How do you stay below calories when eating out?

Alaine14

How can you possibly stay within your calories when eating out, at a party, tailgaiting, vacation? is it even possible?

barbiecat

There are a lot of strategies:
eating before you go and not eating at the event
bringing your own food
at a restaurant, asking for special food----grilled chicken, steamed vegetables, salad w/o dressing,or cheese or croutons


if being healthy is your highest priority there are many strategies

CyberEd312

Yep just takes some planning..... Tomorrow night I will be going out for Pizza , Nachos, Beer and Ice cream for dessert... I zig zag calories this week in anticipation of this meal out so I saved some calories and tomorrow breakfast and lunch will be lighter than normal, I will hit the gym for cardio in the morning, so I can go out enjoy myself with my family and have no regrets.... Best of Luck

Mr_Knight

Absolutely it's possible. And the awesome part is that it is completely in your control - just make the choices you want to make!

ladynocturne

You can also work out before hand. I will sometimes really bust butt and burn around 600 calories before an event where I want to eat more than usual. Even if you go over by 100-200 calories, you'll still have a small deficit for the day and will lose weight.

quiltlovinlisa

Yup, plan ahead. Exercise. Eat lightly before an event. And don't sweat it if you go over. Just jump back on track your next meal. I had two potlucks last week and still lost a pound and a half.

Miss_Meliss86

Planning ahead. And if you go over, you go over. As long as you're not going out to eat every single night it won't be a huge deal.

For me, I have digestive issues I need to consider as well, so I make a point to find out as much as I can about the place I'll be going to eat beforehand and if possible, look at their menu and figure out ahead of time what I plan to eat. If I can't find anything substantial/worth spending money on, I'll eat ahead of time and nibble on an app or something small.

Cranquistador

andrewj87

If it's not on a Friday (my cheat day) and i'm out to dinner, I look for the most boring sounding, low calorie, low fat item on the restaurant menu...here's looking at you, salmon! Other times I just try making sensible substitutions when it's an option.

zorbaru

just make up for it over the next few days, or 'bank' calories in the days leading up to it.

if you go 100calories under everyday for 5 days, then you can safely go 1000 over and not have any issues.

dont forget there is a 500 deficit built in to your daily goal already (if you select 1lb per week) so on any given day you can go over by 500 and not gain anything. add that to the 500 banked and you are sweet to gorge.

Sjenny5891

1 I go online and check out the menu if I know where I'm going.
2 A lot of places now have something on the menu that shows meals under 500 calories.
3 Chicken is often a good choice.

When it comes to cookouts, I bring a fruit or a vegetable and get a good sized serving of it.

Other than that I either get in a good jog/ exercise before- I usually don't feel hungry after eating. OR Plan ahead and eat under by 100 or so calories each day that week to give myself that extra 600 to work with.

Flabulousss

I like 5:2 because all I have to do is fast after a wild celebration.

vanguardfitness

I usually just don't eat for the day or walk for a couple of hours (or both). Depends on what I'm eating and how much. I get stuffed pretty easily though

leaaa92

Try eating healthy before you go. And if you can fit in a morning workout, do it so that you have some wiggle room. And when you're there drink lots of water and remember to eat the food in moderation

MelissaPhippsFeagins

I eat salad, eat half the entree, or split a plate of chicken nachos with my 7 yo, who hogs all the cheese and that's fine with me. :-)

EdwardNortonFan43

How can you possibly stay within your calories when eating out, at a party, tailgaiting, vacation? is it even possible?

It's pretty much impossible tailgaiting.

samedame

Get your own bottle of pellegrino and add a twist to your cup = no calories
Don't eat the bread choose foods carefully
Plan ahead and don't eat the whole day, you can have all of your calories at once.
espresso for dessert or maybe some sorbet

fabafter5

I never drink my calories.
Try and have a broth based soup.
Divide up entrée at the start and have it boxed up.
Only have dessert if it's something that I love.

lessofme43

I will order something from the 'healthy' menu, or order something fantastic and right off the hop split it in half to take home in a doggie bag and enjoy tomorrow I try not to be that annoying 'i'm watching what i eat' person at the social gatherings, but rather choose small portions or load up on the veggies and low-cal stuff. Stick to water, so you can enjoy the calories in the food. share a dessert, just eat slower than the other person All that said, I've found that if I enjoy an occasional dinner out one evening, I often have a weight loss the next morning - don't know how that works, but I'll take it!

MercenaryNoetic26

I look at menus online and pre-log around that meal. Or I go with easy stuff like grilled chx salads or burgers without cheese. I'm familiar with serving sizes and round off meat if at cookouts. I do IF, so may fast longer before and/or after if I'm gonna go all out.

Momjogger

First thing I do is exercise for an hour or two. That gives me more calories to play with. Then I decide. Do I want French fries and beer, :drinker: or a glass of wine and pad thai. Plan out what you are going to do. It makes it easier.

grassette

Burn them off either before or the next day through strenuous exercise.

iheartbiology

I only eat 1/2 or 1/3 of the dish.

TyCopeland

Yep just takes some planning..... Tomorrow night I will be going out for Pizza , Nachos, Beer and Ice cream for dessert... I zig zag calories this week in anticipation of this meal out so I saved some calories and tomorrow breakfast and lunch will be lighter than normal, I will hit the gym for cardio in the morning, so I can go out enjoy myself with my family and have no regrets.... Best of Luck

Can yu really save up calories and eat at the end of the week and still get results???

MelissaPhippsFeagins

Yep just takes some planning..... Tomorrow night I will be going out for Pizza , Nachos, Beer and Ice cream for dessert... I zig zag calories this week in anticipation of this meal out so I saved some calories and tomorrow breakfast and lunch will be lighter than normal, I will hit the gym for cardio in the morning, so I can go out enjoy myself with my family and have no regrets.... Best of Luck

Can yu really save up calories and eat at the end of the week and still get results???

I wouldn't do it every week, but for special occasions, yes.
Also, if I load up on Friday, I often take a 5-8 mile hike on the Saturday.

pavrg

How can you possibly stay within your calories when eating out, at a party, tailgaiting, vacation? is it even possible?

For a lot of restaurants, if you're not eating something basic (e.g. grilled chicken or sirloin with a side of baked potato, a burger, etc), cutting the meal in half works well.

It's also hard because even when restaurants post calories they are often under-estimated. For example, the other day I had a chipotle burrito and I was able to tell from experience that the toppings they put on it were not the same portions as reported by the restaurant's website. Brings a 850 cal burrito up to 1150 easy.

Also, oatmeal for breakfast and lunch. 320 calories total (480 if made with 1% milk). For most people, that will leave over 1,000 calories for the big meal not including exercise. Also, keep in mind that your weight loss goal already has a 500ish calorie deficit built into it, so you won't eat enough to gain weight unless you have over 1500 calories in one meal (which is certainly doable with 20 wings, 1/4 cup blue cheese or ranch, and 4 beers coming in at 3000 calories).

kirkor

Plan ahead and don't eat the whole day, you can have all of your calories at once.

Best answer. Just fast beforehand.

Couple different strategies lined out on Andy Morgan's site: http://rippedbody.jp/2011/11/22/how-to-use-intermittent-fasting-to-eat-like-a-king-and-keep-your-abs-this-holiday-season/

RaggedyPond

Save extra calories for the meal or do a longer work out.

Flabulousss

Plan ahead and don't eat the whole day, you can have all of your calories at once.

Best answer. Just fast beforehand.

Couple different strategies lined out on Andy Morgan's site: http://rippedbody.jp/2011/11/22/how-to-use-intermittent-fasting-to-eat-like-a-king-and-keep-your-abs-this-holiday-season/

I do this also. A lot of people assume you'll end up binging and going overboard, but I've never had that experience. There are only so many hours in the night before I pass out in a drunken stupor with pizza all over the bed...... I think it all evens out pretty well.

Mslmesq

Pre-planning. I look at the menu on line before I eat there. If it looks like I'll be high on the calorie scale, I compensate with a lighter breakfast and lunch and/or I exercise more. But eating and trying new things is a joy in my life. I refuse to not enjoy myself at a restaurant venue by eating bland items I can prepare myself at home.

chad_phillips1123

If you know you're going to eat there, plan a day or few in advance to eat less (maybe afterwards as well). Also, if it's going to be a blowout, maybe exercise some that day to minimize the impact.