Eating out is ruined for me now..

Francl27
Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I've always loved eating out and trying out new restaurants... but now it's just a real drag. I just spent 2 hours looking for a restaurant to go with my mom tomorrow, and ended up deciding on Applebee's just because it's about the only place I can get the calories for (and she doesn't like Italian restaurants).

My husband had 3 suggestions, and everything looked delicious... but I'm just tired of having to guess calories. I just looked at a menu for kicks and tried to guess the calories for each meal by its description... something that looked pretty healthy turned out to be 1700 calories! (some grilled steak at Macaroni Grill). All those nice local restaurants have random sauces and whatnot, and you just can't know the calories for the food.

Now I dread eating out... the last two times I ended up having to have some salad with dressing on the side, everything else was fried or had sauces, or came with fries (they didn't even offer veggies on the side), it wasn't that great and not even filling. I'm just so over it..

We're going in vacations in 2 weeks and we'll be eating out a lot and I'm already dreading it frankly. Ugh.
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Replies

  • SunofaBeach14
    SunofaBeach14 Posts: 4,899 Member
    What kind of woman dreads eating out?
  • Achrya
    Achrya Posts: 16,913 Member
    Well that's unfortunate. No woman should dread it.

    badumtush


    Seriously though, just breath and let it go. You've lost 80 pounds. You aren't going to undo that in one night or in the span of one vacation. Literally nothing is going to happen that you an't come back to MFP and fix in a week or two, assuming anything happens at all.
  • aldousmom
    aldousmom Posts: 382 Member
    Pretty much if you stay away from most meats and cheese, and don't order anything fried or with a sauce, don't eat all the bread, and get dressing on the side, you'll be fine. Fish and chicken are *probably* okay, if they're not fried. Hang in there, you'll get it.

    Remember that a tablespoon of fat (from any source) is 120 calories ...butter, olive oil, salad dressing, any oil. So, just skipping the butter on bread can save you nearly 300 calories or so. ;)

    Keep trying, don't get discouraged. Restaurants many times will make food for you that's not on the menu, if you can see by the menu that they have the ingredients.
  • LifeWithPie
    LifeWithPie Posts: 552 Member
    Applebee's has an 'under 550' menu. (Entrees less than 550cals). It has I think 8 or 9 choices.
  • Trechechus
    Trechechus Posts: 2,819 Member
    Where are you going to dinner? I can usually find something 450-800 calories when I go out.
  • Cassandram333
    Cassandram333 Posts: 36 Member
    Relax and enjoy it. It's just one meal. It won't ruin your week. One meal didn't make you gain it before so why would it now?
  • QueenBishOTUniverse
    QueenBishOTUniverse Posts: 14,121 Member
    Seriously, you are way over thinking this. Yes, trying to log a restaurant meal is really just guess work, but after an 80 pound loss you probably already have a decent idea of how many calories are in most foods and even if you're way off, as Achrya said, one night is NOT going to undo all of your hard work. I have dinner out at least once a week and I still manage to lose steadily, you'll be fine.

    And yes, I changed I eat out once a week to I have dinner out once a week, because ya'll are dirty.
  • donnat238
    donnat238 Posts: 309 Member
    Don't sweat it! I just returned from vacation and ate at restaurants numerous times and actually lost 1.5 lbs. I walked a lot while sight seeing and bought fruit at the local farmers markets to eat as snacks! Good luck! :)
  • vjohn04
    vjohn04 Posts: 2,276 Member
    one nice meal isn't the end of the world.


    eating out certainly isn't the end of the world either.
  • howardheilweil
    howardheilweil Posts: 604 Member
    I have to agree with Achyra. You really have 2 options, both of which are fine, in my opinion... You can go and ask for a stripped down version of a menu item.. For example, a chicken breast or steak WITHOUT all of the added sauces and toppings, etc... OR, just bite the bullet for that day and have a relaxing dinner, log the 1700 calories, or whatever it is, and start again the next day... Not really a very big deal. Good luck!
  • azrubael
    azrubael Posts: 65 Member
    Two words.
    Crab Legs!!!
  • RaggedyPond
    RaggedyPond Posts: 1,487 Member
    Fish
  • bajoyba
    bajoyba Posts: 1,153 Member
    We don't eat out often, but when we do, we usually choose a local/family owned restaurant because the food is awesome and we like to support local businesses.

    If you accurately log your food the rest of the week and successfully maintain a deficit, one estimated meal here and there won't make or break your progress. I find that most menus tend to have a couple of options that are a little more calorie friendly, but if I'm ordering something that I think is super calorific, then I try to fill up on a salad first (dressing on the side) and eat just a portion of my main meal.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I have to agree with Achyra. You really have 2 options, both of which are fine, in my opinion... You can go and ask for a stripped down version of a menu item.. For example, a chicken breast or steak WITHOUT all of the added sauces and toppings, etc... OR, just bite the bullet for that day and have a relaxing dinner, log the 1700 calories, or whatever it is, and start again the next day... Not really a very big deal. Good luck!

    It's kinda a big deal when you go out to the restaurant 3 or 4 days in a row... and I'm not sure how active we're going to be either (especially as it's 13 hours of driving each way). For tomorrow I wouldn't have cared that much except I already went way over today, and I don't want it to become a pattern...

    So yeah, pretty much having to stick to the restaurants that have nutrition info. I wouldn't even trust grilled steak, fish or chicken breast, you never know what oil or butter they put on it...
  • stephe1987
    stephe1987 Posts: 406 Member
    MFP has a lot of restaurant foods in the database. If the calorie count isn't on the online menu you should check it.

    It's okay to treat yourself, just don't do it very often. One meal can have a lot of calories and undo a week of progress especially as you get closer to your goal and the weight is more difficult to lose. I did read somewhere that if you're going to go over it's best to do it all at once rather than over the course of a few days, something to do with the way the body digests food. So have one cheat day not several.

    If you know you're going to eat out, you should probably fast during the early part of the day or just have a piece of fruit or something small (<200 calories) to hold you because you don't want to go over by too much.

    And there's always cardio. If you go over you can exercise to burn off some of those extra calories.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    MFP has a lot of restaurant foods in the database. If the calorie count isn't on the online menu you should check it.

    It's okay to treat yourself, just don't do it very often. One meal can have a lot of calories and undo a week of progress especially as you get closer to your goal and the weight is more difficult to lose. I did read somewhere that if you're going to go over it's best to do it all at once rather than over the course of a few days, something to do with the way the body digests food. So have one cheat day not several.

    If you know you're going to eat out, you should probably fast during the early part of the day or just have a piece of fruit or something small (<200 calories) to hold you because you don't want to go over by too much.

    And there's always cardio. If you go over you can exercise to burn off some of those extra calories.

    I did 2.5 hours of cardio today and burned a whopping 500 calories! I got to start running I guess.

    That whole 'one day isn't the end of the world' thing is the reason why I've only lost 2 pounds in the last 3 months, by the way, lol.
  • Fsunami
    Fsunami Posts: 241 Member
    Google Dotti's weight loss zone. Basically has all the restaurants and all the info in one place. It helps me to evaluate 3 choices before I go, so I don't feel limited when looking at a menu.

    Really helps when I have an OG or Chili's craving.....:)
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Google Dotti's weight loss zone. Basically has all the restaurants and all the info in one place. It helps me to evaluate 3 choices before I go, so I don't feel limited when looking at a menu.

    Really helps when I have an OG or Chili's craving.....:)

    Doesn't really help me as it was local restaurants, but thanks!
  • Derp_Diggler
    Derp_Diggler Posts: 1,456 Member
    Just stop.

    I work in a restaurant. While there I eat out three times a week . It's free so I'd be foolish not to. I don't know what the exact calorie count for each meal I eat is, as it would be impossible to figure out. And yet, in the past 40 days I haven't gained or lost any weight. Not one single pound. Why? Because I took the time to learn about the general calorie content of many of the foods that I enjoy. Seriously. A little knowledge can go a long way. If I can do it for over a month you can do it for one day.
  • them_and_me
    them_and_me Posts: 60 Member
    this thread is making me giggle :)
  • RaggedyPond
    RaggedyPond Posts: 1,487 Member
    It's pretty easy. Lean meats. No fries.
  • LolBroScience
    LolBroScience Posts: 4,537 Member
    Don't worry about it. At the very worst... you'll postpone progress for a like week after coming back from vacation. Big deal, you get right back into the routine of things and you'll be back en route to your goal. You've lost 80 lbs already.. that should count for something right? You know exactly what to do to get the ball rolling in the right direction again.

    You're not stepping on stage and being judged by others, you don't a date that you need to be "x" lbs. by... just enjoy it. Enjoy the journey.
  • rowlandsw
    rowlandsw Posts: 1,166 Member
    I just guess at the calories if i don't know and if you don't do it often just tack it up to being a treat day.
  • Trechechus
    Trechechus Posts: 2,819 Member
    Just stop.

    I work in a restaurant. While there I eat out three times a week . It's free so I'd be foolish not to. I don't know what the exact calorie count for each meal I eat is, as it would be impossible to figure out. And yet, in the past 40 days I haven't gained or lost any weight. Not one single pound. Why? Because I took the time to learn about the general calorie content of many of the foods that I enjoy. Seriously. A little knowledge can go a long way. If I can do it for over a month you can do it for one day.

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  • shutyourpieholeandsquat
    shutyourpieholeandsquat Posts: 1,394 Member
    Edited.... Deleted...

    Not worth it. Why did I even come in the forums?
  • Shutter_bug03
    Shutter_bug03 Posts: 35 Member
    I understand how you feel totally. If we eat out, I try and eat light for breakfast/lunch so i can afford the extra calories for dinner. I have a hard time with knowing how to log it, so i try and guestimate if i can't find out, and add more than what it probably is. But, i also try not to worry so much over a once in awhile eating out and make the best choices i can at the time,without sacrificing the enjoyment of a night out without cooking!
  • AsaThorsWoman
    AsaThorsWoman Posts: 2,303 Member
    I went to Denver for 10 days last year and I swear I spent the bulk of the money not on travel, not on air fare, not on anything but chicken salads.
  • baba_helly
    baba_helly Posts: 810 Member
    my bf loves to eat out and says you're doing it wrong if it is anything but relaxing.
  • janetlynn31
    janetlynn31 Posts: 74 Member
    We eat out all the time - lots of places have calorie counts on their menu now, TONS of restaurant items are on MFP -- in fact, I don't think I've ever eaten at a restaurant that wasn't in the database. Or worst case scenario, I guess. If it's a place I don't go to often, I order what I want. I usually can't finish all of it, take half home, then end up forgetting about it. Enjoy - pick grilled, seafood, veggies ...
  • Achrya
    Achrya Posts: 16,913 Member
    As my good friend Dank Priest says "you're over thinking it."

    Relax. You know how to build a proper low cal meal. Ask for light/no butter, oil, and dressings. Put what you've learned to work

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