To not go to work Christmas dinner

[nodinners]

I paid nearly £50 a few months ago.

However I am now on a diet and doing well with it. Would it be unreasonable to apologise and give a reason why I can’t go?

£50 would be too much for me to lose.
It would be a shame to miss it, you could just eat the meat and veg (maybe ask the restaurant to sub the potatoes for other veg?) and skip any dessert/alcohol.
Are you planning on continuing your diet over Xmas day too?

I'm being very gentle here and wonder if OP really wants to go socialising with work colleagues at all, diet or no diet!

I know we are all different, but the corners of hell for me are talking and mixing with work colleagues at the Christmas do. It does absolutely nothing for me, so I don't go and get to be misery guts in the corner, but I'm happy out!

OP if you wanted to go you would just eat this or that, or have a bit of a blow out and enjoy yourself. I'm getting the feeling that you may not want to go at all, and this diet of yours is the perfect get out clause. If that's the case, don't worry about it, do what makes you happy, and write off the 50quid.

It’s not really that bofsy, I’m okay with going but just the same I don’t exactly want to go.

Yes sparkle

Agree with others. I have lost four stone in 8 months, and we get takeaway once a week through most of that. My worst weight losses were when I was eating too little - body clung to every calorie.

Sure, I have been very disciplined most of the time, and have exercised a lot, but a diet that doesn't support cheat days isn't sustainable.

Can you not just have turkey and vegetables?

Isn't turkey really lean protein? If it's traditional Christmas food just decide what you want to eat first eg rurkey and veg no sausage stuffing or roast potatoes and ask them to take the rest off your plate. If there is other food there will definitely be a healthy option. I'd speak to a colleague you're friends with as well and ask them to help you with willpower