Struggling with dinner

Why can't you honor your commitment to yourself and make healthy choices when you go out?

My husband also likes to eat out.

I've yoyo'd for years and this is the first time I losing weight for ME, not an event, vacation etc just ME. So for the first time I don't care what he eats or where we go out to eat I try to make it fit my calorie goal for the day.

If its Mexican (which I love) I will usually go up to my goal weight maintenance calories which will only slow my weight loss down and not stop it.

I've changed not my husband so I go along and do my thing while he does his:).

Best!

Look at the restaurant's menu online before going, pick out something reasonably low calorie to order. When you get to the restaurant, don't open the menu or you might be tempted to change your order.

Did you completely overhaul your diet, OP? Like cut out this and that and are only eating 'clean'?

If so, then maybe you can look into incorporating what you used to eat, but in smaller portions. So if your husband wants to have spaghetti and meatballs, you can too...but in a smaller portion than his and you can bulk out your dish with low calorie vegetables and he doesn't need to have them if he doesn't want to.

If not, then you should be able to find something that fits your goals. Yes, it might mean not getting the fries with the burger, but you can get a good burger for a decent calorie goal (make modifications if you need to) and be satisfied while enjoying your takeout with your husband.

My "healthy" dinners are packed with flavor and are delicious...what exactly are you making for dinner that's "healthy" that he doesn't like? I ask because after about 4.5 years around here I've figured out that many people's definition of "healthy" is pretty myopic and tends to be boring and bland..."healthy" doesn't have to be that. Tonight I'm grilling a couple of petite sirloins and will be serving with garlic roasted broccoli. I will also have a small baked potato while my wife will skip that...

saraksam wrote: »

Wow, thank you all for the fast replies!!! This is really helpful. I definitely feel more "empowered" to just say no to his choices etc., if they don't fit in with my goals. I've held a lot of guilt onto doing something separately from him, and this helps me feel like I can do the right thing for myself as well.

I agree with looking @ restaurant menus ahead of time. If I'm planning to go out, I don't struggle, because I know what I'm going to get. It's when my plan changes and I no longer am eating what I had decided to have that things fall apart (for example, planned cooking at home and ended up getting takeout instead). I think I really need to work on my "in the moment" decision making, and not let being hungry/frustrated/etc. be an excuse for poor choices.

This will set you up nicely for a successful maintenance of weight loss which is the end goal!

I am the same way! Plan ahead and then impulse decisions get me into trouble. Best thing I have found is to get into the habit of not changing plans (very tough I know) but also establish routines and consistency. For me, this meant eating the same things frequently so I don't have to guess. It's easy at home if you make the same dishes, but it can be just as easy going out to eat! All you have to do is find the restaurants you and your hubby frequent, and find the healthiest or at least a more nutritional alternative and save that info in my fitness pal as a meal. Then when you go, you plug it in before you leave, so you see the total calories and you'll be much less likely to impulsively choose a higher calorie option in the moment it you've already seen the Macao and calorie breakdown. I also have several varied calorie meals that are my go to when I go out to frequented restaurants. So if I've had a low day with breakfast/lunch then I know I can "splurge" and have a different meal that is say 600 calories instead of 450. Best of luck! Remember consistency and establishing a routine habit is key.