Social situation

[HarleyGirl]

Hi all
I'm in my first week of the program and it is actually my second time around..
when I did cohens 5 yrs age I became a hermit and focused on my journey but I don't want to do that this time round.

How do you all deal with this ????

I am fine on taking my food to some social events, but I don't want to do it with everything like I did in the past.

I'm off out to dinner tomorrow night to celebrate my birthday and I'm ordering chicken or fish with a naked salad or steam veg. Is this what you do ???

KazB

[Kohinoor]

Hi HG,
It will be interesting to read what others do in a similar situation. As someone else (soon2bSlim?) wrote recently, being happy and unstressed seems to help the body markedly on this journey.

Makes sense to me - the old "happy hormone" seratonin getting a look in is always a good thing. So, HOW do you stay true to Plan? Well, some take miniature scales with them, have the waitress bring the food (protein and vege) to them prior to preparation, they choose the weight of each, then have the chef cook it. If that can work for you, then go with that.

Me, I tend to think (possibly AGAINST any rules - sorry) a different way:-

1. That you have trod this path before, and you probably are pretty good at "guessing" how much chicken to cook before you even weigh it - am I right? So, how bad would it really be if you guessed the size of one meal during a happy night out?

2. Seratonin is at its best when you have "sufficient" to eat. At times if the amount you are eating is "not quite enough", your body will hold onto weight for dear life. (If you don't believe me, try doing extra work/exercise without providing extra nourishment for your body - we have seen countless Cohenites come to grief in times like that).

So, I would say (on this one occasion) make the best decision you can (if you CAN'T bring your own food) but, if the only option that works is to "eyeball the weight", then allow a tiny bit more rather than a tiny bit less. i.e. err on the side of caution.

And have a HAPPY night !! The seratonin might more than make up for a very slight change to your Plan for one night.

Koh
PS Remember though, this is all just "one person's opinion" and I am NOT a Cohens adviser. Maybe your clinic can come up with a better choice (apart from "stay home").

At least, they should be able to give you answers if you ask about trying it "Koh's way" - if they say I am wrong, ask them to detail "in what way"? I like learning too !!

[manilamommy]

Hi HG,
I find that deviating leads me down a slippery slope. And Ive been down that slope a few times.

Id go out and enjoy the COMPANY rather than the food. Eat before going to the party and just sip on a glass of water (with a slice of lemon), or hold a glass of red wine (and just pretend sip) and people assume Im just enjoying my alcohol and doing the social butterfly thing. If Im out with close friends and family, I just bring my pre-packed meal. They're used to it.

No right or wrong decision, I suppose. Its a personal choice. Good luck!
Cheers, MM