Self Control and Eating Out..

Oh do I hear you! I only go out to eat once a month, and when I do, I go for it!
Next Saturday I'm going to Texas Roadhouse too! The only thing I'll skip is the cheese fries, but I think I'll order the same thing you did!

limit yourself eating out just as you do for eating at home. Next time skip the rolls and cheese fries and just eat the steak and salad! Who ever said steak was bad!?! lol

I have worked in restaurants for 30 years. I rarely eat in them because most things are horribly calorie-laden. I always bring a bag of my own food to work. Everyone, including some customers, know that I can't eat restaurant food and maintain my weight. The two worst things to eat, IMHO, is restaurant food and processed food. :flowerforyou:

i eat out.. when i feel like it... though it is more of a challenge now that i choose to eat in a healthier manner for sure..but it is certainly doable.
Tonight i ate out at an indian buffet and it fit my plan fine *S*
Last night i ended up at a vietnamese restaurant and had my favourite noodle bowl... also fit my plan just fine *S*

i eat pasta at a pasta restaurant whenever i feel like it...
it's all about planning.. and i 'plan' to eat this way for the rest of my life, so why would i deprive or torture myself now?

i try to balance everything though.. it is not usual for me to eat out 2 nights in a row *L* but life happens..and i choose to make it work... and btw.. i never order salad in a restuarant (unless is a tiny lil side green salad) as quite frankly i am not a salad person, and i rarely have them at home either *S*

all seems to be working fine for me *S*.. just make your choices hun.
who is in control afterall.. you? or the food?

all things in moderation.

if you must go to a restaurant plan it and be sure to workout before or after you go.

since this is a lifestyle change you do have time to learn how to balance it all out, sometimes we all will just binge but thats just life.

all i can say is plan ahead, work off those calories and keep it moving.

You just told my life story I have THE worst time with eating out!

I try to avoid fast food because it's all high sodium junk even the so called healthier ones. I'm not saying I never eat at them. I have been out and about and run into to dunkin donuts and gotten an egg and cheese crossaint when it was that or starve, but for the most part I simply don't do it. If it's not the salt, it's the artificial colorings and chemicals in the food I can't control and I simply don't do well with them.

Eating in restaurants on the other hand is an entirely different thing. I have a fairly busy social life and a large part of that involves eating out. There is a diner I eat at 1 - 2 x's a week, not to mentioned meeting friends for lunch/dinner/drinks, etc.... When planning my menus I try to keep that in mind. To my way of think it doesn't always mean a salad, although if I am eating dinner I will almost always choose a salad as my appetizer. I get really specific about it as well. I request no cheese/croutons & ask for dressing on the side, preferably oil/vinegar. I then choose a sensible entree, and depending on the place a sensible dessert. I typically request seltzer with lime as my beverage.

In short I have trained myself to think how to eat out. and stay within my goals. This is a lifestyle change for me and knowing this is a big part of my everyday life I knew I had to learn how to handle social occasions or it wouldn't work. Case in point was a cook out I went to today. I knew a cookout could be deadly and I decided to bring most of my food. I still socialized. I still had a beer, I just stopped at one. I had a bit of the desserts then ate fruit. I juiced my own beverage and then drank water. I managed to stay under my calories and all my macros except sugar and I'm not worried about that since it's a one off for me. It can be done, it just takes some planning.

Okay, I want to know how you all think because I have issues. I have to stay away from any fast food or resturants period. Here's my logic, if i go out to eat why would I get a salad? I can save my own 10-15 bucks and make a salad at home. If I go to any sit down or fast food joint I want to get something good. Hince why i rather starve than go out to eat because I just have no self control, and to be truthful.. I dont want to have any. I just dont see the point of going out to eat..spending money on something I know I dont want and still have this craving for something else. Waste of time, energy, and money. I know that if i want something.. I am going to get it..and the longer I wait..the worse off I get.. I.E. last night..been craving a steak from texas road house. I chose to not go this whole week. ...and straight showed out eating until I was sick..literally. I ate like 8 rolls...cheese fries..baked potatoe..like the whole steak..oh yea a salad..and a real coke.. SHAME!

Anywho.. as i rant on and on.. whats yall take on eating out?

Next time go to the steak house. The steak & baked potato w/ a side of veg (no butter) would actually be a healthy meal. I don;t necessarily believe in the "everything in moderation" theory, but anything you can eat without binging on, simply look for a healthy alternative to it. I have a friend who loves burgers. She still want them, but now eats them with half the bread and no mayo and it fits in her meal plan.

I eat out, probably a few times a week and I am still losing weight. I also don't eat salad when I go out for the same logic. If I'm paying I want something special. What I do on those day is making sure I work out more. if that means an extra hour on the treadmill, then I do it. This won't work for everyone, but it works for me.