Trying to lose weight while working in a restaurant

I feel your pain, I work at a steak and seafood restaurant...everything is so ...decadent-the full fat experience! If I HAVE to eat something, I try to stick with salads (non-creamy dressings), soups (broth-based) or grilled chicken or fish with veggies... I also try to pack something to snack on, whether it be a KIND bar (these are amazing and only have natural ingredients-fruit and nuts), a piece of fruit or some dry cereal. I let myself splurge every now, but everything in moderation.

Another thing I notice is that I am guilty of over eating/indulging when I am BORED... so I always try to occupy myself so I am not standing around staring at all the food coming out. If I find myself wanting to snack, I leave the kitchen and try to find something else to do so I am not thinking about it.

Hope this helps!

Can you pack a lunch that is basically just a lot of healthy snacks instead of a normal meal? You could than grab a bite or two when you have the free few seconds. Should keep you from eating the restaurant foods.


Why can't you eat at work during your shift? Do you not get a break? Or just decide not to take one?

I waited tables for over 2 years and tried to lose weight several times during that time. The only thing that I relied on was drinking a lot of water (which wasn't convenient because then I'd have to go to the bathroom) and sheer will power and determination. It is difficult but you can do anything you set your mind to!

I work at a Dunkin donuts, so I feel your pain. I work morning shifts(things like 5-noon) without a real break. I used to grab a munchkin or two when I was hungry, but then I looked at the calories- 60 in a single chocolate munchkin! And I used to eat 6-8 a day! Now I usually bring something for myself- ive found that I need something right before I start, and another about halfway through. I also drink TONS of water to keep me full(ish) until I get off for the day and can go home for some lunch.

I work in a fast food restaurant so feel your pain... but it's illegal to not have a break after working 5.5 hours?! Should you not be having half hour?

I have been a chef for 8 years and until I finally said enough is enough I had alot of trouble losing the weight. I now bring lots of small healthy snacks that can be grabbed and eaten in seconds. I am also not a smoker myself (very rare for the restaurant industry) but I still make it a goal to go out for a non-smoke break to eat a decent serving of food that I bring from home already preportioned (and usually cold, no time for heating a meal) You can do this, if you are a server, put a small baggy of something in your apron pocket for quick bites while logging in orders.

I hate to give you this generic reply but that's just how it is. The only people who typically get breaks are smokers. I bring anything from yogurt, to veggie sticks, oranges, and eat apple slices there.

This is so true in any job. I worked in many different places before I became a nurse, and it was always the smokers that got to take breaks. Now I work in a hospital that has a no smoking on campus policy so it's not as bad. Sometimes I just don't get a break due to the busy patients lol.

I know that is hard. I was super skinny when I waited tables. But then again, I only allowed myself to eat once a day. Not healthy lol Maybe try bringing your own lunch instead of eating the goodies at work?

The problem with taking a break as a server is that you then miss out on tables. Tables= money you need to pay rent. As a server, a half hour break can cost you quite a bit of money. I've thought about having healthy snack in my apron pockets, but all of our POS's are on the floor in guest view. Anybody have any other suggestions? Also, a lot of times you can get fired for eating on the clock (depending on store policy)

I know this is a year later, but I thought I'd add my 2 cents!!

I've worked in restaurants for years upon years. I am now returning to the serving world after a 2 1/2 year break, and during this break I have been much healthier and fit. I'm struggling now, because I see weight packing back on despite my walking miles and miles during my shifts. I even work at a healthy, organic restaurant!

In the past, the way I was thin while working at a resto was not healthy -- I used to skip meals and eat small amounts of anything. I would cut out everything from the restaurant (even the clandestine bread under the host stand!) and just starve during shifts. If I didn't do this, I would gain weight from all the bread and sodas I would consume to keep me full.

In the return to serving, the owner of the restaurant just told us that she doesn't want drinks in the server station (she wants us to drink it out of the glass right then and there, then put it in dish), no employee food kept in the walk-in, and all snacks kept upstairs in the stock room where we keep all of our stuff. So, my plan is this: keep snacks in my pockets (like Just a Handful almonds from Trader Joe's, a fiber bar/Luna bar/Larabar, some baby carrots), drink a glass of water every hour, eat something with protein before my shift, and only eat salads if I'm eating at work after my shift. I'm also going to get in the habit of working out before and after my shift, something like run before the shift, yoga afterwords. I think this'll work!

Just yesterday, I forgot to bring snacks and my hunger took me over, I had to step into the back and eat bread, and then I grabbed a soda to supplement it. Someone said to me "Well, this is why you eat before your shift". My shift started at 10 and it was 1:45pm. What!! Of course I eat before my shift!! Sometimes the disconnect between kitchen/managers and servers drives me crazy!!