Staying On Track and Deflecting Societal Pressures
You’re feeling great, you’ve lost weight, and you’re getting complimented on a daily basis that you seem to be exuding a certain glow. Cleary, you’ve found true Paleo diet living really suits you!
And then it happens.
You’re out with the girls and one friend, you know the one, asks why, now that you’ve reached your weight loss goal, are still turning down imported French cheese and baguette on Wine Down Wednesday with the ladies?
Or, while watching a game at the bar, your buddies are hounding you about skipping the buffalo wings, nachos, and beer while teasing that you’d probably rather be having a light salad.
Perhaps most challenging, you’re heading to grandma’s house for a traditional holiday dinner and she’s downright offended that you had the audacity to pass on her signature stuffing.
Regardless of what age we are, peer pressure exists and it can come from friends and family alike. Whether it stems from jealously or a lack of awareness or being completely closed minded, there’s no doubt social situations can make sticking to your healthy habits far more difficult.
But you don’t have to give in.
Be proactive and tackle pressures head on! With Paleoista’s Strategies to Stay on Track, you’ll not only be prepared for the inevitable conversations, but keep your diet and fitness routines on track. Dine the way you’re now accustomed to and stop feeling like you had to choose between fighting a huge battle or eating stuff that you know will make you feel just awful.
Paleoista’s 5 Easy Strategies for Staying on Track
- Don’t make a big show out of it. No need to announce to all the guests at Thanksgiving that you’re only going to be eating the turkey and roasted vegetables now that you’re Paleo, since cavemen didn’t eat mashed potatoes or string bean casseroles. Just eat as you normally would.
- When someone does ask why you’ve passed on the breadbasket, simply tell him or her you’ve recently learned that you’re allergic to or have a gluten sensitivity (or that it makes you feel sick, or that it causes migraines for you, whatever the case may be) and so you’re avoiding it. You don’t owe them a detailed explanation, nor should you feel obligated to tell them about the negative effects of eating gluten as they take a buttered bread roll.
- Call ahead if you’re dining at someone’s house and explain that you’d like to know what dish(es) you can bring because there are a couple of foods you’re not eating anymore. Make it clear to your host that they won’t need to do any extra work and prepare a Paleo dinner on your behalf. Instead, you’ll bring plenty for everyone to share and that you’re only doing this for health reasons.
- Flip it positive! When someone remarks that you simply have to try this homemade marinara sauce on the fresh tagliatelle from the Italian Deli, humbly reply that it smells amazing, but how amazing is this rapini sautéed in garlic, duck fat and finished with truffle oil?
- As a last resort, for the demanding, pushy and literally trying to force feed you bread and butter individual, go ahead and give him or her all the details. It’s far from being appropriate conversation for the dinner table, but if they simply won’t relent, you can bring out the big guns and tell them you’re not interested in waking up tomorrow with whatever GI distress will ensue if you do ingest gluten or dairy or whatever the offending food will be. Note: To be used only when all else fails. If that doesn’t do the trick, I don’t know what will.
The key is to be consistent in your routine. The longer you stay on track and the more you can lead by example, the sooner your friends, family, and colleagues will “get it.” You’re eating in a new, healthy way and they shouldn’t bug you about it. And, don’t be surprised if some of them come around and start asking how they can get started on a true Paleo diet, too!
