Advice on Eating Out?

Eat what looks good, and if you're torn between a few different choices, then use "what fits my diet most easily" as a criteria. IE, first decide what you want to eat, and only then think too much about your diet (for a one-day thing, not when eating out in general.)

If the place doesn't list nutrition on the menu or online, then look for items that are grilled, steamed, poached, baked, and generally avoid things that are fried, "loaded," "au gratin," etc. Steamed or grilled vegetables, seasoned well, can be a tasty side that's not too high calorie.

It's your birthday--so pick what you're going to enjoy the most.

I don't log on my birthday or Christmas Day. How much damage can you do? Have what you want but don't eat till you're stuffed and make it up across the week if you want to with extra activity.

For general eating out I tend to make sure I've earned extra calories and usually only have a main course.

Save calories early in the day. And make sure to work out for a few days before and after your dinner out. But most of all - enjoy it! If you deprive yourself all the time, you will lose your motivation. Go ahead and have something you like - just make sure to log the calories, even if that means going over. I knew that I would go over calories for my husband's 50th birthday party and I don't care! I had a great time and have been on track since then. I'm so glad I celebrated with him. If I would have skipped the dinner and wine, I would have been maybe a half pound less now, big deal!

If I have a restaurant meal planned, I eat light earlier in the day to save some extra calories. I may also do a little extra working out to bank calories as well. Then I select whatever I want from the menu and put half of it in a to go bag immediately upon its arrival. I always order a box with the meal.

Restaurant meals are nearly always double the food of a normal meal. I don't feel that I am depriving myself to only eat half. Then I have a great meal the next day too that doesn't look picked over.

enjoy your birthday and eat whatever you want …it only happens once a year..

log it, own it, and move on ..

if you do not have days/occasions/etc where you eat whatever you want you are going to go crazy ..

so eat, drink and be merry ...

This. I never worry about a day here or there. It is when you make a habit of eating over calories..when it becomes a problem.

log it, own it, and move on ..

Gosh, I love this phrase! There's a lot of wisdom in it. Gonna make it my motto, lol!

ask tim.

Qft

Eat whatever you like and save the calorie counting for another day. Stick with a gooey dessert and a delicious drink. Stay away from poison and other non-food items. Go for tasty and decadent.

FIFY

I approve. Happy birthday! Enjoy your own Christmas :flowerforyou:

So tomorrows my birthday, and I'm hoping to go out. Even on years where no one had money to buy me anything I still got a birthday out for dinner.

This is going to be the first time I'm going out to eat since I really started watching my calories. I'm deciding between a few places, and I already got all the nutritional info for them to help.

Question is, do you have any advice for when you go out to eat?

Hey there, and happy early B-day!

I know that eating one meal a day like I do would be an easy way to entreat your request without feeling guilty. I give myself two splurge days a week now that I'm more maintaining than losing, whereas I generally confine everything to one plate and one calorie beverage. That way, I know I won't gain anything back. It all levels out in the end.

But you can't use this as a "gateway" to bad old habits. Just enjoy yourself!

ask tim.

Qft

:laugh:


Make sure things are clean before you start eating, take your time and enjoy it, and giving minimal tip can be insulting.

Happy early Birthday!
You could just enjoy yourself for the night and start fresh the next day, but if it does bother you at all, what I do when I go to a restaurant is get a to go box with my meal and pack half of it up right away, since restaurant portions are usually huge. It's OK to have an off day once in while, so enjoy yourself