Going out to dinner- eat normally, graze, macro hoard/fast?

samgirll123

Just curious- what does everyone do when they know they'll be going out for dinner? I usually go out once a week. I used to fast and then eat a huge dinner but that always left me with stomach pain and weirdly, temporary weight gain. Not to mention, irritable and dizzy all day. So before going out to eat, does everyone eat normally, graze, macro hoard/fast or something else?

malibu927

If I know I'm going out in advance, I'll save some calories in the days leading up to it and eat lighter that morning. If it's spur of the moment, I just let it be and eat normally. It helps that I usually go to the same places and know the calorie counts of what I'm ordering.

Tacklewasher

If it's planned, I cut back for a few days to compensate. I try to go to places with nutritional info online so I can plan the meal before hand, but that doesn't always work. If it's unplanned, I cut back a little for a few days after.

It helps to look at your week vs. the individual days.

arobey11

Personally I eat normally. But then I don't totally pig out and stuff myself when I go out, either (not saying you do this!). If you know you're going to eat higher-calorie foods that will likely put your weekly deficit in jeopardy, then eat smaller portions or cut back on your food intake through the week to save up calories for that meal.

lulalacroix

I eat out fairly often so I usually just eat within my calories. If it's a really great place I might bank some extra calories for dessert.

Lounmoun

I eat fairly normally. I choose a meal that is in line with the amount I usually eat too.

everher

I usually eat out once a week as well.

Typically, I eat a small brunch if I know I'm going to dinner later. I usually eat out on the weekends and I sleep in so I usually consume maybe 500 calories leaving a 1000 or so for dinner. I don't eat more than I normally would though. It's just that I know restaurant food tends to be higher in calories. I eat maybe half of my food and by then I'm stuffed anyways and well within my calories.

darrensurrey

Lift metal lumps.

leanjogreen18

Don't forget restaurant food is usually high in sodium so you'll probably retain a little water regardless of what you choose to do.

SmartAlec03211988

I do a protein shake fast that day.

kgirlhart

Most of the time I eat normally. I eat out pretty regularly and I just try to eat reasonable portions. I might eat a little lighter earlier in the day if it is planned. Occasionally we will go out for a special occasion. We did for valentine's and had lobster and appetizers and drinks and dessert. Those types of meals out are few and far between so normally I will bank a few calories for something like that. But I don't worry about it too much because it isn't a regular thing.

Xvapor

Eat normally enjoy it

jemhh

I eat normally.

We go out to eat 1-2x/wk and went out twice as often when I was in the thick of my major weight loss. I quickly learned to treat restaurant meals the same as any other meal. The only exceptions are special event days when I might splurge and get a dessert.

zdyb23456

When I was on my sushi kick, I'd fast all day or maybe eat a granola bar to tide me over. I would get a good run in too. Then I'd eat 5 specialty rolls. It was probably around 2000 calories, but the scale always would go up the next day most likely from all the sodium.

Chadxx

It just depends. I have more calories to work with than most and I typically have a decent sized protein snack before bed anyway so it isn't that difficult to just eat sensibly and stay within my calories. If it is a special occasion and I know that dinner is going to be high in calories, I will bank a few the day before and sometimes eat a late breakfast and just a light snack later which leaves lots of calories for dinner.

SCoil123

I enjoy my meal, log it, and make any adjustments needed the rest of the week to hit my goals.

mstbyl

Tonight ate at a restaurant.. had banked the calories, but the servings I've noticed are twice the protein & carbs, I would normally eat, so I don't eat till full, can tell by eye about 3-4oz of protein, and take just a few bites of carbs -

spiriteagle99

I eat normally. Often we go out on one of my long run days, so I have extra calories to play with, but not always. Since I started with MFP I find myself making more of an effort to make lower calorie choices when we eat out, since I know I'll be logging it later, but I still have my bread and beer.

meltedsno

I check out the nutritional value of the foods online for the restaurant that we are going to be eating at before leaving the house. That way, I've already preplanned and don't even bother looking at the menu. I make it a habit to NOT eat a restaurant where i cannot see the nutritional values before ordering. My friends and family support me on this and have never complained about the restaurant choices we've had to make. The problem with trying to make lower calorie choices without the nutrition charts available is that there are sometimes hidden ingredients and it is also easy to overeat based on portion sizes. Are the nutritional values always accurate? don't know, but at least it is a starting point for me to plan my meal... also, don't be afraid to ask for something not on the menu or to have something prepared in a different manner... the worst that they can do is say "no"

sardelsa

I will typically graze or eat smaller meals and plan my macros if I can. If I know I am having a lot of meat for dinner, I will go easy on the protein for lunch and stick to something more veggie based. If I am having pasta, I go easy on the carbs during the day.

estherdragonbat

My friends are taking me out for my birthday this week. They told me to pick the restaurant. There's one I like, but the first time I went, I ordered something I'd never heard of, loved it, and kept ordering. The problem is it's essentially a deep-fried turnover stuffed with eggplant, tomato, hard egg, and other veggies and, while I don't know the total calories, I know it's more than I want to spend on one meal.

So I checked their online menu and found a couple of items that looked safer. I emailed the restaurant and explained that I was trying to find low-calorie option on their menu and asked after the two that interested me. They replied that both were healthy and one could be ordered without the bun, one with sauce on the side. (While the restaurant isn't in the MFP database, both of these foods are and although I don't have the specific calorie amounts, I can scroll through the various entries and shoot for average).

Usually, I try to go for lower-calorie but nutritionally-dense meals at home during the day, maybe make a point of taking a long walk, etc.

ashcky

Most of the time it's planned where we are eating so I browse the menu online and log the meal into MFP and build my day around it or just ensure I eat lighter for the other 2 meals.

SusanMFindlay

Eat normally at meals; try to cut down a bit on snacks. If it's somewhere particularly tasty or high calorie, plan for a maintenance day instead of aiming for a deficit that day.

ahoy_m8

Enjoy your meal out! For me that would mean not starving before or gorging or feeling overfull after. I have 2 strategies.

1) You can bank calories for the weekend. If you trimmed just 100 cal/day six days of the week, you would have 600 extra calories to work with on the day you eat out.

2) Some meals are not predictable. Say you are going to a dinner party Sat night with no idea what the host is serving. You could pre-log Saturday with the dinner you have planned for Sunday. Then Sunday morning, pre-log your day with the dinner you were served Saturday night, even though you actually intend eat the dinner you logged for the prior day. Over a 48-hr period, it is all the same.

lemonychild

If I go out I eat at maintenance for that day