Everybody likes to party. And once you achieve your weight loss goals and you're in your Phase 4 Maintenance Program you should feel free to party guilt-free, provided you use some of your newfound knowledge and some common sense. Here are some tips to help you through the buffet table minefield when you attend parties and social functions.

Stay Focused
It's easy to confuse hunger signals and satiety at parties and other social functions, and even more confusing when food is the main event. Be sure to make that extra effort to pay close attention to your body's signals. As Moliere said, "We should eat to live, not live to eat."

Be Picky
Within reason, be a food snob. Pass by the store-bought cookies, chips and bland side dishes. If the food you choose doesn't taste as good as you expected then stop eating it and go back for something else. You'll eat less if you only eat food that tastes great to you.

Your Stomach is Your Gas Tank
Do you want to fill your gas tank with appetizers or the entrée? Is this an occasion for dessert? Ask yourself these questions as you make your food choices. You have to draw a line somewhere so make sure you're getting the food you want. If you eat everything you'll feel worse at the end of the evening and then feel guilty the next day.

Pace Yourself
Don't eat too much before the big event. You want to be hungry but not famished so make wise choices as the evening progresses. And under no circumstances should you fall victim to the old adage of eating before you go to a party so you won't be tempted later. Leave some room in your stomach for the fun when the event begins.

Don't Hover Around the Buffet Table
People who tend to overeat are sometimes guilty of hanging around the food table, which causes them to eat more than they had planned.

Do Some Reconnaissance
Before filling your plate, make a loop around the food tables. Choose foods that you know you'll like and that won't cause a spike in your metabolic response. If you pass on a certain type of fun food today you can always have it at the next event in place of the one you had this time.

Enjoy Your Food
Make eating special if it's food you really like. Give it your full attention so that you savor it. Don't just wolf it down mindlessly. Whenever possible, even at a party, sit down to eat. Take your time and enjoy the experience. In addition to the taste be sure to enjoy the appearance and aroma of your food, one bite at a time. Put your fork down between bites. This will also help you control the quantity you eat.

When You're Done, You're Done
Party eating tends to linger on and on. When you finish eating either dispose of your plate or place your napkin on top of your plate to stop you from picking at the remnants that you really don't need. Unconscious nibbling is your enemy.

Alcohol is Food
Be sure to include alcohol in your food intake calculations. Booze is full of calories, and worse, it's the first source of calories that you burn for energy so if you're drinking alcohol your body will metabolize your carbohydrates and store them basically as fat.

Don't Be Too Polite
Just because someone served it to you or just because you paid for it does not mean you have to eat it. If someone is pushing food on you just tell them, "No, thank you." There are several gracious ways to turn down food including but not limited to asking for the recipe or if you can take some home.

Beware of the Break Room
If you have a break room at work where snacks are normally available for any number of occasions be sure to judge whether or not you really need that snack or if you're mindlessly munching on something just because it's there.

Portion Control
You can control what you put on your plate at home yet restaurants routinely serve huge portions that can easily be split with a partner. Some restaurants have appetizer portions. If not, ask your server to split the entrée onto two plates. If that makes you feel cheap then leave a nice tip to make up for feeling guilty.

Enjoy the event and your eating experience. Eating isn't a contest so take your time. Enjoy your companions. Enjoy the atmosphere. Take in the entertainment. Take part in the host's traditions. Even though Moliere says you should eat to live and not live to eat, be sure your eating rules don't take away your fun.