No one cares about this as much as you do.

Just don’t say a word about what you or anyone else is eating. I don’t want to hear about your diet; I’ll be secretly eye rolling. Just eat what you eat and move on with it.

It sounds like they have disordered eating, and you are applying structure to your choices, because it works for you.

I went on a trip when I was seeing a nutrionist and pre-ordered some special foods (fruit for dessert, for example) and was so delighted that my food looked as fancy as the chocolate cake.
Work with the places, if you can.

If you don't want to talk about why you are on meal plan, just say you are undergoing some test, and what works for you seems to be:
List the foods you mentioned.

Load up your plate with fruits and veggies. Skip the buns / bread / rice and pasta. Maybe put it on your plate and take a bite for show. Skip cheese when you can to save calories. Have a nibble of dessert. No one pays attention to what I’m eating if my plate looks full and I eat some dessert.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't relax a bit on vacation? Why not just stay home?
You do sound disordered.

No. I have no self control and I own it. I know in my heart of hearts that I will continue eating like crap once I get back home if I allow myself to do so on this vacation. Vacations have ruined every single attempt at weight loss over the last few years, and I refuse to give in again this time.

NP. Clearly you don't "own it" if you can't nut up and open your mouth to tell family and friends: "It all looks amazing, guys. I just know myself and I know I don't have self-control. I honestly can't fall off the wagon. Please enjoy, and I envy you a bit, but please don't push me. I've lost weight and I feel good about my choices right now."

You clearly don't have a dysfunctional family. Consider yourself lucky.

Babe, I do have dysfunctional family members. I CHOOSE not to vacation with them. See how that works?

OP, I am like you. Trying to maintain my weight loss as a former over-eater and sweet tooth indulger.

Even though at the end of the day I shouldn’t care, I still try to be ‘normal’ when out to eat or on vacation. So, I may get a veggie burger instead of a regular burger and take off the top portion of bun. I won’t say “salad instead of fries”, rather I’ll let them give me fries and just eat 1-2.
I’ll still go to the greasy breakfast diner and do an egg white omelette. Or even go to the ice cream shop and just order a small or order a frozen yogurt instead.

I’m not saying that it’s best to pretend, but I’ve found it’s easier to just not acknowledge it because I end up getting annoyed when I have to defend myself.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't relax a bit on vacation? Why not just stay home?
You do sound disordered.

No. I have no self control and I own it. I know in my heart of hearts that I will continue eating like crap once I get back home if I allow myself to do so on this vacation. Vacations have ruined every single attempt at weight loss over the last few years, and I refuse to give in again this time.

NP. Clearly you don't "own it" if you can't nut up and open your mouth to tell family and friends: "It all looks amazing, guys. I just know myself and I know I don't have self-control. I honestly can't fall off the wagon. Please enjoy, and I envy you a bit, but please don't push me. I've lost weight and I feel good about my choices right now."

You clearly don't have a dysfunctional family. Consider yourself lucky.

Anonymous wrote:You can't relax a bit on vacation? Why not just stay home?
You do sound disordered.

Not everyone is a fat ass.

Everybody is eating like that. NBD. Everyone takes buns off, dressing on side, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was easily able to maintain my low-carb lifestyle on a cruise last year. With a buffet/smorgasbord, it's easy to tailor your meals.Who cares what other people think.

I’m hoping I’m assuming it’ll be more annoying than it actually will be. I know a few of the women going are the “I deserve this” types who try to guilt you into “being bad” with them so they feel better. I just don’t want to argue at every meal.

The key is to not engage. Let people say what they want to say and don't explain yourself, don't talk about what you're eating or not eating, just smile and nod and do your thing. You will feel the urge to defend your eating but just don't. Do as little as possible to call attention to yourself and your eating and fake that it's 100% normal.

The same goes for talking about your body and weight loss. People will comment on it, but just change the subject and move on. You have to make your body and eating habits an off-limits topic through zero aggression or actual declaration of that, just make it de facto by normalizing not talking about it.

A great way to not talk about weight loss and not draw attention to yourself is to NOT TALK ABOUT.

If someone genuinely asks in an admiring way, you can tell them, BRIEFLY, about your program.

If someone needles you about it, just shrug and say, "I'm happy with my program." If they push you, "I don't want to talk about it."

But really, REALLY don't talk about it. No "helpful hints," no "I've found that..." no, "I really miss...". People on programs seem unable to help themselves from yapping about it, honestly, and it's annoying. If someone keeps up with the "helpful hints," I will definitely push back a bit with my own comments.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't be defensive about your diet. Practice saying "this meal works for me" shrug, and then pivot "are you excited about the snorkeling/museum later? I can't wait to do x".

Don't judge other people who eating more/worse than you.

In general, don't talk about food or weight loss. Talk about other things.

If you focus only on how you eat X or Y to help you lose weight, you will start a discussion. Which is what you don't want. So don't talk about it.

I like this idea. They will probably try and persuade you to eat more, but you can just say no thanks and change topic.

+100

Anonymous wrote:Don't be defensive about your diet. Practice saying "this meal works for me" shrug, and then pivot "are you excited about the snorkeling/museum later? I can't wait to do x".

Don't judge other people who eating more/worse than you.

In general, don't talk about food or weight loss. Talk about other things.

If you focus only on how you eat X or Y to help you lose weight, you will start a discussion. Which is what you don't want. So don't talk about it.

I like this idea. They will probably try and persuade you to eat more, but you can just say no thanks and change topic.

I have an acquaintance who is on a strict diet. He brings his own food (container of salad and vegetables, I think) when he visits for dinner. He doesn't make a fuss about it, doesn't apologize, doesn't do anything that requires any extra work for us, and doesn't comment on anything we serve or eat. I have no idea why he chooses to do that, but it works for him, and it doesn't affect anyone else, so there's no reason for anything to say anything. I don't know your family, but if you don't bring it up, maybe they won't.

If they do, don't be defensive or say anything that could be construed as criticizing their habit. Say, "Oh, I've found I prefer eating this way." or "It works for me." Do not say, "I'm trying to eat healthier," or "It helps me lose weight."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was easily able to maintain my low-carb lifestyle on a cruise last year. With a buffet/smorgasbord, it's easy to tailor your meals.Who cares what other people think.

I’m hoping I’m assuming it’ll be more annoying than it actually will be. I know a few of the women going are the “I deserve this” types who try to guilt you into “being bad” with them so they feel better. I just don’t want to argue at every meal.

Then don't argue.

It literally takes two people to argue.

If they push you, just roll your eyes, or smile and shrug. And then change the subject.

Agree with pp. Also, if you try to hide the way you eat, you really will look like you have an eating disorder. So own it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't relax a bit on vacation? Why not just stay home?
You do sound disordered.

No. I have no self control and I own it. I know in my heart of hearts that I will continue eating like crap once I get back home if I allow myself to do so on this vacation. Vacations have ruined every single attempt at weight loss over the last few years, and I refuse to give in again this time.

I think it's great you recognize this about yourself. For some people, setting boundaries with food that you never, ever breach is the only way to ensure it will keep working (you would not tell an alcoholic that one drink will be fine, or a former smoker to just have one cigarette). I also come from an overweight family and I've maintained a 30+ lb weight loss for over 10 years now (i'll never be skinny but I have a normal bmi). For me, not indulging = freedom. If someone asks why I'm not eating something, I just say "oh, not today, thanks" and then change the subject. Even my pushy family notices what I'm eating less than I once thought they would.