Last Updated on April 13, 2017 by Marie Bautista
Has this ever happened to you when you are out with a friend dining out?
You are trying to eat healthy the whole week and are quite proud of yourself. The menu is screaming for you to get the carbonara, but you tell yourself, “I really shouldn’t.”Then your friend says to the waiter, “I want the carbonara.”“Make mine carbonara, too.” You hear yourself say.
IKR. This must have happened to me a lot of times. Our friends tend to have a big influence on our health decisions. I actually read somewhere that the way your friends shape your health behavior is part of a scientific research!
Here is how our friends may be making us fat:
The Ripple effect
I was not planning on having my flu shot a couple of days ago, until I found out my friend is having hers. That was when I decided (in just a couple of minutes because my friend was on her way to the clinic) that I needed one, too.
The way our friends eat and work out is contagious, and unconsciously, we tend to look to our friends for our eating and exercise habits, too.
Take for instance when you hated yourself for finally getting that carbonara and promising yourself you won’t get any desserts. Until your friend starts ordering the apple pie ala mode, that is, then you finally decide you need to have one, too.
And that’s not just it. We tend to have the feeling that you need to have what your friend is having.
We have friends who are “food friends.” They are friends whom we can call and say, “My day is miserable. Let’s have a cup of coffee and a slice of cake.”
One of the many reasons why we tend to give up our resolves may have a scientific explanation. When we get swayed by our friends’ decisions, studies say that the area of our brain making conscious decision is not activated. Instead, this part of our brain where vision originates named the occipital lobe is activated.
What does this mean? We tend to disregard what is right and healthy (by not ordering dessert) and concentrate on what we see other people doing (biting on that delicious apple pie ala mode).
healthy Competition
Eating what your friend is eating may not be entirely bad.
Consider this: if your friend is eating her salad, you are more likely to order salad, too, instead of that apple pie you are craving.
This means that as much as your bad health decisions may be influenced by your friends, your friends’ good health decisions may also rub off on you.
And once you see your friend watching what she eats and making time for workout, you may decide to do the same things, too. And as long as you don’t sabotage your friend into ordering those burgers just this once or not going to the gym just today, you (and your friend) are on your way to slim.
Set Your Own goals
Hanging out with friends who make healthy decisions may be good for your waistline, but what will you do when you get a new job or move to a new city and you start to have a new set of friends who have un-heathy habits?
You don’t need to get some new jeans for yourself.
Set your own goals and be strong in your resolve to eat only healthy food.
Being conscious of your friends’ food influence on you is important. Once you realize you are being swayed into your friends’ un-healthy eating, you stop yourself. Be aware and commit to a healthy meal. Try ordering your meal first. That way, you can choose the healthiest meal and won’t be tempted with the meal your friend is having.
Deciding on your own what you eat will definitely make you happier. 
These are awesome tips. Whenever I'm with my friends, instead of shopping or going to salons, most of what we do is spent eating in a restaurant we'd like to try. Lol.
Knowing what you want in your life helps you more in making decisions. You won't be persuaded by other people choices.
My friends and I love food trips. The only thing is, I don't get fat. And I am desperate to gain weight. LOL
My fiance is making me fat I must say. Same goes with him. Haha.
Trying something new in the menu is fun and exciting, hehehe.. But most of the time, I order what I want and they order also what they want.. 🙂 kaya oks lang! hehe
I think this is inherent in all people. But then if you're pretty grounded and you know exactly what you like, then this won't really be a problem.
I have to agree with this. I'm not into spicy foods until I met my friends who enjoy spicy foods. Great tips.
My husband makes me fat naman, haha. Luto kasi ng luto ng masarap e. But I like all your tips, galing mo talaga sis.
Whenever I'm with my friends we love to eat 🙂
I can relate to this post. Love reading every bit of this. Truly hits home.
I love to eat out with my friends. Sometimes we'd eat big time! I should start telling them about healthy competition.
Friends should be supportive on whatever you're eating. No peer pressure (which goes both ways).
Actually, the best bonding for friends is really eating. 🙂 I couldn't think of a bonding moment with them without a high tea or dinner, but choice of foods in on us of course. At the end, we still decide for ourselves and friends would certainly understand.
This is I relate to. But it's me that's making my friends fat. Because whenever I go to mall, I always asked them what they want and I will just bring them food. Yeah, it's for free. hehe 😛
No, my friends aren't making me fat. I'm making them fat, hahaha. Fortunately for me, my metabolism works quite fast. 🙂
You have to be aware what is best for your health. Dont let people around you influence your choices and decisions
I have to agree with all of this, Seems like I kinda like tend to lean more on what my friends do and when it comes to food choice I'm ordering what my friends order as well.. heheheh
Thanks for the tips, Sis
http://www.sweetcuisinera.com
This happens a lot. Just like the other day, one of my colleagues treated us in an eat-all-you-can cuisine. I am watching my calorie intake pa naman. I tried not to have rice but eat lots of veggies. Sira ang diet plan. hehehe
I'm planning on dieting next month to lose my pregnancy weight. Good Luck to me! I'm the designated cook at home.