Family make it hard?

I'm currently 143, but i'd love to be 135.

So far i've actually done quite well from 149, but i've hit a bit of a plateau, and I don't think my family are making it any easier. Dinner seems to be my worst point. We all eat dinner together as a family, and my Mum has started making quite high calorie meals it feels like. I get so tempted, and find restriction hard.

What should I do? Should I start making my own dinners?

You could eat smaller portions, but I know this is hard.

Possibly you could make your own low calorie side dish like some spiced vegetables or a salad or something.. Make enough to share with everyone, but fill your plate up with it so you can then just have a smaller bit of what your Mum cooks.

I always make my own food, but if you do like what your mum cooks, than perhaps do a combination? A smaller version of your own healthy meal, plus a small amount of what she has made. That way, you avoid any hard feelings your mum may have about it, still get to enjoy the food, and continue to integrate a healthier lifestyle into your normal routine.

All the best,

C

How do you feel about those steamer bags of vegetables?  You could microwave one and serve yourself a big heap of plain vegetables, then eat small portions of whatever is served.  It's easy and won't disrupt the meal. 

Or, make a salad for the whole family to have as a side and pass different dressings - diet for you, regular for the rest.

Speak up! Does your mom know you're counting calories? I know when my mom and dad caught on that I was trying to lose weight, they were a bit nicer, and allowed me to take out veggies before the buttered them, didn't look at me weird when I measured my pasta, etc etc. Plus they started buying me lower calorie foods that they thought I'd like.

If she doesn't want to work with you on the dinners, you can start doing little things like adding a big ol' portion of your own cooked veggies, a salad, something like that and just cut the portions down. I found if it's not on your plate, you won't eat a large portion, so if you self-serve it's easier, if not, just ask for a smaller portion/put the stuff you don't want in a container and say you'll eat it for lunch later on.

Or you can be a little rebellious and say you won't eat that food unless it's good for you. I know I will absolutely not touch any of my dad's fried chicken (one, it's not worth it, and two it just seems so gross now) so on those nights, I let my dad know I'm skipping his meal and making my own. They can't make you eat anything if you don't want to, but in general: don't restrict yourself.

I know you want to be leaner, but you gotta make habits that you're willing to stick to, or else once you stop calorie counting you're going to just go bananas and eat everything you weren't "supposed to" eat in large quantities.. truust me. In general, if you watch your portion sizes, eat until you're full (make sure to sip on some water) and stop when you're full, you should be fine with eating fam dinners. :D

As for you plateau, try modifying your exercise routine. More vigorous or different exercises could break it.. and you wouldn't even have to skimp out on dinners. :D

I almost always have my own meals ready. I make supper for my family, but make sure there's a good alternative for myself.  It took awhile, but I did finally manage to get over feeling silly about digging out the measuring cups and measuring a portion to meet my calorie counting needs!

This is a good time for you to practice discipline and self-control. :D Eat smaller portions and you will feel really good after eating!

hmm, well i have the same situation of eating with the family for dinner, but my mother uses a lot of recipes from http://www.cookinglight.com/, which makes it easier to deal with. I'd suggest looking for a few good recipes from there and asking mom to make them, or maybe even buy her a subscription to their magazine for Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate)!

i feel like an ad now, but my mom and i LOVE looking through the magazine and marking all the good looking recipies that we wanna try out.

one good recipe was this one: http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinde r.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1734 314&package_id=1734502 (steamed pork buns)

they were DELISHHHH.

Family makes everything impossible, just try smaller portions or start cooking your own food.

I totally agree i just make my own low calorie food b4 they have a chance 2 make me eat something they have made, so then i can say i've already eaten, but generally familys do make it hard, my mum always buys loads of cakes and biscits even though i tell her not to!!!!!! its sooo hard to resist!!!!!!!!!

Yes! My Mum is awful, not as much with the high calorie meals but she watches what I eat like a hawk. It's always 'You're not moving until you eat the rest of this' or she'll give me a really dissapointed look if I leave a lot of food on my plate. =/

I don't understand why she's like it, though. How she acts you'd think I've had a ED in the past and I haven't.