If You Can’t Beat Them, Join Them? How Friends Can Tank your ‘Tude

Admittedly I do have friends who overeat as much as they possibly can. They’re called dogs.

Pearl One

I once had a friend who was an eating-buddy of sorts. I mean, we worked together, and then began meeting for lunch and no way were those lunches small bites and large salads.

But when I began my weight loss trek (in earnest), when we were out to lunch together I’d order veggies and brown rice.

Guess how that went over? Clearly bugged her.

I didn’t purposely pull away from my friend (amazing how the demands of twin babies separate one from one’s prior life), but that’s exactly what I suggest you do.

They’ve done studies and have concluded that habits are contagious. No matter whether we’re talking good habits or bad.

Like a bad virus?

Precisely.

They also say that we can catch habits from our friends’ friends. Makes sense if you think about it. If my good friend, Sarah, has a good friend named Sally and Sally thinks that drinking a bottle of chardonnay on her own every night is just the thing, then Sarah might end up drinking more and subsequently pass the attitude of over drinking to me.

Let’s go meta for a moment: in re-reading this past paragraph, can you see my underlying message about over drinking? I’m guessing you know that I’m saying: drinking a bottle of wine alone every night is not only a bad idea, but also a sign of addiction. You get the gist of what I didn’t say, but it was implied and you picked it up,

That’s how huge habits are in our lives: they can present in a big, “After a long day, a margarita is my best friend!!” way. Or the message can slither in and make implications about over drinking.

Here’s my point: We all have to give careful thought to who we allow to stay in your lives. We can’t constantly say to people, “Given what you just said, what are you implying?” over and over.

Can you imagine?

I hate to sound so inflexible, but when it comes to weight loss after age fifty you have one of three choices:

1) Encourage your eater to see how amazing it is to live the Smart Eating Lifestyle.

2) Suggest to eater that you meet in some other spot: i.e. not the Olive Garden.

3) Keep your eater in your life and just have a massively difficult time lunching with her every month because you can either join her in giant meals big enough to feed three, or feel annoyed when she gives you the side-eye as you order veggies and brown rice.

Eventually, the fettuccine (with unlimited bread sticks) will hit the fan and you’ll have a choice to make a choice between your health, your deepest wants, and your friendships.

I never said it was easy walking the Smart Eating Path. In fact, the beginning stages are the most challenging because one, you have to get all new friends two, find an entirely new family and three, say good-bye to the Olive Garden.

I can hear you now, “but Wendy you’ve given up your whole life just so you can fit into size-8 jeans?”

I’d answer, “why yes, that’s exactly what I do. And what’s your point?”)

Think about it: would you order a bottle of wine while dining with a dear friend who has been in rehab for alcoholism?

Of course, you wouldn’t.

Start with friends. If they can’t deal with the new habits you’re developing, it’s time to melt away and make new friends.

Because at the very bedrock, habits are contagious. ♥

Pearl Two

I won’t waste your time telling you that the fall drink menu at a specific coffee house (and a donut shop) involve shockingly high numbers like 50 grams of sugar in a medium-sized coffee.

For that you can lovingly enjoy two full-sized Snicker bars.

When you think about buying a pumpkin spice caramel hint-of-cocoa latte, ask yourself this question: would I cook, bake or brew with these ingredients at home? If the answer is, “not in a million years.” Then say, “Not interested. Pass.”

However, I do want to share a dessert that sounds like an autumn dream and is totally healthyish.

Pumpkin Spice Dole Whip

4 servings

1 cup peeled and chopped sweet potato

1¾ cups chopped frozen pineapple

2 tablespoons maple syrup

2 tablespoons unsweetened dairy-free milk beverage

½ teaspoon + ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, divided

Place the potato and 2 tablespoons water in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap, but leave one edge slightly open to vent. Microwave the potato on high for 3 minutes or until very tender. Drain the potato and let it cool completely.

In your high-power blender or food processor, purée the cooked potato, pineapple, maple syrup, milk beverage, and ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides, as needed.

Divide the Dole Whip between 4 bowls. Sprinkle each serving with the remaining ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, and top with pecans and coconut chips, if desired.

It’s supposed to end up looking a bit like soft-serve ice cream and really looks glam in a stemmed glass dish.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: ½ cup Calories: 90 Fat: 0.2g Saturated fat: 0.2g Carbohydrates: 22g Sugar: 14g Sodium: 20mg Fiber: 2g Protein: 1g Thank you to GoDairyFree.org. ♥

Pearl Three

Today’s prompt for your journal: A time you knocked it out of the park.

Remember, just write in your journal free-style (what this statement brings up for you). Next: meditate on this “win” three times a day until next Tuesday. Can you do this? I know you can. ♥

Pearl Four

In the mood for something on the lighter side and easy to consume? Then this book suggestion might just hit the spot. In five years: a novel by Rebecca Serle is set in modern-day New York and tells the story of two friends within a time-travel environ. It’s easy to assume this is a rom-com, but while it touches on romance, it then dives head first into a fairly gripping story. There are fun twists and a great conclusion that you likely won’t see coming. I give it four stars. ♥

Pearl Five

“Write the story of your life. Sharpen your pencil, freshen the ink & get to it. You are the author, the world your pages. The hero or the villain. You decide.” ♥

Megan Hine

Welp, the paperback version of the ebook is still not ready for prime-time. It turns out that the paperback will have a barcode, and said barcode costs $150. So, every time I change so much as a “comma” I’ll have to pony up $150 for the comma error to be fixed. So the paperback has to be super, super, super “clean.”

For sure, it will be ready to rock and roll next week.

If it sounds interesting, I would love a follow on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Hope you have time to read during the coziest season of all.

♥, Wendy

P.S. Are you new to the Inspired Eater? Welcome!! This blog won’t make much sense until you first read the Aunt Bea post (and you’ll find Aunt Bea on this page to the right under my short bio). On your cell you’ll see it immediately following the first post. After you enter your email address, the Aunt Bea article will be sent to your email’s inbox. If it’s not there, you might check the spam folder. And always feel free to email me at Wendy@TheInspiredEater.com and I’ll get Aunt Bea right to you!

You know the scoop: I’m an Amazon affiliate. If you buy from a link in my post, I’ll receive money, but the arrangement won’t cost you a dime.

My favorite cold tote-bag to carry smart snacks

My five-star book list