Restaurants

Many of us use our best guesses when eating out and then log that.

One meal isn't going to significantly set you back.

Some resturaunts have their nutrition facts online. You can look beforehand and try to get a few ideas of healthy options. Also, sometimes people may already have some options logged in MFP that you can look up. Besides that you can just use your best judgement. Being off by 100-200 calories won't have a huge effect on your goals for one day. If nothing else, overestimate a little.

Many of the MFP entries include calorie counts for volume as well as for weight. When at a restaurant, try to estimate the volume of the food and use that instead. Most people (myself included) are terrible at estimating weight. You can't realistically do it at a restaurant anyway but even if you could try, you can easily be off by 200% - 300% or more. Estimating volume is easier. I can usually get it right within 30% - 40%. Given the option, it's always better use a scale and weigh your food but a volume estimate is better than nothing.

jemhh wrote: »

Google "serving size chart" and look at the images results. You'll get a ton of charts/pictures/graphics showing you how to estimate sizes and portions.

THIS

Also,, Get a great workout in Saturday morning! That will help if you are off a little.

....I emphasized that I am actually enjoying life so much more now and eating cake and ice cream does not equal enjoyment for everyone.

I think he is calling your bluff. You say you are enjoying this new fitness enterprise? So let's see how you handle a monkey wrench. There's a trap that dieters can get caught in, a sort of cognitive distortion, called "all or nothing thinking". That is, "I must eat like this like this all the time or else I will fail.". In reality, we can allow quite a bit of leeway and still lose weight (albeit a little more slowly).

I suggest you take a look a the menu ahead of time, pick something that fits in your calorie goals (and NOT the lowest-calorie item on the menu!), pre-log it, and don't stress it. Prove to him that you are enjoying this! I will often eat half and doggy bag the rest. Most restaurant meals are about twice the calories we really need anyways.

I save calories during the week so I can go out once on the weekend and eat burgers, fries, etc. It makes no sense to me to not live once in a while.

Depends... how closely does your husband pay attention to what you're doing?

(disclaimer: some people are going to throw rotten tomatoes at this, but if you need counter tactics against someone trying to "prove you wrong," this WORKS.)

First off, while husband is watching TV, in the shower, or otherwise distracted, you could eat a big pile of low cal vegetables like green beans, and a boiled egg for protein, before going out so your stomach isn't growling and driving you mad. Then, ok, yr already mostly full. So then act normal or whatever he thinks is normal, casually order some random thing... not like the worst ever (alfredo etc) but just some average thing, and since yr gonna be mostly full already, do lots of talking but just pick at the whatever, eat some tiny bites and mash it around on your plate a lot and he won't know the difference. If he remarks how much is left on your plate just say "oh I'm stuffed; I'll get a take home box" and box it up. Then of course you leave that fattening box in the fridge a day or two then throw it out. He'll think you ate it.

janejellyroll wrote: »

Many of us use our best guesses when eating out and then log that.

One meal isn't going to significantly set you back.

Depends how often that one meal comes up. I can maybe slip in once a week total until I start to rapidly gain and that's eating the most boring food on the menu. Go out of town for a weekend and have a beer? Forget about it! Progress is torpedoed!