To veterens of MFP.....

BADGIRLstl

So have you gvien up eating at your favorite restaurants? I wanted some Red Lobster so bad yesterday and since I have been losing weight I was scared to give in to temptation...but I must admit that I did (for a minute) get mad and say this losing weight stuff is ruining my life - hahahahha, but I immediately recognized that voice was nothing but the devil talking :laugh: I want to know have you stop eating at your fav restaurants, what changes have you made so "mentally" you don't feel that you are neglecting yourself on some of the foods you used to love. HELP!!!!

mrsbeck

For me, I only walk into a restaurant if I've already decided to spend the calories. If I'm gonna spend more than 400 calories on one meal, it's gonna be something I really want--not just a salad.

A lot of people swear by the trick of asking for a to-go box to be brought with the meal, and immediately putting half of the food away. I haven't tried that yet.

TCASMEY

I have not given up anything I don't want to! Go out to eat just make healthier choices. Look at Red Lobster online and see what they serve that is low in calories. It is much easier if you know in advance what some good choices would be. Last weekend I was craving a caribou coffee with some extra in it. I went online and found out that they have 500 calories or more. That's an extra hour of exercise. I skipped the caribou and drank some coffee at home. Also when eating out be mindful of portion size. I would only eat half of the entree and take the rest home. Serving sizes at dining places are usually too big.

tayner

I eat at my favorite restaurants. I dont do it all the time like I used to, but I do it. I do two things though.. if I know I am going out, i make sure to bump up my exercise that day, usually in the morning, getting in a few hundred extra burned calories so i have some leeway to work with.

Second, I go in with a plan. Most popular restaurants have online menu and nutrition guides. Use them. Look at all the info so when you order you can make good choices. Nothing wrong with seafood (since you mentioned red lobster) but choose a grilled option over the breaded/fried option. choose a salad with dressing on the side. careful with the cheddar bay biscuits (oh, i know they are good!), get veggies as the side instead of the rice or potato choices. Drink water or tea, no soda or alcohol.

There are ways you can make pretty much any restaurant work for you with just a little knowlege and preparation.

Chocolickkyss

I too check out the online menu prior to arriving at the restaurant to avoid any problems. I also immediately put half in a to go box to eat at another time. It helps if you don't go to restaurants all the time b/c most dishes seem high in calories and loaded w/sodium. But if you're going to treat yourself do your homework first so you can make healthier choices.

stacyoct19

I haven't given up eating at restaurants in general. I have stayed away from Johnny Corrino's because there's one dish there that I love. And I KNOW it's not good for me lol. I don't want to go there if I'm going to eat anything else. So I'm just gonna save that place for a special occasion.

I DO plan before I go out. I never go out to eat spontaneously. I'm an emotional eater, and I've learned that planning is the key to avoiding that!

Something else that's good to do is ask that they not cook, bake, boil, grill anything in butter. It will really help take out some of those extra calories.

BADGIRLstl

I love this place.... You guys have tips that I never would have thought of! Writing notes now. Thanks! This makes me feel like that my decision to lose weight and be healthy isn't going to make me mad everyday! I love the tips keep them coming.

CrystalT

I eat wherever I please. You just have to be conscience of the calories you are consuming. If I can, I look up the menu and nutritional values before I go so I can make the best choices. If not, I go it alone and still try to make the best decision I can. Red Lobster is probably one of the places I can eat the healthiest at, so I would have gone and not thought twice about it. I love grilled fish!!!

Of course, I also have those times when I just don't care and eat whatever I want when I go out. One of my favorite places to eat at is a local pizza buffet. When I go, I don't try to fool myself into thinking that I'm only going to have a slice or two and a salad. I have what I want including the super-yummy chocolate chip peanut butter dessert pizza. I live with the consequences of know that it may effect the scale. But I also know that the majority of my meals are healthy and that 1 meal isn't going to ruin everything.

IMO, if you restricting yourself to a point where you feel like the diet is "ruining" your life, you aren't going to be able to stick to it. I rarely feel like I'm deprived of anything. I feel empowered to finally be controlling this part of my life. Part of that control is being able to let go and enjoy myself when I want to.

HonestOmnivore

I review the on-line menu and pick out my best three options so I basically know what I'm getting. I ask for a large water first and make myself drink it before I touch anything else and my ultimate secret weapon is a small apple. I eat an apple on the way to the restaurant.

Monday I walked into P.F. Chang's for a co-worker's going away party and a friend said "So where's your apple?" I held up my apple core as I tossed into the trash :bigsmile:

A friend ordered my FAVORITE lamb dish and wanted to give me some - I said only one medium piece - held him to it and then really enjoyed the bite! I used half the rice (brown) When I left I was full and happy!:blushing: I had a light but filling dinner (pumpkin and cottage cheese).

tasha30

I too check out the online menu prior to arriving at the restaurant to avoid any problems. I also immediately put half in a to go box to eat at another time. It helps if you don't go to restaurants all the time b/c most dishes seem high in calories and loaded w/sodium. But if you're going to treat yourself do your homework first so you can make healthier choices.

Good answer!