Carb your enthusiasm

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Posted at 2:00PM, 17 February 2010 by Lily Barclay - Writer, bbcgoodfood.com

When I'm on a diet, I don't think it's just me that feels like I'm getting a raw deal. I seem to manage to deprive a fair few people along my low-carb journey too.

My boyfriend nearly cried in despair when I broke the news that our pizza-sharing days are over; my friend told me to call her back when I'm drinking booze again; and I nearly caused a riot at work after messing up the numbers of a buy-one-burger-get-one-free lunch. I'm not sure why everyone was so upset. It was me who had to eat salad.

Don't get me wrong, I know from first-hand experience that dining out with a friend who orders a Caesar salad with no croutons, chicken or dressing is not fun for anyone - but trust me I am not one for major self-deprivation, I'm just not very good at doing self-deprivation at all. As soon as I decide to restrict my calorie intake, food takes on a similar role to an errant ex-boyfriend; all you want to do is talk about it.

From the moment I ordered a sparkling water in the pub, I could feel my popularity dwindling

But February has to be the new January when it comes to dieting; after all, there's enough to feel sad about in January without a lack of cake being thrown into the mix. But from the moment I ordered a sparkling water in the pub, I could feel my popularity dwindling.

Although it could be that I'm just too preoccupied dreaming about chunky chips, creamy lattes and carrot cake to actually engage with anyone else much. I think Homer Simpson was on to something when he famously said, 'You don't win friends with salad'.

The chances are that if you're having dinner at a friend's or even eating out, you're either going to be a major pain or you have to ditch the diet. So I've had an ingenious idea. I've paid for membership at my local gym, which has made me automatically fitter and healthier, so naturally I'm now entitled to eat as much cake as I like. I'm feeling livelier already.

Does going on a diet hinder your popularity? Or do you avoid your dieting friends?

Comments

gen84

17 February 2010, 4:25PM
gen84

You're spot on - it's so off putting when you meet a friend and they're only drinking water or eating what looks like Bugs Bunny's leftovers. I understand people want to watch what they eat but there's something that seems really unhealthy about the attempt to constantly deprive yourself which always, in my experience, results in the exact opposite - and a side portion of horrendous guilt. The gym is certainly an option - or, just controlled portions of the naughty stuff. I don't go without the cake/choc/wine, I just try to make sure I'm getting my 5 a day alongside it. And wine's made of grapes, so technically...

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Johanna

17 February 2010, 8:11PM
Johanna

I just eat in moderation and make sure my portion size is smaller than my husband's. Depriving yourself is just a waste of time, as when you finish your diet you just eat more of what you had previously denied yourself.

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Fave Recipes

17 February 2010, 9:23PM
Fave Recipes

Every Saturday I turn into evil edna...everyone pays the price for me being on a diet!! Weekends are the hardest when on a diet I find x

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Ratatouille

18 February 2010, 9:45AM
Ratatouille

This is not true. If you go to a Restaurant or Pub and order a healthy meal or drink, and you see anyone looking funny at you (specially the person you went with) well, now you know they are not really your friends and are not interested in your wellbeing. I t is so shallow to catalogue a friend by what she eats... I say: be self confident, eat to please yourself!!! Maybe you need to put yourself on a diet of bad friends and have healthier relationships too!!! :)

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miniminx

18 February 2010, 2:42PM
miniminx

i'm with the 'gym and eat what thou wilt' approach. after years of january detox which were - sadistically - actually sort of fun as i learned to cook pulses as practically everything else was banned, i've found the best approach for me is to run really hard, and eat cake. now that it's preggo time though, it's pretty much a free for all!

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Foxy

18 February 2010, 5:58PM
Foxy

I try and be very good in the week, lots of water to drink at work, salad or healthy sandwich for lunch with fruit and eat very much in moderation. However weekends I do allow myself a treat - a bag of chips or maybe some chocolate and a glass of wine! You have to have a treat otherwise dieting would send you round the bend.

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Foxy

18 February 2010, 5:58PM
Foxy

I try and be very good in the week, lots of water to drink at work, salad or healthy sandwich for lunch with fruit and eat very much in moderation. However weekends I do allow myself a treat - a bag of chips or maybe some chocolate and a glass of wine! You have to have a treat otherwise dieting would send you round the bend.

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caz

18 February 2010, 8:56PM
caz

you can have anything you desire in MODERATION and thats the key eat slowly chew every mouthful till its totally evaporated this way you cant eat huge amounts you become fuller quicker when i go out to eat i have to have a small portion because thats what my body is now used to but i will say this the more healthier you eat the more healthier you want to eat

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TheYoungChef95

20 February 2010, 4:24PM
TheYoungChef95

Tbh i think that the biggest problem is laziness. Cooking is no where near as hard as people make out and making things from fresh is far healthier. So having the same food you love, just making it from fresh ingredients yourself can change alot.

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Filo

21 February 2010, 5:34PM
Filo

Your on the wrong diet if you are feeling deprived. To be honest if you can cook and obviously you can, dieting doesn't need to be a bore. Slimming World showed me the way forward, managing the balance of food, choosing low fat options of creams etc Ok it has some restrictions but nothing is a No No. Since I have been running with this ethos my work coleages are crying ... Oh here she goes on her eatathon again! I eat more than my 6'6" husnband and still have shifted 1 1/2 stones. Go for it, you won't look back and most recipes can be adapted without loosing flavour.

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Stavros

22 February 2010, 10:30AM
Stavros

I'm not one to go on diets myself (unless you count only eating 3 pizzas rather than 5 in a week as dieting), however, I do know and have been around those who have been.. I don't mind going out on the town with somebody who is not drinking to save the calories, and don't understand those who do find it odd, or even sinister. What's sinister about somebody who doesn't want to drink, for whatever reason!? If it really ruins your night if a friend isn't boozing, then you've some issues to resolve! I agree that you can cook healthy and tasty treats in your own home - but what about when you eat out? It can be a problem if one of a group of say 8 is on an uber health drive, there aren't too many restaurants that will provide a full and varied menu of healty options as well as the regular fare. Hold on, have I just hit upon a niche?

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Eva

27 February 2010, 2:44AM
Eva

Right now I don't care if I'm un-popular as my husband's need for perfection cleary gives him the right to bang on about how much I weigh now, and how I could look much better if I just stop eating, so I'm quite enjoying ordering very expensive salads and then leaving three quaters of the food on the plate when he's paying for lunch! apart from that I never tell anyone I'm dieting, I just say that I'm not so hungry today, or I don't feel like drinking tonight. I am currently starving though, so I'm going have a slice of the banana cake I baked this evening!

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