Never Eat Out Again

ellelit

while this may seem unrealistic, i think that with enough planning it can definitely be done. of course there will be instances where it cannot be avoided, but i am wondering what strategies you have taken to avoid falling into the eating out trap? not only is it unhealthy and expensive, but alot of times you really don't know what you're putting into your body if you don't make it yourself.

could you go without eating out? give up your tips!

ellelit

while this may seem unrealistic, i think that with enough planning it can definitely be done. of course there will be instances where it cannot be avoided, but i am wondering what strategies you have taken to avoid falling into the eating out trap? not only is it unhealthy and expensive, but alot of times you really don't know what you're putting into your body if you don't make it yourself.

could you go without eating out? give up your tips!

songbyrdsweet

Yea, become a broke college student...no going out to eat when you have no money! Just groceries are expensive enough. :ohwell: Try spending that food money on something else, like clothing or a gym membership or workout accessories. That way you don't have extra to spend!

CrystalBella

i go out to eat at least twice a week... like yesterday I went to Fridays.. I had steak and veggies and ice tea w/o sweetner... and i was still able to eat yesterday evening.. i make my portions small. i know what i'm getting before i go. if i'm going out with friends i tell them to hold on cause I gotta check out there menu and the calories for the food they have.. it can be done. it's all about willpower. i know that if i eat the appetizer, whole entree, and dessert and a couple of drinks i will have to pay for it. either in added inches or lbs. i choose not to pay for it. so i say no to dessert and appetizer. and i will only have drinks if it's a party type of nite. or ill have diet coke and rum which is roughly 75cals if i'm correct.

neurogirl

I have to agree that it's difficult and certainly expensive. I'm completing my internship right now and living away from the boyfriend and family, so I don't even have someone else paying for my meals at all (well, except for lunch on Wednesdays which my job semi-provides).

One of the ways that I have avoided eating out sometimes has been to make a large meal on the days you have off of work or even if you can at night. Just cook like you're cooking for 4 or 5 people, which is great if you live on your own and make sure it's something you like. Sometimes I do this and realize that I am getting tired of eating the same thing. You can always freeze it if you have a tendency to like variety and just cook a few meals like that in a week and freeze them into individual size meals. Then come home and heat. No work needed that way during your busiest days, which is always a great excuse to say "Well, I'm so tired and getting home late. I'll just pick up something on the way home." You can always take leftovers to lunch too if you're like me and half the time run out of the house in the morning to stretch out your sleeping hours.

Of course, there has to be something to be said about sheer will power. Fought that off today. I had lunch packed and it was a good amount of different healthy foods. Co-workers brought french fries and burgers from the cafeteria downstairs. Made me want to forget my ham and turkey sandwich and get a turkey burger and fries instead. Luckily, I'm indecisive and rationalize too much for my own good...

kerrilucko

I like going out to eat... and I don't plan on stopping either. The trick is, I think about what I'm ordering and how it fits into my day. I decide whether I need to eat all of it or if half of it will do. Somtimes I even get a dessert! But its rare. A rare treat is nice and I think everyone needs a break. Also keep in mind there are things you can do to keep from overdoing it in a resaurant! there have been tons of posts on that

ellelit

the reason i started this thread is because this is one of the goals i am going to work on in my self-rehab... one of my biggest downfalls is eating out, not just fast food either. i am a big huge fan of eating out with friends as entertainment. as a way of getting out of this habit i have a few things i will try:

- bring lunch to work with me every day. this way i dont have the excuse that i didn't bring anything for lunch.
- make sure i bring something yummy to work so that i will enjoy the lunch i have
- not bring any money to work so i can't pay for the food at a resturant
- make sure i take somethign out for dinner in the morning so it is ready for me to cook when i get home
- make sure my kitchen is clean and ready for cooking when i get home from work. i love cooking, but hate the clean up, so this will be tough for me lol
- plan my meals and grocery shopping so there is no guess work. i know what i'm having for dinner when.
- find activities to do with friends that don't revolve around food, like a walk or a picnic where we bring healthy snacks

just some of the things i'm going to work on!

briblue72

I work in a school that is very close to yummy fast food places McD's, Jack in the Box, Wendy's, Tropical Smoothie, Pick Up Stix, etc. and my coworkers are ALWAYS going for lunch. I would guess that 4 days a week someone goes to pick up lunch for everyone. When I first started watching what I ate, they would ask me every day what I wanted, and every day I politely said No Thank You. Sure, it was hard watching them eat their delicious Quarter Pounders and Frosties and whatnot, but I knew what I had to do to reach my goal.

When I won my school's Biggest Loser challenge, they all congratulated me. They very rarely even ask me if I want anything for lunch anymore, and I don't really care. Out of sight, out of mind.

I still go out to eat sometimes, but maybe once a month or so. (If you don't count Friday Happy Hour) but I always plan what I'm eating and drinking and log it without going over calorie limits)

Try bowling or movies if it's the socializing aspect...

Katy009

I almost never go out to eat anymore. The only times that we tend to go are for our anniversary or Valentine's Day......and maybe a couple times for entertainment. So I would guess an average of maybe four times per year....not many!

We have just changed what we do with friends. Rather than going out to eat, or me cooking a huge dinner for everyone, we go out and do something active instead.

As for lunches, I always bring something to work with me. If I did not have time to prepare anything, there is a fruit and vegetable shop right next door, so I go there and get strawberries, bananas, apples...something of that nature. I avoid the pastry shop across the street most of the time.

lessertess

I used to eat out every day for lunch and usually at least once or twice a week for dinner. I seldom eat out now, maybe a couple times a month.

The first trick is to PLAN. I pack a lunch and snacks for the next day every evening before I go to bed. This way, no matter how late I'm running in the morning or if I'm feeling yucky, the meals are already packed and I've no excuses. I also record on MFP so that I know what my calorie intake will be for the day and plan my exercise ahead of time.

The hardest part was that I had built a network of people that I went to lunch with and they still wanted to go to lunch. Sooooo, I've gotten them all on the fitness wagon. We pack and eat together, and time permitting, we try to walk together during lunches as well.

Also, with the price of food these days, if I spend all my money on the weekend stocking up on groceries to pack lunches and cook at home, I don't have any left for going out.

I don't think it's realistic to cut out eating out altogether. Sometimes I have to do business lunches, or just need a night out. But I'm much more careful in my choices.

mjfer123

On Sunday, I do my grocery shopping for the week, and purposely shape what I buy around what I'll be bringing to lunch. Apples, bananas, grapes, carrots, oranges. Also, its easy to overcook for dinner, so I usually bring left overs from the night before for lunch the next day. This has helped curb the eating out aspect for me, just planning what you will be eating for lunches and dinners at the very start of the week. Also, this way you'll be looking forward to the meal you have planned for that day, instead of going out because you didnt have something set in mind. Good luck:drinker: