Had a great question last week:
“Matt… I’ve got loads of social events, meals out, people staying over… should I just stop trying for now and wait until it all calms down?”
I get it.
Because it’s easy to fall into that “all or nothing” mindset…
But what if you could enjoy the food AND stay on track?
Here are a few things I shared (and yep, some of these are straight from my free Habit Book — if you want it, just reply with “Book” and I’ll send it over).
1. Look around at what’s on offer FIRST
Before you dive in like it’s a mackerel all-you-can-eat (or is just me and my love of mackerel?), do a little walk around first.
Scope out what’s actually on offer before you grab a plate.
If you just grab and go: “bit of that, ooh what’s that? I’ll try it… wait what’s that!?”
You end up with Mount Buffet on your plate… and you don’t even remember what’s on it.
2. Don’t stare at the snack table
If you sit down with a direct view of the buffet… chances are you’ll keep nibbling.
It’s like being hypnotised by picky bits. Energy flows where your attention goes. So if you can, try not to sit staring directly at the picky bits…
3. Fill your plate like this
Start with salad or veg → then protein → then the rest (carbs/sides/etc).
This way you’ve already got the “full and satisfied” stuff sorted first.
Real example from me:
I was at a BBQ recently (yes, of course I was asked to bring the salad… again).
THEN..
I picked 2-3 protein sources (after all, if you were asking someone what was for dinner, you wouldn’t say “burgers, sausages, chicken wings, chicken drumsticks, steaks”…so when it comes to a BBQ pick a few you want..rather than all of it).
Then I made sure the rest of the day was light on calories and higher in protein/veg, so I could stick to my goals and enjoy it without that sluggish feeling.
It’s not about being perfect — just about being a little bit more intentional.
And that alone can help you feel more in control of your food again.
Want my free Habit Book with stuff like this broken down step by step?
Just message or comment with “Book” and I’ll send it over.
Or you can grab a hard copy for £3 on Amazon if you prefer a hard copy printed and shipped to you, you can get it from Amazon here:
Matt