Chinese buffet tomorrow night and I am dreading it

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Replies

  • AMRROL
    AMRROL Posts: 168 Member
    tveskild wrote: »
    Try this tool from Weightwatchers.. you just drag items to a plate and it calculates it for you.. it always helps to know in advance
    http://www.weightwatchers.ca/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=51551

    Great application. I love it
  • AMRROL
    AMRROL Posts: 168 Member
    mmerry5 wrote: »
    I love the Chinese buffet. If I am planning on going I try to "save" extra calories in the days before. I also try to run an extra mile or 5 to earn more calories. lol I know I am going to splurge and I LOVE every second of it. I just log the best I can and enjoy!!! The next day I am usually still full until noon and end up eating much lighter for a few days. But that's the one place that I cannot eat in moderation in quite the same way. I don't go crazy and still try to choose healthier options (for the most part), but I know I won't entirely give up my favorites. I go there knowing that I will probably eat at least 1300 calories for that one meal, probably more since I'm not sure how accurate portions and log entries are.

    I agree. I will try not to gorge myself, but as this is a rare occurrence, I will enjoy myself, log in advance what I think I will be eating, and if I eat more, so be it. As an American expat living on the French Swiss border, the Chinese cuisine is not quite as greasy as that in the US, and the different plate options are not as many. Still.....
  • Pupslice
    Pupslice Posts: 213 Member
    have a healthy meal an hour or so before you go, and drink lots of water. then at the buffet, load a small plate with veggies and a small portion of couple of your favorites. eat slowly, and drink plenty of water/tea. when your plate is empty, sit and chat with your friends for a few minutes to get a feel for how full you are, and if you're still hungry, have more veggies.
  • quellybelly
    quellybelly Posts: 827 Member
    Enjoy yourself! It's one outing that doesn't happen very often, so don't sweat it :)
  • runningforthetrain
    runningforthetrain Posts: 1,037 Member
    gothchiq wrote: »
    Before you go, eat an apple and a cup of low cal soup.

    This^
  • njitaliana
    njitaliana Posts: 814 Member
    The Chinese buffet here has sushi, peeled shrimp, rice, meats, and some other things that aren't bad. Try sticking to mostly those types of things and just have one serving of the thing you crave most. Stick to one plate full. That way, you get a treat, but don't go overboard.
  • KylaDenay
    KylaDenay Posts: 1,585 Member
    I'm with the "its one time" and "enjoy yourself" team. One night and one meal will not hurt you.

    Moderation is key
  • jasonmh630
    jasonmh630 Posts: 2,850 Member
    BFDeal wrote: »
    Order the Cream of Sum Yung Gi.

    Thanks Wayne lol
  • enterdanger
    enterdanger Posts: 2,447 Member
    I say you go and enjoy yourself. Do an extra gym session before.

    Beware though, I was eating fairly low on the fat scale and then I ate a bunch of beach french fries and it totally messed up my tummy.
  • tracymayo1
    tracymayo1 Posts: 445 Member
    I went to a buffet last weekend for a friends daughter's party. first time in a year.
    I ate what I wanted (until full) and moved on.
    one day is not going to undo everything up to this point - as long as it isn't one day every week!
  • uconnwinsnc1
    uconnwinsnc1 Posts: 902 Member
    There are three ways to approach this.

    1) You can go in there like a tank and just destroy your weekly calorie intake beyond repair. I mean, thousands of calories adds up really quickly at these places. You can plan to work it off over the next month or just ignore it and pretend it didn't happen.

    2) You can go in there and eat a good amount of food but be very conscious about it. Say, 1000 calories over your limit for the day. You can build those 1000 extra calories into your workouts and deficit over the next week or two.

    3) You can go in there and not eat very much of anything and probably feel a bit miserable. You might get pressured to eat and it will just be a socially uncomfortable situation.

    I am someone who loves eating. I would take the 1 or 2 route. B)
  • ShellyBell999
    ShellyBell999 Posts: 1,482 Member
    PIG OUT!, just work it off before or after. pretty easy.

    This is how I'd do it!!
  • mediamogulsteve
    mediamogulsteve Posts: 115 Member
    Like others have mentioned, have small amounts of the things you're craving after you've loaded up with veggies and/or soup. Drinking water before will help too. If I don't eat a decent salad before going to a buffet, I don't have the discipline to eat small amounts of anything!
  • pdank311
    pdank311 Posts: 137 Member
    Just go enjoy it and don't guilt yourself. Think of it as fuel for the next workout.
    Aaannnd now all I want is a spider roll and shrimp fried rice. I might have to get in on this after my workout tonight.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited November 2014
    If it were me, I'd just go ahead and enjoy myself and get back on track afterwards. I don't think "staying on track" and "chinese buffet" make good bed fellows.

    Basically, I do something like this and I'm making a conscious decision to basically let it all hang out. something like this would be pretty rare for me, so I'd just let fly...it's just one day and one meal.
  • JustAnotherGirlSuzanne
    JustAnotherGirlSuzanne Posts: 932 Member
    edited November 2014
    Budget your calories leading up to the day. Drink lots of water. Try to take some unadorned veggies with each plate (and eat first) and/or don't fill your plate completely. Always be the last one to finish your plate and only go up to the buffet when someone else does as well.

    This last one works well for me and I'll usually have at least one plateful less than everyone else. Oftentimes I can stay within my calories for the day.
  • MyaPapaya75
    MyaPapaya75 Posts: 3,143 Member
    Why would you overeat?....Enjoy the food but not so much that you will regret it do some extra exercise have one serving of the things you like and move on I would skip all beverages except water of course and say no to the rice its only a filler anyway.
  • ShellyBell999
    ShellyBell999 Posts: 1,482 Member
    gothchiq wrote: »
    I love when ppl think you can just "work it off." um no, I would have to work out for 8 hours straight to burn that mess off. A normal workout only burns a small fraction of a pigout like that.

    It is not difficult to burn an extra 7-900 cals. with 2-20 min HITT workouts.
    One early in the day, the other before going to supper.
  • JustinAnimal
    JustinAnimal Posts: 1,335 Member
    I say embrace it! Gorge yourself and totally regret it (I'm not being sarcastic, this is what I would do). Realize that due to the salt and overeating, you will be bloated as hell the next day or two (may as well throw in 2-4 beers for good measure... again, I'm not at all being sarcastic). Then, work your butt off over the next week or two. In the end, you can ask yourself if it was worth it. For me, it often is. After two weeks of disciplined eating and exercise, you might decide it was not worth it. But life doesn't have to stop because you're trying to lose weight.
  • JustinAnimal
    JustinAnimal Posts: 1,335 Member
    gothchiq wrote: »
    I love when ppl think you can just "work it off." um no, I would have to work out for 8 hours straight to burn that mess off. A normal workout only burns a small fraction of a pigout like that.

    It is not difficult to burn an extra 7-900 cals. with 2-20 min HITT workouts.
    One early in the day, the other before going to supper.

    Yeah, people are talking about working it off OVER TIME. Like spread out your overage calories and eat at a smaller deficit over the next week or two... not burn 3,500 calories the next day at the gym. Not to be rude, but, DUUUUUUH!
  • ithrowconfetti
    ithrowconfetti Posts: 451 Member
    Enjoy yourself, and try to stay from as much deep fried foods, and carbs as possible. Also, please throw your scale out the window for the next four or five days. Drink lots of water. Work out harder the next couple of days, and then drag your scale back in and weigh yourself after a few days, and then determine if you still need to work off the calories, now that the risk of retaining water is less.
  • SLHysell
    SLHysell Posts: 247 Member
    Branstin wrote: »
    One day in 3 months isn't going to hurt you. Log it as best as you can and enjoy.

    Agreed. Once in a while, it's ok to go crazy. The funny thing is, you'll probably find that you can't eat as much as you used to anyway. 3 months of a better diet can make big changes to your appetite and stomach capacity (Note: I have no idea of the science of this, but I do know it takes a lot less now days to make me feel full).
  • handyrunner
    handyrunner Posts: 32,662 Member
    Jim Wendler of 5/3/1 suggests in his book...if your worried about over eating...drink a protien shake before the meal...maybe that will help!
  • AMRROL
    AMRROL Posts: 168 Member
    Enjoy yourself! It's one outing that doesn't happen very often, so don't sweat it :)

    This
  • AMRROL
    AMRROL Posts: 168 Member
    I say embrace it! Gorge yourself and totally regret it (I'm not being sarcastic, this is what I would do). Realize that due to the salt and overeating, you will be bloated as hell the next day or two (may as well throw in 2-4 beers for good measure... again, I'm not at all being sarcastic). Then, work your butt off over the next week or two. In the end, you can ask yourself if it was worth it. For me, it often is. After two weeks of disciplined eating and exercise, you might decide it was not worth it. But life doesn't have to stop because you're trying to lose weight.

    This
  • timrpm
    timrpm Posts: 57 Member
    Sounds like you have a bit of an issue with craving bad food. Sorry to hear it.

    I would go and enjoy it. The idea of having soup before and taking the edge off your appetite seems sensible.

    Personally I'd do a HM or 10 mile run on a day like that then follow it with a 40 mile ride the next day. If you don't have those kind of resources to pull on then you ought to be a bit cautious with the food on the night.