social eating

finchest

what do you do when you're going out with friends to a restaurant where you know there aren't going to be healthy options and where everyone will be drinking?

i don't have a huge problem restraining myself, but i hate hate hate having to explain if anyone notices "why aren't you eating anything?" or "is that all you're getting?"

any tips?

whatluckycat

I try to choose the healthiest (or least bad!) option on the menu. I happen to like fish, so I'd go for that. I also allow myself to have one drink. If I know in advance I'm going out, I'll save up some calories a couple of days ahead of it.

macx2mommy

It's really challenging. I try to order the healthiest thin on the menu. I will sometimes ask for a house salad, with all the dressing and toppings on the side, and will see if they can throw a grilled chicken on. I find pus are some of the worst. Sometimes I will pre eat and just order a salad or something small. If someone asked, will tell them that I already ate before, or if it's ealry, m watching what I eat. Have also joined my friends a little later, and just for dessert, or for conversation only.

It's hard but definately doable. I do the same for business lunch meetings. I try not to be too high Maintenon, but will order the healthiest choice. I one time ordered a grilled salmon salad, with dressing on the side. They put so much marinade my salad was soggy. So I ate what I could, and had some thing later.

finchest

just wondering what you mean by saving up calories-- I'm on a 1200-cal a day routine, so how would that work? maybe i should just work out extra so i can afford to have a margarita?
i'm vegetarian so i already tend to pick the healthiest choice, ie. salad but i know this place only has one type. eating beforehand is a great idea - i'll do that.
thanks, guys! love the photo your cat, whatluckycat.

lmelangley

If I want something special to drink, I have it and deal with the calories (or not) later. Otherwise, i just have wine (95 cals a glass) or vodka in diet coke.

IvoryParchment

I have gotten over being self conscious about counting calories. There's lots of good natured joking at work about me weighing stuff and scanning bar codes, but now that I've lost significant weight, they also respect success.

If it's a special meal, I may just go over for the day. I know about how many calories it takes to make me too full to eat any more, and I just log that number. I may also bring plastic containers and put half the portions away to take home before I start eating, or I may go in halfsies and split an entree with someone I'm eating with. Then I can order whatever rich food I like, but I eat half the calories I would otherwise. (I tip the server the amount I would for two entrees, of course!)

jenj1313

I have no self control, really... I go into the restaurant thinking I'm going to make a healthy choice, have the waiter put half in a box, not drink, etc, but food has always been such a comfort thing for me that it's really hard for me to stick to it. I'm halfway good about picking the healthy option, but beer and dessert are my downfalls. Maybe I should switch to wine for half the calories.

My biggest strategy is to workout to compensate. I know it's not as healthy as eating the right thing all the time, but it's better than nothing. I also try not to drink alcohol during the week (never M-Th, Sunday sometimes) and that helps me cut my overall calories per week and keeps my tolerance down so I can't drink as much on the weekend.

Oh... and if it's a margarita you're craving, see if they have a "Skinny Rita"... just lime juice, tequilla and a little sugar I think. No sugary mix or other fruity alcohol mixed in. But you've gotta like lime, because they are tart.

kdiamond

I usually order an appetizer like seared tuna and I sure do partake in the drinking...vodka for me please!

finchest

I have no self control, really... I go into the restaurant thinking I'm going to make a healthy choice, have the waiter put half in a box, not drink, etc, but food has always been such a comfort thing for me that it's really hard for me to stick to it. I'm halfway good about picking the healthy option, but beer and dessert are my downfalls. Maybe I should switch to wine for half the calories.

so, in my case this week (and maybe this would be a good tip for you) i ended up eating at home beforehand so i wouldn't be tempted by the food my friends were eating and ordering. i had one drink, (after i had looked up the calories at home to make sure i could accommodate it) and i just kept telling myself, every time i felt deprived (as in, "those chips and guacamole look reallllly good"), that *not* letting myself feel deprived is how i got into this situation, and every conscious food and activity choice i make is helping me toward my final goal. when i got hungry watching everyone else, i asked the waiter for a water

i don't know what i'll do if it's a dinner situation i really can't get out of, but in this case, eating beforehand while my friends and husband ordered at the restaurant was fine and i felt proud of myself for sticking with my commitment and choosing between food and health, that health was the more important "worth it" choice.

AntWrig

I try to choose the healthiest (or least bad!) option on the menu. I happen to like fish, so I'd go for that. I also allow myself to have one drink. If I know in advance I'm going out, I'll save up some calories a couple of days ahead of it.

I usually follow this.

I will consume a lot of protein up until I go out. I keep carbs and fats low. I calorie buffer is created and of course I will probably be full, so I won't eat that much.

You can read more here: http://www.leangains.com/2010/03/maintaining-low-body-fat.html

IvoryParchment

What just occurred to me: You know the most expensive thing on the menu, the thing you've always wanted to order but felt it was too big a splurge? Order it. Then cut off pieces for everyone else at the table, so they can try it, too. They may not even know you're cutting calories.

finchest

What just occurred to me: You know the most expensive thing on the menu, the thing you've always wanted to order but felt it was too big a splurge? Order it. Then cut off pieces for everyone else at the table, so they can try it, too. They may not even know you're cutting calories.

that's a great / fun idea!