Group munchies

I play in a Dungeons and Dragons every other Friday night - and tonight is the first time since I made a serious commitment to losing this weight. I know for a fact that this will be a serious challenge to my ability to just say no. There is always an over abundance of my favorite chips, candy, and cookies being passed around. This is not a problem for the rest of the group as they are all a bunch of 20 something guys with no weight issues of any kind.

I am planning on taking a bunch of baby carrots, celery sticks, and apple slices (yes, I have allowed for the calories in everything I take in case I eat it all) so that I have something to put in my mouth along with everyone else. I am wondering if anyone else has any other suggestions for me as well.

There is no way I can ask them not to bring this stuff - one, I am the newcomer to the group - they have been doing this for almost a year. Two, I know that I have to learn to deal with these things sometime - I just wish it wasn't quite so soon. Three, as I already mentioned these guys don't have problems with their weight so it would be totally unfair to ask them to adjust for me.

Thanks so much for every ones support, I  truly believe that this is a battle no one should fight alone.

Sunni

Eat before you go.  Fill up your stomach with salad and take your own drink.  Have fun and remember, this event is not about eating, it's about having fun with your friends.

That food is OFF LIMITS.  IT IS THEIRS AND IT WILL BE STEALING TO TAKE IT.  It is poision.  It is nasty.  Someone spit on it!  Whatever you have to do to make it undesireable.

You can close your eyes and see Doritoes pasted on your thighs.  Because that is right where it's going.  Your hips covered with nasty ranch dip.  Your upper arms flabby with cookies or whatever.

You are there to have fun, not eat.  Eat your own foods.

Yes, fill up before with salad take plenty of your own diet sodas or crystal light packets and water. Just as a rule if I feel the need, urge, whatever to eat something I know I shouldn't be, I down a whole bottle of water.

A good snack also could be a bag of cereal. My current favorite is fiber One Caramel Delight - that would be perfect! 1 little square at a time, and a ton of them make a 180cal serving

Another thing you could do, which might not be total comfortable is right away let them know you are eating healthier and you won't be eating the chips or other stuff, so they know ahead of time why you aren't and wont be wondering or asking... THEN being as you have already said this - it will be a major motivator to not eat them! I have done this a couple times and, unfortunatly, most of the time I at least get a  "are you sure? its really good" and i'm like " yes i'm sure, but thanks" After that I refuse to allow myself, refuse, refuse, to say, ok nevermind, I'm going to have some!

you might also be suprised, that some of them might enjoy some healthier things too - things they probably never buy at the store and maybe haven't had in a long time!

Yep - D&D and junk food go hand in hand.  One of my friend's dad owned a pizza place, so he could just call in and order a couple of free pizzas anytime we had a gaming session.

As others said, eat before you go.

I you need to snack on something if it's a long session, definitely prepare it before hand and package it in a serving size.  My snack of choice right now is the 94% fat free pop secret microwave popcorn snack bags.  They make 6 cups of popcorn and are only 130 calories.

You know, it's too late now, but for next week, that low cal popcorn would be great.  You can get 0 or very low cal flavored salts for popcorn at the store that would make a very low cal but snackable snack.

Just be aware that these are VERY high in salt and you may have a water weight gain the next day.  But it's still better than giving in and eating actual extra calories.   Drink plenty of extra water if you do it.

Thanks guys,

I didn't even think about the whole popcorn thing - there is even a microwave there so I could pop it fresh when I wanted it.

I did good! I took a medium sized apple, a small orange, and 2 servings of baby carrots with me and I did eat dinner just before we left with a huge salad. Dinner was about 700 calories, but since I had slept really late (my son was in the ER until after 3:30am) and dinner was early this was the first time I had eaten today. This left me with almost 1200 calories for the day (my target is currently 1950).

Given this budget I was able to eat one serving of the potato chips (150 cal) as well. This was another victory for me - I was able to have just one serving instead of just one bag. Even with the chips I was able to hold myself to under 400 calories for the night - Yeah Me! This was a huge scary hurdle for me.

I didn't have to tell the group I was dieting - my friend (a semi-permanent resident in my home - like another kid to me) did it for me. The Dungeon Master uses candy or Oreos as action points, etc. (I know if you don't play the game you have no clue what that is - suffice it to say that is how he keeps track of stuff you have to use - when you use it, you eat the ......) He was using Starburst tonight & I asked my friend to pick one that he would like so when I used my action point he could eat it for me. The DM overheard me say - "I can't eat those" and thought I meant Starburst so he started to give me something else and my friend then told everyone that I was dieting. I am so glad to be part of this group - not one of them even attempted to persuade me to eat the junk. They even worked to keep it out of my reach, etc. Thank God for great friends!

By the way - does anyone know if there is a way to go back and add something to the food log after midnight? It would be really useful on nights like this. Thanks again for every ones support.

Sunni

Sunnim,

You did good!  High fives all around.

You can add to your count after midnight.  All you do is enter the food you want and you may not have noticed but you can enter the date as well.  Just hit the button for the date and change it to yesterday.

Try it out.

Way to go Sunnim!!!

It's never easy but it can be done!!!

Hi 67alecto, I've heard about very low cal. popcorn, but have been unable to find them in Canada.  Could you give me the exact brand name, because I wasn't clear about you said in your post.  I've discovered dried apple slices, 8 slices for 80 calories.  It's in a very non-descriptive cellophane baggie, with the brand name being "Tonino".  When I can't find something, I usually speak to the manager in that specific grocery department, and they always know where to find it.  Sunnim you're on the right track in bringing your own healthy snacks to your activity.  Everybody here has some helpful tips, so don't be afraid to ask.  No  matter what, never, ever give up.  We are fighting the same battle.  Enjoy your life.  Tulip's mom

Hi Sunnim, If you eat out at all, or order in, most of the chain restaurants can provide you with a nutrition sheet.  If I know I'm going out for a meal, I go online, type in the restaurant's name, print out the nutrition info and all of the calories will be listed, even for the small packages of salad dressing.  I can't remember who clued me in, but I've found it extremely helpful.

Tulips mom - I was aware of the resteraunt thing - that is how I got the information for my lunch at Denny's the other day. The gaming group meets in the back room of a hooby store not at a resteraunt though - thus the need to bring our own snacks.

Everyone - Once again thanks for all of the help - I can't even to begin to tell you how much easier it is making things this time around. Although my teenagers are being extremely supportive - they are still my kids and it's not quite the same as talking to others.

Sunni

Good for you Summin

Tulip, ask for Orville Reddenbacher smart pop. Or get an air popper 

Sunnim,

It helps to talk to someone who is going through the same thing you are. 

It is good your teens are willing to help.  They may get tired of it though, so be ready to negotiate about their own foods. 

 Somewhere online I saw a recipe for making your own (less expensive) low cal microwave popcorn with popcorn, a little bit of oil and a brown paper bag.  I don't know where it is, but you can probably Google it.

I'll try to find it and post it somewhere.

my kids tried to pop "real popcorn" in a brown paper bag in the microwave once. It did not go well, the bag started on fire and my kitchen was stinky for a week!

LOL.  Nevermind then.  Personal experience brings wisdom.  Maybe they were white paper bags?  I'm not willing to start a fire in my kitchen just to see.

LOL.  Nevermind then.  Personal experience brings wisdom.  Maybe they were white paper bags?  I'm not willing to start a fire in my kitchen just to see.

I like Orville Redenbacker Smart Pop as well.

Thanks for the popping help.  It's a kind of mindless snack that you can munch on without guilt.

Last mindless question about airpopped corn.  I've checked the internet and they show 2 basic kinds.  Microwave (about $9.99) or machine (which mostly costs about $10 more)  Recommendations anyone?

Mary,

Call your local grocery first and ask about low fat/low cal microwave popcorn.  It's bound to be cheaper locally than on the internet.

Do you have a machine?  If not you'd have to buy one first.  I like the microwave just fine and it's handy.  You can take it with you to work or parties or whatever.

Original Post by lovemytulip:

Hi 67alecto, I've heard about very low cal. popcorn, but have been unable to find them in Canada.  Could you give me the exact brand name, because I wasn't clear about you said in your post. 

 http://www.amazon.com/Pop-Secret-Microwavable -Popcorn-10-count/dp/B001P753XQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie =UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1256426723&sr=8-1

http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-pop-se cret-94-percent-fat-i85570

It also comes in a non-snack size - basically it is double the size.  If I get that size, I just pop a bag and put half in a tupperware container.

Oh, duh...sorry you said you couldn't find it anywhere.  Sorry.