manage their weight. When everyone is letting their hair down and de-stressing with a drink or three, it is understandable when one might let their hair down and glory in the food and drinks on offer.

Holidays

Holidays are one of the biggest challenges to staying on track with your weight. A week or two of indulgence means you’re out of your usual routine for longer periods, causing you to lose touch with your commitment to managing your weight. When you return to normality, your mind may still be in holiday mode for a few days, overpowering your previous motivation.

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Practical Tips for Staying on Track

The truth is you don’t need to compromise your enjoyment of social situations to keep your weight loss journey flowing smoothly. The tricky part is not letting a night of indulgence ruin your routine. But don’t worry, there are ways to ensure you find your feet again.

Below are some tips to ensure you stay on track whilst enjoying a night or two of party food and drink.

Practice mindful eating

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Mindful eating is about slowing down, paying attention, and appreciating our food to improve our eating habits. By practising mindful eating, you’ll go into social situations with a new, healthier mindset, approaching the food you eat differently. The longer you practice mindful eating, the more it will become second nature, and the less of a challenge social situations will become.

Learn more about how to cultivate a healthy relationship with food.

Plan ahead

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It’s important to make sure your routine is flexible. If you know you have a social event coming up, it can be wise to plan the week prior, adjusting your routine slightly to work around your plans so that you can continue your weight loss journey before and after treating yourself to party food and drinks. This could mean shifting your usual gym days one day ahead or switching around your rest days.

Ease back into it slowly

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If you’ve been on holiday for a week or two, enjoying exotic food and drink, jumping straight back into your usual routine is not easy. Instead of trying to go straight back into your normal cycle, ease yourself back into it the same way you would if you were starting for the first time. This makes it less likely that you’ll give up and allows you to rebuild momentum.

Change your routine

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If social events and holidays keep getting in the way of your weight loss, it might be worth rethinking your routine. Maybe your current plan isn’t working for your lifestyle, and that’s okay. There is no perfect routine that everyone must follow, it can take a few attempts before finding the right way that works for you.

Drawing on Support

Support from your loved ones

Peer pressure can have a huge impact on your motivation for weight management. When working on your weight loss journey, it’s important to let your friends and family know. With everyone’s support and understanding, you are likelier to stay on track while enjoying your favourite party foods with your loved ones.

Support from your pharmacy

You don’t have to feel alone during your weight loss journey. Our pharmacies offer a valuable weight management service, offering weight loss treatment as a helpful boost to reach your weight loss goals.

Our knowledgeable pharmacists are dedicated to helping you achieve and maintain a healthy weight, combining our services with a balanced diet and regular exercise for the best long-term results.

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