Chinese buffet - PLEASE HELP

FailVibe
FailVibe Posts: 9
in Health and Weight Loss
Goodmorning/afternoon/night everyone.

Tomorrow is my sister's 18th birthday, so we're eating dinner at a Chinese restaurant. I loooove Chinese food, always have. There's going to be a buffet of all kinds of dishes and I think that maybe this restaurant also has 'running sushi'.

It's just that last time I ate at a buffet I totally binged(and I'm not talking about the oops-i-shouldn't-have-had-that-extra-piece-of-sushi typical buffet binge, I'm talking eating around 20 pieces of sushi + different dishes with sauce and meat and rice ++++ cake and icecream when I wasn't even hungry anymore.)

Now I want tomorrow night to be a good night, and I want to enjoy myself. I'm not interested in staying away from the buffet and ordering something from the menu, I really want to do as everybody else does and eat from the buffet.



So you guys! Do you have any advice on how to tackle a buffet without overeating? What's your go-to method?
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Replies

  • JJHnIOWA
    JJHnIOWA Posts: 48
    1 plate rule
  • silken555
    silken555 Posts: 478 Member
    I actually do a 2-plate rule but that's because there are sauces that I prefer remain separate. I still eat only one full plate's worth though. Then I take ice cream for desert. The cakes are never that good...often overly sweet. So the ice cream is more than perfect...:)
  • MikaMojito
    MikaMojito Posts: 680 Member
    Honestly? Eat. Eat less afterwards for a few days. Add some exercise.
  • fatbitt
    fatbitt Posts: 24
    Eat more sushi than the typical buffet stuff, it seems like you like sushi enough so just gorge on that and you really won't be eating all that much. Even the fried sushi are better than a scoop of delish general tso's chicken. Trust me man, I feel ya. I love chinese, but sushi is the way to go. Rice and seafood, and I hope a little spicy mayo. You'll be good! Try and count it the best you can, but an 8 piece roll can be suprisingly low calorie :)
  • eelamme
    eelamme Posts: 1,135 Member
    Honestly? Eat. Eat less afterwards for a few days. Add some exercise.

    THIS!
  • kennie2
    kennie2 Posts: 1,170 Member
    mmmm buffets, i normally have like 5 plates.
    I call it "metabolism spike" lol
  • raiderrodney
    raiderrodney Posts: 617 Member
    I agree with the others...just eat and enjoy it! It can be your cheat meal for the week ;)

    And more sushi is never a bad idea :)
  • ElliottTN
    ElliottTN Posts: 1,614 Member
    Don't eat as much before. Eat slower. Drink lots of water. Eat slower. If someone makes a comment then just tell them your stomach has been off that day. Eat slower.
  • FailVibe
    FailVibe Posts: 9
    mmmm buffets, i normally have like 5 plates.
    I call it "metabolism spike" lol

    lol well that works for some bahah
  • brunetteavoxgirl
    brunetteavoxgirl Posts: 88 Member
    mmmm buffets, i normally have like 5 plates.
    I call it "metabolism spike" lol
    I do the same.
  • mtmlt01
    mtmlt01 Posts: 1
    Drink plenty of water before you go.
  • bwcetc
    bwcetc Posts: 2,826 Member
    Eat what you enjoy! It's a celebration!

    I try to stay away from the deep fried and sauce covered items. Eat more of the fish and veggies. Sushi ... yes! Like another post, I agree the desserts are just a waste of your calories. Only eat the things you really like.

    And remember this meal will have a lot of sodium in it ... so stay away from the scale for a few days afterwards ... and drink water!
  • sleroux14
    sleroux14 Posts: 25
    1- Drink water
    2- Eat a bit before leaving for the buffet
    3- Drink water
    4- ONE plate rule at the buffet and go for the sashimi (sushi without the rice)
    5- Drink water
    6- Tell EVERYONE that you are watching your cals intake and eating less...
    7- Drink water
    8- Go to the bathroom (Hey you must get rid of that water...)
    9- Talk, enjoy, talk, enjoy, talk, enjoy !
    10- Have a fruit salad for desert, they're good and always present at buffets...
    11- Ok stop drinking water now !
  • JJHnIOWA
    JJHnIOWA Posts: 48
    Side note:

    It was funny, my dad always preached the "1 plate rule"

    Problem is, at a buffet, his 1 plate with food on it would be about 2 feet tall. :noway:
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Honestly? Eat. Eat less afterwards for a few days. Add some exercise.

    ^^ This


    Enjoy the birthday party and eat what you will. Drink plenty of water. Go back to your deficit the next day.
  • Cortelli
    Cortelli Posts: 1,369 Member
    Don't eat as much before. Eat slower. Drink lots of water. Eat slower. If someone makes a comment then just tell them your stomach has been off that day. Eat slower.

    +1
  • wadevb1
    wadevb1 Posts: 9
    Not trying to be redundant, but I've found success eating a decent home tossed salad prior to meeting family or friends where temptation reigns.
  • loubidy
    loubidy Posts: 440 Member
    ONE PLATE RULE? WHAT?

    Assuming its a one off then eat all you want and savour every mouthful!!! then get back on the wagon the next day! This is a lifestyle change, not a short term thing, don't spoil your fun.
  • krist3ng
    krist3ng Posts: 259 Member
    have fun, try to fill up on some of the healthier fare, and don't eat to the point where you feel like you're gonna hurl. Then just be really good the next few days to make up for any excess.
  • charlisobel
    charlisobel Posts: 31 Member
    If it's a one off then enjoy yourself BUT stop when you are full. Try eating slower than you normally would. Then be super healthy the next day and make sure you get some exercise in. Life is too short!
  • GetStrongGetLeanInMD
    GetStrongGetLeanInMD Posts: 6 Member
    I have been in this situation due to work lunches. I usually start with a huge plate of steamed broccoli, drink a full glass of water, have a small bowl of egg drop soup and then usually im full and eat something later. If you get a second plate, stick to non-breaded chicken in brown sauces. Dont eat the white rice!
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    So you guys! Do you have any advice on how to tackle a buffet without overeating? What's your go-to method?

    Common sense and restraint?
  • Sunitagt
    Sunitagt Posts: 486 Member
    Preplan? I figure about how much I want to eat the rest of the day first, depending on when you're going, then write out a general approximation of the food you plan on eating at the buffet. Adjust your day accordingly with less food in the remainder of the day, or more exercise to help cover the buffet.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    ONE PLATE RULE? WHAT?

    Assuming its a one off then eat all you want and savour every mouthful!!! then get back on the wagon the next day! This is a lifestyle change, not a short term thing, don't spoil your fun.

    This seems like dangerous advice for someone that admits to bingeing before. If eating only one plate of food = fun spoiled then perhaps one should re-examine their relationship with food.
  • PHS7
    PHS7 Posts: 213 Member
    I love, love, love Chinese buffets and we have a really good one ten minutes from my home. Here's what I do. I go for the sushi, usually one full plate. Then, I go to the hibachi section and load up a plate with veggies, no meat, just veggies and have a big plate of stir-fried veggies. The buffet also has a selection of steamed dumplings so I go for the shrimp ones but I'll put one regular pork one on, too. I finish up with a bowl of honeydew & cantaloupe. Also, I only drink unsweetened hot tea. That seems to do the trick for me. The hard part is not having two or three plates of sushi..
  • mamma_nee
    mamma_nee Posts: 809 Member
    I always start with round 1 = salad then ~~ round2 = loads of vegetables like the string beans,bok choy,broccoli ,~~ then I go for round 3= my meat and then I go Round 4 for the fresh fruit and if I have calories and room left in my belly i choose 1 dessert plus I always eat my fortune cookie .
  • firedragon064
    firedragon064 Posts: 1,082 Member
    I used to eat until I was real full since I change the attitude to "I can eat whatever I want
    Focus on enjoy the food and the companies I'm with I don't eat as much at the buffet as I used too but I did change to

    Take a bite of each dish. Don't eat much deep fried food.
    Avoid dessert bar or eat very little since this is empty calorie

    BTW sushi is actually quite healthy and does not that much calorie.

    Happy Birthday!
  • JayDavila
    JayDavila Posts: 146 Member
    I say EAT.. Just do it smarter. Choose what you like as apposed to eating with your eyes 1st. Drink lots of water, and just dont go crazy, enjoy the day- pick your favs without going overboard. realize when your satisfied. Just because it's a buffet doesnt mean you need to stuff your face with 5+ plates. Make a good meal or two and enjoy the day.
  • charlicee
    charlicee Posts: 53
    Look around first before making a choice. Use a children's or appetizer plate, and only eat one plateful. And eat sitting down facing away from the buffet lines.
  • 970Mikaela1
    970Mikaela1 Posts: 2,013 Member
    ONE PLATE RULE? WHAT?

    Assuming its a one off then eat all you want and savour every mouthful!!! then get back on the wagon the next day! This is a lifestyle change, not a short term thing, don't spoil your fun.
    Right? Here is how i do it.
    1 I eat a salad first. some places you have to go back to the grill to get the good veggies.
    2 hot and sour soup
    3 Egg roll
    4 I dig all the veggies out of the spicy dishes.
    5 plate after plate of sushi
    6 hot and sour soup
    7 more sushi
    8 more hot and sour soup
    9 fortune cookie
    10 smile

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