What's the better thing to do on buffet days?

aguinaldojamie
aguinaldojamie Posts: 11
in Health and Weight Loss
Hey guys so since its Christmas season buffet days are coming up, and I was wondering what's the better thing to do eat light for breakfast and lunch knowing that dinner's going to be really heavy or just eat normally throughout the day? I'm asking because someone once told me that eating light for breakfast and lunch will make my stomach shrink, and might cause me discomfort later on when I eat at the buffet already. Take note also I do calorie zig zagging and the buffet day will actually fall on one of my high days.

On another note I just wanted to ask even though I know its a questions people have already asked to death, but when you zig zag what should you be looking at the net calories or the total food calories consumed (which is the one exercise hasn't been subtracted yet)?

Any help given to me on both topics would be greatly appreciated so thanks in advance :)

Replies

  • Squible
    Squible Posts: 359 Member
    You don't have to go crazy at the buffet? just fill your plate once and thats it like any normal meal?
  • aguinaldojamie
    aguinaldojamie Posts: 11
    That's the thing with me I usually do go crazy with buffets because its one of the few times I let go of my diet. That's why I was asking what would be the better option to eat light or to just eat normally for breakfast and lunch. I was kinda wondering if the stomach shrinking thing is true because if that's the case then eating normally would be the better option right?
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    Just don't eat during the day... or go as low cal as you can reasonably manage.

    Your stomach won't shrink in 8 hours.
  • suchard007
    suchard007 Posts: 4
    Just fill your plate once - don't graze. That way you'll know what you've eaten. Enjoy yourself :smile:
  • 714rah714
    714rah714 Posts: 759 Member
    Don't go to the buffet super hungry.
  • Denise1224
    Denise1224 Posts: 150 Member
    Will power ... if you HAVE to go back more than once than only take small portions so you can try as many dishes as you'd like but I agree with the poster that said moderation like any other normal meal ....
  • FuzzieJelly
    FuzzieJelly Posts: 848 Member
    Ask for a smaller plate from the waiter. I don't use the ones at the buffet. Fill up at least half the plate with protein and vegetables, then 1/4 of the plate with carbs. Leave the other 1/4 of the plate empty (just in case you use the regular plates they have) Drink only water, but not 30 minutes before or after the meal. This is what I do. Hope this helps ya.

    Good luck.
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
    Your stomach doesn't actually "shrink"; the body can acclimate rather quickly to changes in appetite (Outside of disordered eating, many people can go to 1200 calories and then suddenly feel they can barely eat more. It can happen on a small scale of, "Wow, I barely ate all day, and now I can barely eat at dinner).
  • TrailRunner61
    TrailRunner61 Posts: 2,505 Member
    2/3 healthy stuff, 1/3 bad stuff. Dessert, in moderation, if I worked out that day. Or I'll have 2 one half cup servings of bad stuff, since I LOVE cheesy potatoes and potato salad, and then whatever else that's healthy. I also NEVER go to a buffet starving. I'll eat a serving of fruit, nuts, anything to make me not as hungry and I drink at least 8 oz of water before I hit the buffet/potluck. I have a HUGE familly, including 90+ nieces and nephews and we get together a LOT. This has worked for me.
  • Bob314159
    Bob314159 Posts: 1,178 Member
    I had to go to a buffet last week, and for as long as I can remember I treated them as eat all you want.

    I went to the meat server once, first I filled my plate with low cal salads and vegetables to limit how much meat I could get. That limited tome with one type of meat so I opted for corned beef and skipped the chicken - I know the chicken was a better choice - but I allowed myself the corned beef that I like much better. I ate slow and did not go back for seconds. After a while - I went back up and got three pieces of sushi. An hour later I went to the desert table and got a piece of dark chocolate almond bark.

    I kept imaging how I would feel the next day when I got on the scale and it was not where it was supposed to be.
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    Your stomach doesn't shrink, ever. Your perception of full changes. Best advice on a buffet is to develop some willpower and choose wisely. It's one of the key secrets to weight loss. As long as you have the mentality of deprivation and then going crazy when food is present you're not going to be successful in the long term.

    Enjoy your buffet meal by taking small quantities of the foods you like, take the plate to the table, chew and enjoy that food, drink lots of water and be satisfied. The fact that you can eat more doesn't mean you should or need to.

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