If you're slim or succesfully dieting, what would YOU do in this situation

[Sundaycoffee]

Im trying to diet and really struggle with food in social situations.
Tomorrow at work we have an All hands full team meeting tomorrow which finishes at 4.30pm followed by a big BBQ after. On the menu there will be chicken or beef burger, fries, coleslaw.
Part of me is thinking do I A) just sack off the BBQ completely to avoid temptation and head to the gym instead. (This is my usual Wednesday night routine).
B) Go, but don't eat and wait until dinner, potentially too much temptation though to see this through!! or C) Eat some/all of what is offered and skip dinner later on but inevitably go over my calories for the day.
Just interested to see what others would do really!

If you do A, how much blowback professionally will there be?

if you really do have to go, I’d eat some chicken and salad/coleslaw. Stick to protein.

If you want to go then go and eat mostly chicken and salad. You can always do extra exercise or slightly restrict calories the rest of the week to make up for it. You need to be in calorie deficit overall not necessarily every day.

None, it's 150 or so people invited so not something intimate where I will be missed, but also not something we do regularly, which is why I'm half feeling maybe I should just go and enjoy it.

Will you go to the gym after barbecue?

See, if it were me, I’d sack of the barbecue…but I’m not remotely a team player and would think “you don’t pay me to go to a barbecue outside of work hours. 5pm+ is my time and I want to go to the gym!”

I'd have chicken, green salad, a little potato salad and a glass of wine. Then go to the gym the next day.

I’d do C. You are in control of what and how much you eat, just make vaguely healthy choices and don’t eat too much.

Healthy eating isn’t built on one ofc neals but general consistency. Allow yourself the BBQ and eat in moderation and then just carry on either your usual routine.

Not sure I understand the question. I’d go but not eat very much. Are you worried you’ll give in to temptation and end up eating loads? If so then maybe just have a drink and don’t eat anything?

Go and enjoy, opt for chicken and salad, chat a lot - keep your mouth busy.

I am more low appetite and don't tend to diet but if there was a BBQ after 4:30pm I would think of that as dinner, I wouldn't go home and then skip dinner, I would feel that I had already eaten dinner and not feel I was skipping anything.

No, I go to a specific class at the same time as the BBQ so it will be either or. Then after I drive to my partners which is about an hour journey so wouldn't have time to do both

I’d go, and eat if I was hungry and stop when I was full. I’d eat whatever I thought looked good and would carry on with my day.

I think more as I will be visiting my partner. We usually eat together so instead he will cook for himself and I will have to watch him eat 😆

A couple of pieces of meat. A bit of plain salad. Don't stuff it into endless bread rolls or smother it with mayo. I don't see what the problem is.

I’d go and show my face, have a couple of soft drinks, and clear off, but then barbecues don’t really float my boat. If it was an Indian or Mexican buffet you’d have to drag me out by the hair on my head.

C. Surely the barbecue is your dinner.

A) do you have an urgent deadline for diet such as upcoming holiday. If not, then which would you actually enjoy the most
B) bad idea to wait until dinner - miserable and too much temptation
C) Work out the calorie intake - I don't think a chicken burger and coleslaw is going to break the bank with a few chips. Honestly 100-200 calories over will make zero difference. You could aim for a lighter lunch if you want to eat more at the BBQ. Or, aim for a lighter day the next day. Its a good test for what you'd do if you were in maintenance mode. Go in with a plan. If plan doesn't work decide what you'd do different next time.
Other strategies - eat slowly, intersperse alcohol with soda water.

I do think the best long term mindset is 80% good and not beating yourself up!

To those saying eat chicken, salad and potatoes. The menu is literally a chicken burger, truffle fries and coleslaw. So not many healthy options to go by!

I think my problem is I'm very all or nothing! If I'm in everyday routine and no temptation I can happily keep to my calorie allowance fairly easily but if I'm presented with a plate of delicious food in a social setting, I find it really difficult to turn down some of it and tend to just think, sod it I'm going to enjoy this and then get back on track tomorrow, but there just seems to be a lot of summer parties and social occasions going on so I can't keep doing it for all of them. I feel like I'm stuck maintaining my weight at the moment instead of losing due to this.
I know technically it all adds up calorie wise, but if I've had a burger and some coleslaw I get in the mindset of "how much difference is this portion of chips really going to make on top of it"

I would go, enjoy and try to have a small dinner.

If dieting (happens now and then) I'd try to keep portions small/not eat it all and keep a rough track of calories.

It has to be sustainable.

I'd go, order and eat whatever I wanted (so the burger, chips and coleslaw!) and then use the opportunity to network and eat slowly. As soon as I felt full I'd chuck the rest but, if the food is good, I'd enjoy what I ate. If the food is going to be crap, I'd not eat there.

I'd have burger, a few fries and some coleslaw.

And like a PP, that would be my dinner.

I’d go to the barbecue and eat only protein and salad. But this is what I do at all barbecues tbh. I’m fussy with bread - I don’t eat it often so I like it to be good bread, and it usually isn’t.

Oh, and definitely don’t have dinner afterwards! The barbecue should be fine for an early dinner.