Eating out is ruined for me now..

wheird

Provided that you don't eat out very often (once or twice per month), I wouldn't be too very bothered. Keep in mind that you will be going out to eat when you're eating your meals prior and/or after. If you exceed your calories, you have a few options:

1. Increase your exercise throughout the week to make up for the deficit.
2. Reduce your calorie consumption throughout the week to average things out.
3. Ignore it and move on, in the long run it shouldn't affect your weight too much.
4. A combination of the above.

Most of all, don't stress about it. Part of learning healthy eating habits, and indeed a healthy lifestyle, is to merge it into your life and not let it control it.

vjohn04

As my good friend Dank Priest says "you're over thinking it."

Relax. You know how to build a proper low cal meal. Ask for light/no butter, oil, and dressings. Put what you've learned to work

My pal DanFull says "just work out".

touche'.

vjohn04

Look, I'm a business traveler and eat at restaurants probably more than most, except for Derp....

make good choices, go easy on the booze, enjoy the food.

go home.

done.

hearthwood

I eat out all the time, I just don't eat it all, and I don't bring home a doggy bag either.

If I have a choice at a steak house I'll order the steak salad, or a 6 oz. sirloin, eat 3 oz. of it, a side salad with dressing on the side, and a vegi and skip the fries and loaded potatoes. Obviously no appetizers or deserts.

Just think of restaurants and their serving size. Most give a serving that's capable of filling up a 400 pound man, that hasn't eaten in 3 days. IOW no one walks out hungry. If you eat it all and clean your plate you've probably consumed enough calories to last you a couple of days.

You can still go to restaurants and enjoy yourself, just plan what you're going to do before you get there.

hgycta

I know exactly how you feel, it can be so frustrating! I'm surprised some people here are being so insensitive... One "bad" day may not do damage, but these "bad" days add up and are why we're all here, aren't they? Restaurants really don't make things easy unfortunately, everything seems to be focused around cheap flavor in large portions for as little money as possible still making a profit. That's probably why so many of us struggle with our weight, overeating has never been easier nor more tempting than it is now. I do try to avoid going places where I can't log since places can vary so much, but you're generally good if you order a salad without dressing (I always opt for one with grilled chicken and a bunch of different veggies such as peppers, and maybe even tortilla chips, which add flavor and not a terrible amount of calories). Fish is usually a good choice, too, as long as you watch out for butter sauces (and remember while Salmon is healthy, it tends to be a more fatty fish and therefore more calories). I also order soups whenever salad just doesn't seem to cut it (while they're high in sodium at least they're lower calorie). Whenever my family gets Chinese carry out, for example, I find it's easier to order Wonton Soup than sort through the entire menu.
I wish you the best of luck, I hope all goes well and you're able to find a happy and healthy balance!
Stay strong

FXOjafar

My way is try my best to eat keto and to guesstimate what I've eaten. One day over in calories isn't going to hurt. Eating too many carbs would though. I don't want to feel that awful again lol.

mazdauk

You've broken the back of it, so as long as you don't eat out three times a week every single week you should be OK!

Last year I put on 5lb over a 2-week holiday - way too much cheese, meat, fries - but I didn't put on more because I continued to go for long walks most days and I logged everything as far as I could. there's nowhere near as many NL restaurants with calorie counts OR listed on MFP as there are in the US or even UK. I put myself on maintenance for the holiday (still went over many days )The when I got home I went straight back to being good and was back down to goal weight.

When I'm not on holiday, if I know I'm going out for a meal I make sure I eat at a bigger deficit for the rest of the week and "save" some calories for the meal out.

crownmaiden

I'm so sorry to hear about your situation!

Maybe you can order just sides, like a side salad and seasonal fruit and drink water. I've gotten weird looks before for building my own meal this way, but at least you can stick to your plan. I remember once eating at a Ruby Tuesdays, getting the salad, and finding out it had over 1000 calories alone, more than some of the other, tastier entrees! My husband and I like to look up nutritional info ahead of time, to decide before we're starving. We also split entrees most of the time anyway, since it's food for two meals or two people, and then you also save money and stress less about the amount you're eating.

Good luck!

MysteriousMerlin

Just stop.

I work in a restaurant. While there I eat out three times a week . It's free so I'd be foolish not to. I don't know what the exact calorie count for each meal I eat is, as it would be impossible to figure out. And yet, in the past 40 days I haven't gained or lost any weight. Not one single pound. Why? Because I took the time to learn about the general calorie content of many of the foods that I enjoy. Seriously. A little knowledge can go a long way. If I can do it for over a month you can do it for one day.

Kisses for you :smooched:

Francl27

Just stop.

I work in a restaurant. While there I eat out three times a week . It's free so I'd be foolish not to. I don't know what the exact calorie count for each meal I eat is, as it would be impossible to figure out. And yet, in the past 40 days I haven't gained or lost any weight. Not one single pound. Why? Because I took the time to learn about the general calorie content of many of the foods that I enjoy. Seriously. A little knowledge can go a long way. If I can do it for over a month you can do it for one day.

But I have no idea how they prepare their 'light sauce' on the fish or meat or whatnot. Believe me, after 1.5 year I'm not that bad at estimating my food and I know the calorie content of what I eat, but I don't eat sauces and don't put condiments on sandwiches or dressing on salad... but I don't like plain sandwiches or salads either.

The only two things I could have gotten at those 3 restaurants was sandwich without condiments, an omelet, or a plain steak with veggies... neither of which I felt like eating at all, because I could just do it at home and at least I'd know the calories for it. I know the calories in my mayo too so at least I know what I'm getting etc.

That's why I said it's ruined it for me... In most cases, if I'm going to end up eating some salad or eggs or grilled chicken or steak with veggies, well, why eat out when I can just make it at home, and without even having to worry about oil and butter...

rsclause

I had a similar problem eating out and wanting hard numbers to plug in. I found that a good big salad with lean meat or fish and balsomic vinaigrette is about 700 calories. A 6 oz steak with grilled veggies will hit around 500 calories. This is close enough for me to add to my diary. A lot of restaurants will have a lite or under 500 section. Of course no bread, fries or potatoes. The worst one I found was zaxby's. Their salads are huge and loaded with calories. The solution, gets plain grilled chicken breast or two. Be inventive, if you know what to eat its not hard.

vickiem74

As much as a drag as it can be, I choose my restaurant before we leave home. I use the online nutrition info and plan my meal in advance that way I know how many calories I will be consuming. It helps and actually takes the stress out of eating out.

sherinico2003

Most restaurants are pretty accommodating. Just ask for an item without sauce or any added butter! You can always sub pasta or fries for steamed veggies too

randomtai

First world problems times infinity. :yawn:

81Katz

I understand about the eating out. I figure if I can make the 'light healthy low cal' (sometimes boring and way too stripped down) food at home then WHAT is the point of eating out?! I agree also about restaurants that don't have calorie counts online, I kind of feel like I have to avoid those places, even though their food is usually better than chain restaurants.

I also don't feel like having to search for each individual item, basically re-build the meal and guesstimate how much I actually ate. The portions/cals might not be exact but when the counts are online, it's just easier.

I know a lot of people say "oh well, just enjoy it, one day won't hurt ya!" but not everyone has that mindset.

So yes, I understand where you are coming from.

I hope your vacation is nice though!

Francl27

First world problems times infinity. :yawn:

Yeah this forum is so full of first world problems, I mean, why are you even here?

4legsRbetterthan2

It can be frustrating: some diet friendly places I know of (they have lower calories meals marked on the menue saying they are less than X # of calories)

Chilis
Ruby Tuesdays

All the major chains I have ever looked up have the nutrition information on their website so you should be able to find it there

some fast foods places are putting the calories on the menue boards , I have seen this at some McDonalds, Burger Kings, and Panera

randomtai

First world problems times infinity. :yawn:

Yeah this forum is so full of first world problems, I mean, why are you even here?

To laugh at people freaking out about eating out. :laugh:

Shropshire1959

It's just one meal, every now and then - why stress over it? Life's too short.

4homer

This probably been said but when I go out i only eat half the meal and take the rest home

jimmmer

Just go and enjoy yourself.

One night isn't going to make a difference one way or the other in the long run.

In fact, smeared across the rest of the week, the extra calories are often insignificant.

fannyfrost

It depends on the restaurant. Personally I avoid chains. There are many tricks to eating out.

1- eat 1/2 of the portion
2- order from the appetizers
3- avoid cheese
4- Assume a little more butter than anything
5- Vegetable burgers are on most menus
6- Ask for the sauce on the side
7- Vegetable wraps are good options
8- Breakfast get cereal and fruit

Tomato based sauces are better. FYI, just because it comes with Fries doesn't mean you need to eat them. Tell them yes you know it comes with Fries, I don't want them. Also if you are going to restaurants look for the better choices of Grilled fish, veggies, etc. We go out a lot and you can do it.

I agree that restaurants don't make it easy. In some states they are starting to require calorie counts on the meals. Most of my local restaurants have better choices than the chains. My husband doesn't eat fried food, so that is very helpful as we go places that don't have those items. We go a lot of places that do steamed fish, for example Joe's Crab Shack, I don't dip my fish in butter, so I don't have to worry about that.

Life is about balance and if you are more worried about the calories you are eating than enjoying your life, you are doing something wrong. I get it that its hard and it is. But life should be way fun.

FYI, vacation the real trick is avoid desert, order steamed items and stay active. Usually I am naturally more active on vacation because we do stuff, walk places, go to museums, walk the beach, swim, etc.

Life is too short to be that focused on calories instead of enjoying the company. Food is not focus of dining out, the company is the focus of dining out. The meal is not the focus, the focus is the family and friends you are out with.

GiveMeCoffee

You have lost 80 lbs and have been around for awhile, you need to learn how to do this with every day living now. Go out enjoy it, you aren't going to put all 80 lbs on from one meal or one vacation. I go out often and most place I go do not offer nutritional information, hasn't been an issue. And if I was going on vacation I would most definitely not be picking places like applebee's to go, just go enjoy yourself. Life is way too short

MildredBarhopper

I just try to find similar dishes that are on MFP and use those to guess the calories. I will eat at a bit of a deficit through the week and then eat those extra cals back on the weekend. However, I have to admit that for special occasions, like a vacation, I don't log and pig out! I put a few pounds on, but after getting back to my normal routine, they come right off.

Francl27

It's just one meal, every now and then - why stress over it? Life's too short.

Because it's not. It's one day after a day I already went over, and it's going to be a whole week in 2 weeks.

I eat out every other week or something, so it's not really new to me, but it's always a frustrating experience when we stick to local places. And I know, I don't have to eat the fries, but I don't want to be starving one hour later either, and just one steak is not going to cut it... Same for the people who say that they only eat half... I don't want to be starving two hours later, as I never know how big the meal is going to be when I order it. It's fairly easy to pack 1000 calories in a small plate, lol.

Acg67

Lol in the past month, i've had 2 10+ course tasting menus, a pop up restaurant lunch ordering 3/4 of the menu and 3 all you can eat and drink events. Somehow I did not become a fat slob despite making no effort to curtail cals at any of them

PinkyFett

What kind of woman dreads eating out?

:devil:

mumblemagic

Give yourself a break!

Jlmervin03

If I know I'm eating out, I usually double my workout to earn more calories.

81Katz

Where you are staying on your vacation, is there a fridge/mini fridge at all? Maybe pack some stuff to take in a cooler and put in the fridge -- if there is one.