HOW DO YOU CALCULATE A BUFFET? (E.G. GOLDEN CORRAL)

weightlossguy01

This is one of my worst fears but is to blame for why I am so overweight. I have been to many buffets in my time. How many calories would you say a trip to the following would cost you....

GOLDEN CORRAL (BREAKFAST BUFFET):
GOLDEN CORRAL (LUNCH/DINNER BUFFET):
CICI'S PIZZA BUFFET:
CHINESE BUFFET:
GRANDY'S BUFFET:


Scary thought, but my guess is most buffets put you easily in the 3500+ range per trip.

weightlossguy01

bump

jaxbeck

I would honestly not go to one. That is just promoting over eating.

weightlossguy01

I agree the best way would be to not go. But I think knowing the damage it does ahead of time could help prevent it from occuring which is why I'm curious what that amount would probably be. Think it's something good to consider ahead of time so if it ever comes up, you'll realize you truly are better off going to McDonalds than to a buffet..sad to say.

maxonehiphop

I just keep track of each thing I eat and input them individually. I always er on the side of more calories when I'm not sure about something. I love buffets but don't get to go very often.

kmpawley

Buffet are a hard place to go when you are trying to loose weight. This is just a guess but Lunch and dinner would easily be 1,500-2,500.
When we have gone to buffet I eat a healthy salad and soup before I eat anything else. I also try to eat slowly. I don't know if you have noticed this before, but they always play faster upbeat music. I think this makes you eat quicker so you leave faster. I try to let the salad and soup fill me up so I can resist. My 2 sons love country buffet. Its a killer.

susannamarie

It totally depends on whether you get a reasonable sized plate or whether you take all-you-can-eat as a challenge.

I haven't been to a buffet in a while, (actually, checking my food records, it was February 18th), but it set me back just over 2,000.

lizziebeth1028

I agree the best way would be to not go. But I think knowing the damage it does ahead of time could help prevent it from occuring which is why I'm curious what that amount would probably be. Think it's something good to consider ahead of time so if it ever comes up, you'll realize you truly are better off going to McDonalds than to a buffet..sad to say.

You already know the damage it does ahead of time.....get on the scale.

Seriously just don't go to Buffet's.

bizgirl26

Buffets are hard. It is probably best to avoid but let's face it, none of us are probably never going to visit a buffet ever again. I have gone and still lost weight but keep in mind a few basic tricks:

Drink lots and lots and then more water ( not only will it help you feel more full but it will help with flushing out the sodium content )
Start with a broth based soup ( might be high in sodium but helps fill you up)
If you dont like soup reach for the salad first ( not the mayo based kind) and watch the dressing ( balsamic or raspberry are better options)
Avoid anything that looks fried or is covered in rich sauces
I try to stick with veggie and meat based dishes and avoid the pasta, rice or potato ones.
Of course dessert is going to be there. Have what you want but have the smallest piece that will satify your craving and then move on

This is about lifestyle changes not deprivation but if you think you will not be able to control yourself , you might want to avoid. If you do , just eat clean the rest of the week and get in a few extra workouts.
For tracking, just do the Add calorie option ( I track about 1500 for a buffet meal) or dont track that day.
Dont beat yourself up

BAMFMeredith

It makes me sad when people eat at Golden Corral.

rprussell2004

I would pretend my computer crashed that day and skip it.

Honest.

Not worth the trouble - who knows how any of that stuff was prepared...

Jacwhite22

I keep track of what I eat and log it best I can. On April 9th I went to Golden Corral and it looks like it set me back about 2390.

mfp_junkie

I'm guessing 2-3 times a normal meal, and all high fat, high calorie items. I'd quick add 2,500 and move on. Of course, that would be all of my calories for most days, after I've worked out....

So not worth it.

futuremalestripper

On a diet, i'd avoid it.

Off a diet, if you don't surpass 10,000 calories in one sitting, then you aren't doing it right.
I like to capitalize on my investment.

alucard75

just quick add 3000 calories of fat pills....BUT god they are yummy, part of the reason I'm here today, damn buffets arghhh

bellygoaway

1 trip to a buffet = 1 lb gained
So I would say about 3500 calories (give or take)
Or you could just remember everything you eat and list them out one by one.

thelovelyLIZ

I honestly don't eat at buffets much anymore, mostly because I prefer to give my service to local places which tend to be sit down restaurants anyway.

When I do go to buffets on occasion, I typically only get one plate (which at this point, is enough to fill me up just fine). I also remember to pace myself. I'm the kind of person that wants to try a little of everything, so I take very small amounts of what I want, knowing I'll want to try a good portion of what is out there.

La_Amazona

I ate at the chinese buffet the other day (gasp!). I didn't eat much but even then, blah!!

Still, I enjoyed it. :smokin:

zaithyr

I would write down everything you are eating and fill up on salad if you do go. Or some places do have the option to order an individual plate entree. I went to a buffet not too long ago and managed to restrain myself to one small plate but I was also busy chasing a 4 year old lol

jennaworksout

Agreed, don't go, impossible to not overeat :noway:

bizgirl26

Off a diet, if you don't surpass 10,000 calories in one sitting, then you aren't doing it right.
I like to capitalize on my investment.

Lol so true, have to get our moneys worth

TexanThom

Take whatever calories I have left for the day....And multiply by 3.

jackpotclown

I thought a certain amount of their stuff is on here in the database anyway....there's a ton of things that are put on there, if you really wanna count it up and see how much damage you did \m/

irisheyez718

I've gone to Golden Corral for dinner a few times since starting all of this. I believe I could eat pretty well and keep it around 1,000 or a little over. Just make sure to get in a good workout that day, and maybe eat a little less than you normally would earlier in the day. As long as you're not doing it often, I don't see anything wrong with it. I love Golden Corral! Just try to keep mental track of each item that you have and estimate the amount the best you can. Most Golden Corral items are in the data base.

capnwo85

Why even try to log it? Just consider the day lost, and keep on keeping on the next day.

ladyfox1979

T

dynamicwon

If you want to go you will have to do a heavy duty workout that day burning 1000 calories or more

zaithyr

Buffets are hard. It is probably best to avoid but let's face it, none of us are probably never going to visit a buffet ever again. I have gone and still lost weight but keep in mind a few basic tricks:

Drink lots and lots and then more water ( not only will it help you feel more full but it will help with flushing out the sodium content )
Start with a broth based soup ( might be high in sodium but helps fill you up)
If you dont like soup reach for the salad first ( not the mayo based kind) and watch the dressing ( balsamic or raspberry are better options)
Avoid anything that looks fried or is covered in rich sauces
I try to stick with veggie and meat based dishes and avoid the pasta, rice or potato ones.
Of course dessert is going to be there. Have what you want but have the smallest piece that will satify your craving and then move on

This is about lifestyle changes not deprivation but if you think you will not be able to control yourself , you might want to avoid. If you do , just eat clean the rest of the week and get in a few extra workouts.
For tracking, just do the Add calorie option ( I track about 1500 for a buffet meal) or dont track that day.
Dont beat yourself up

This is very reasonable advice!

Elmorlan

I went to a buffet for lunch today. I ate only things that I would normally eat at home. I had salad with chicken and a dressing that I already knew the information. Then I put it in my phone immediately. Then I had a piece of baked chicken and some meatballs that I could have done without, but all in all, not so bad. My main nutritional concern is my protein though, so that makes it a bit easier for me.

LilMsRobbinHood

http://www.goldencorral.com/menu/

I found this on the website - this gives you a general rule of thumb of what Golden Corral is like. You can use that as a guideline for Chinese buffet too, they have some overlapping items

SNorris01

If I go I normally only stick to the protein, mostly chicken and not eat the skin stay away from the fried chicken, baked is good. You can always do a veggie plate or a good salad watching the salad dressing of course. I don't do any carbs and no deserts either.