Unintentional sabotage. We all have those friends who, love them to pieces, either don’t have to worry about what they eat, should but don’t, or have an extreme aversion to moderation and anything restricted or controlled.  It’s natural for them to have issues with a person whose calorie consciousness is unwavering and to attempt to get him or her to show the human compulsion of eating less than stellar food choices.  But, at the end of the day…FORK THEM!  Yea, go ahead and do it. Either point your fork at them in a judgmental stance (friends hate this, so do it with caution) or literally give them a little jab (just a little one – please don’t report me to anger management or anything).  When a friend says, “just have a little slice of cake” and you truly don’t feel like sacrificing the calories for it, don’t do it.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been called anorexic for passing up a piece of dessert – crazy, right?  (and I tend to giggle, pull at a piece of flab and say, “anorexic?” with an inquisitive smile).

But — if you really want to give  your friend a reason why eating a little slice of cake can throw you off track (or literally force you on one) — here’s how to do it.

Friend: “It’s just a little slice of cake!”

Me:  “Did you know that that little slice of cake has at least 500 calories? Did you know that I will have to run for an hour to burn off the trivial 5-seconds it takes to enjoy that “little” slice of cake? And that would be in addition to the 45 minutes I already need to run to make the calorie deficit I need to slowly lose these last stubborn pounds!”

*Friend shakes head with annoyance*

(but at least I made my case! Buahaha!)

You know what I’ve noticed?  It is so easy for me, almost second-nature, to practice moderation and self-control in front of people.  While it is still an exercise in self-control, it’s just easier when I have an audience since I’m instantly validated with a sense of pride.  The real test is when I’m alone at 2 a.m., so sleepy that the world has become surreal and I’m trying to finish reading a passage on deconstruction and all I can think is that if I could just deconstruct a little snack it’d be easier to concentrate and somehow the words on the paper would magically make sense.  Sometimes I cave, sometimes I don’t.  I guess the goal is always to cave in less and less.

This doesn’t mean you have to pass up the things you love!  I still get plenty of my See’s candy fix – but when I haven’t planned on giving in and don’t really have room to, I really strive not to.  So don’t let anyone guilt you into being a fatty unless it’s on your own terms.

p.s. if you do have room to enjoy a little full-fledged, none of this low-fat nonsense, snackity snack, might I suggest my favorite treat…

But, alas, I am compelled to provide their calorie content: 2 pieces of the chocolate brittle are 219 calories, 15 g fat, says Calorie King here.

Tags: calories, dessert, eating habits, friendship, moderation, peer-pressure, See's Candy, self-control