I HATE going out to restaurants!!

Why on earth did you eat the Mozza Sticks?! Talk about empty calories...

don't beat yourself up about so many calories, it's a lesson learned now. Next time you go just order a big salad with lite dressing on the side, you'll do great with that!!

I travel for work quite a bit for work and struggle with eating out as well. I usually try to preplan if I can...check out menus and nutrition values online first. Applebees does have the under 550 calories menu, so it is actually one of my fav spots. Although be sure to watch their salads, most of them are VERY high in calories...you can view their nutrition facts online. I also have my 'select' restuarants that I know exactly what I can have within my calorie intake (Subway, Tim Hortons - sandwiches are not too bad, Pita pit etc). I have two small children (6 & 4), so the fast food restaurant request does come up frequently. I have figured out the 'best low cal meal' options at each of their fav places just so I can go and not do too much damage!
It is definately hard though...good luck!

Applebee's??? you've got TO BE KIDDING.... They have a great healthy weight watchers menu that you could have chosen from. I'm not sure if they call it weight watchers anymore but it's still there with the calories right next to it. When I am eating healthy and my hunny suggests a night out for dinner I always chose applebees because it is a no brainer. Better luck next time

Eating out is totally do-able while losing weight, it's just a matter of making smart choices from the menu, and knowing what the correct portion size for a meal should look like, eat only that, pack the rest and have it the next day (or two).

Whenever possible go on the restaurant website in advance and scan the menu and try to find the best options. When in doubt ask the waiter questions about what comes with the meal or how the dish is prepared.

And if the person/people you're with want to split something unhealthy, it will be up to you to say no and choose a better option for yourself...it will feel like a sacrifice at first but trust me you will be happy the next day when you know you made the right choice.

Once you get into the habit of doing this you can pretty much eat anywhere without it being a major crisis.

Traveling for work at least one week of every month, I can assure you the major chains all have nutritional data available AND most have a "lower calorie" menu. I have eaten at Chilis (black bean burger), Macaroni Grill, Applebee's, Panera, Dave and Busters and Ruby Tuesday's and have not been over my calorie count on any of the days I eat there. I usually have a light beer with my meal as well. I would also remind you that your calorie allowance increases with exercise. Maybe try 45 minutes on the treadmill on the day or day after you know you will be eating out. Always remember it is not what happens in one day, but what happens ovver the course of time., If you miss your goal one day a month, you have been successful 29 days.

Many restaurants have a NUTRITION VALUES for menu items on their web site. Look for that and decide what you will have before you go to that restaurant.

I haven't gone out to eat in a restaurant since starting this program yet but I would not hesitate bringing my little measuring cups/spoons with me to carefully monitor my portion control.

I would not cancel or avoid a lunch out with a friend because you are so worried about the calories you will take in. The whole point of doing MFP is too learn a new way of life. It is a life altering choice. So avoid anything fried, and remember salads can often have very high calorie extras on them. I ate a salad at Wendy's and it cost me 600 calories with half the pack of drsg.
B ut don't give your time out with friends and family, they are very important to your life and living.

You have to be smarter than the system, hon. Try to plan ahead. Even if you only have 5 mins notice, you can still go to any restaurant website and figure out what the healthiest option for you is. I'm not trying to be mean, but you could have planned your calories a little better.

I guess everyone has their own thing that works for them. For me, even though I try to make smart-ER choices, they usually aren't the smart-EST chioces. If I am paying for a meal out, I want something I am really going to enjoy. But, that said, my husband and I go out to eat almost every Saturday night. My weight loss has been slow (about 40 pounds in just under a year) but I never would have stuck with it if I was always trying to find the lowest calorie selection on a menu. Usually, I eat half, and bring half home with me. Depending on the portion size, sometimes that second half becomes one or even TWO lunches, supplemental with a small salad or some cut up veggies.

I don't get the biggest, gooiest burger with a mound of fries, but I will get a chicken wrap or sandwich, and eat half of it. I don't like re-heated fries, but a few local restaurants serve homemade potato chips and those are GREAT re-heated in the toaster over so I always save half for a second meal.

A couple other things I do (already mentioned in this thread) are to increase exercise on days that I eat out, and cut back on calories for other meals and snacks on that day. For me, it is worth it, and since I am going to be doing it that way for the rest of my life, I'm glad I enjoy it!:bigsmile: