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MyFitnessPal Community

Cookouts . . . HELP!!!

bobimeeuwsen

Hey my support system,

So . . . I attended my first cookout with friends and family last weekend and it was a total failure. I gave into all the yummy foods that cookouts have. I have another one to attend this weekend and I was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to manage eating better at these kind of events. Not to mention it's the 4th of July and I am already scared that I am not going to have that self control that I need. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance

Replies

PandalynnKapri

Just eat everything you want in moderation and leave the carbs out.

I will be going out of town as well and there are some yummy food places I want to try.

gainthatmuscle

cookouts and holidays are rough to deal with with diets. i have the same trouble as you. what i do is concentrate on my goals and keep telling myself that once i reach my goal i can have a huge greasy cheeseburger. but also what i do is if i have messed up my diet on cookouts and holidays i just workout twice as hard to make up for it

gothchiq

Have a big salad and protein shake before leaving home. Then when you get there, drink water and diet soda and just pick at the fattening greasy stuff so you look like you're eating it.

WinoGelato

PandalynnKapri wrote: »

Just eat everything you want in moderation and leave the carbs out.

Why?

lishie_rebooted

WinoGelato wrote: »

PandalynnKapri wrote: »

Just eat everything you want in moderation and leave the carbs out.

Why?

they're the debil!

cwolfman13

Mmmmm...cookouts...protein.

what's wrong with a cookout? i basically have a cookout every night due to pretty much all of the protein sources I make for dinner comes off the grill...didn't know I was doing it wrong. does grilling chicken thighs at a cookout make them bad? i'm making burgers tonight...93%...is that wrong? I bought these awesome looking sausages to grill over the campfire on 4th of July while we're camping...am I going to put on all of the 45 Lbs I've lost?

gothicfires

Take your own food. That is what I intend on doing.

WinoGelato

I find this question perplexing as I find cookouts very easy to make good choices. There are usually grilled meats, fruit, maybe a veggie tray, salads of some sort, etc. Plus if you are out in the heat, it makes me less likely to want to eat a lot of food, I would rather have something light and enjoy the beverages...

If it is a potluck, take the opportunity to bring something that fits within your eating habits. Plan ahead and eat a little less in the days leading up to the event, and work out on the day of the event, so that you have some calories banked.

It's a holiday, try to enjoy yourself... it is unlikely that you will derail whatever progress you have made with one day.

WinoGelato

cwolfman13 wrote: »

Mmmmm...cookouts...protein.

what's wrong with a cookout? i basically have a cookout every night due to pretty much all of the protein sources I make for dinner comes off the grill...didn't know I was doing it wrong. does grilling chicken thighs at a cookout make them bad? i'm making burgers tonight...93%...is that wrong? I bought these awesome looking sausages to grill over the campfire on 4th of July while we're camping...am I going to put on all of the 45 Lbs I've lost?

Don't you know that fire + fireworks + freedom = immediate weight gain?

AndyCool22

my recommendation is take a little of the things you like -- and limit yourself to one plate.

peaceout_aly

First off, having a day to enjoy delicious foods every once in a while is totally acceptable. Just pick yourself up and get back on track the next day, or eat a little less the week prior to "save up" for the weekend. When you're there, choose the nutrient dense foods like meats, fruit salads, etc. and avoid carbs and crap food like cheeseburgers and hot dogs. I'm a total nutso and have been known to bring a lunch box of my own snacks to enjoy including protein bars, shakes and fruit. That way if there aren't any healthy options, I can still enjoy a drink or two and stay within my cal limit for the day. Also - if you have a general idea of what will be served, pre-logging can really help you stay on track and limit yourself while at the event.

jfauci

I try to eat healthy before the cook-out and not go the cook-out famished. When you get there, keep a bottle of water in your hand and have whatever you want....in moderation. Don't deprive yourself as it will most likely backfire. Just enjoy and hit the gym the next day!

cwolfman13

WinoGelato wrote: »

I find this question perplexing as I find cookouts very easy to make good choices. There are usually grilled meats, fruit, maybe a veggie tray, salads of some sort, etc. Plus if you are out in the heat, it makes me less likely to want to eat a lot of food, I would rather have something light and enjoy the beverages...

If it is a potluck, take the opportunity to bring something that fits within your eating habits. Plan ahead and eat a little less in the days leading up to the event, and work out on the day of the event, so that you have some calories banked.

It's a holiday, try to enjoy yourself... it is unlikely that you will derail whatever progress you have made with one day.

exactly...I don't get it either. I basically cookout every night in the summer...most of my dinners come in at or under 500 calories, and they tend to be fairly large portions of food.

ncfitbit

PandalynnKapri wrote: »

Just eat everything you want in moderation and leave the carbs out. I will be going out of town as well and there are some yummy food places I want to try.

I would put this slightly differently. Focus on eating proteins and fill up your plate with other things which you are lower cal but that can fill your plate so there's less room of the high calorie bombs. Then you can still have a little room for some higher calorie tasty stuff.

Also, maybe you can try pre-logging a few of the items you really enjoy at these events. I love a good potato salad, but I looked it up and now I put it on my plate more cautiously. If it a great potato salad I'll have a serving of it, but I find it easier to pass the "meh" items if I've logged them before and know how much they are going to "cost" me.

I find I feel less deprived if I know I'm eating some of the foods I really like, even if I'm not eating ALL of the food!

WinoGelato

peaceout_aly wrote: »

First off, having a day to enjoy delicious foods every once in a while is totally acceptable. Just pick yourself up and get back on track the next day, or eat a little less the week prior to "save up" for the weekend. When you're there, choose the nutrient dense foods like meats, fruit salads, etc. and avoid carbs and crap food like cheeseburgers and hot dogs. I'm a total nutso and have been known to bring a lunch box of my own snacks to enjoy including protein bars, shakes and fruit. That way if there aren't any healthy options, I can still enjoy a drink or two and stay within my cal limit for the day. Also - if you have a general idea of what will be served, pre-logging can really help you stay on track and limit yourself while at the event.

Why are cheeseburgers and hot dogs crap food? I mean, I know a lot of people feel that way about hot dogs, I don't, personally, but why cheeseburgers?

earlnabby

If it is a potluck, bring a dish that is filling and lower calorie that you can fill up on, then take small portions of other things. Otherwise, take larger portions of things like salad and the veggie tray and if they do lean meats like chicken breasts. Eat those first, then if you are still hungry, take small portions of the other things.

If it isn't a potluck, be a good guest and offer to bring a side dish "to help the hostess" (but in reality you are bringing something for yourself).

bobimeeuwsen

Thanks everyone! The Suggestions are great!

cwolfman13

WinoGelato wrote: »

peaceout_aly wrote: »

First off, having a day to enjoy delicious foods every once in a while is totally acceptable. Just pick yourself up and get back on track the next day, or eat a little less the week prior to "save up" for the weekend. When you're there, choose the nutrient dense foods like meats, fruit salads, etc. and avoid carbs and crap food like cheeseburgers and hot dogs. I'm a total nutso and have been known to bring a lunch box of my own snacks to enjoy including protein bars, shakes and fruit. That way if there aren't any healthy options, I can still enjoy a drink or two and stay within my cal limit for the day. Also - if you have a general idea of what will be served, pre-logging can really help you stay on track and limit yourself while at the event.

Why are cheeseburgers and hot dogs crap food? I mean, I know a lot of people feel that way about hot dogs, I don't, personally, but why cheeseburgers?

red meat is the devil?

or maybe it's because the BBQ kind of looks like the fiery depths of hell...

Gabrielm80

Life should never dictate your diet, or is it your diet should never dictate life. Maybe it's a little of both. If you think of your goal as losing all the time your going to fail. For example imagine a company that only wanted profits and was never willing to take a loss to accomplish more. Look at the numbers of great thing and put them on a graph and you won't see a straight line headed in the right direction; you will see what looks like the Rocky Mountain. Don't be afraid of a little weight gain. Don't see it as a cheat day. As long as you have a plan to continue down a good path to a healthier you eating 4th of July, thanksgiving, and other gut busting holidays isn't going to affect you. Because your eye is on the end goal, you will make it up if on the other days you get back on track. Plus it's the 4th there should be activities at the BBQ. So instead of just sitting and talking throw a frisbee or play horse shoes. There are plenty of outs that don't include bringing your own food. The only time I think it's necessary to bring food is if you celiac or have a food allergy. Otherwise enjoy the dinner party.

CSARdiver

Think long term. One day eating at a cookout isn't the end. It's an opportunity to relax and enjoy time with friends and have some good food. Just consider it extra fuel for the next workout.

WinoGelato

cwolfman13 wrote: »

WinoGelato wrote: »

peaceout_aly wrote: »

First off, having a day to enjoy delicious foods every once in a while is totally acceptable. Just pick yourself up and get back on track the next day, or eat a little less the week prior to "save up" for the weekend. When you're there, choose the nutrient dense foods like meats, fruit salads, etc. and avoid carbs and crap food like cheeseburgers and hot dogs. I'm a total nutso and have been known to bring a lunch box of my own snacks to enjoy including protein bars, shakes and fruit. That way if there aren't any healthy options, I can still enjoy a drink or two and stay within my cal limit for the day. Also - if you have a general idea of what will be served, pre-logging can really help you stay on track and limit yourself while at the event.

Why are cheeseburgers and hot dogs crap food? I mean, I know a lot of people feel that way about hot dogs, I don't, personally, but why cheeseburgers?

red meat is the devil?

or maybe it's because the BBQ kind of looks like the fiery depths of hell...

SO MANY RULES!

Can't I just have a cheeseburger, a couple of beers, some s'mores, watch some fireworks and appreciate my freedom and not have to stress out about what I'm going to eat that day? Cause you know what is stressful? Fighting for freedom or having your loved ones be away from you on holidays (and every day) because they are serving their country.

Gabrielm80

Here is a line graph of someone losing weight. Was Tyler a failure for not always losing? No because he was working to an ends. Life is full of ups and downs. Its not the end of story when it goes back up unless you let it be.