Interacting with friends: Dining out

If it's possible, maybe you can suggest a place that you know will have good options? I know it depends on how set they are on that place but it probably wouldn't hurt to ask.

Also, it's great that you put your health first instead of just giving in. That' the kind of habit that will get you very far :-)

That is definitely a touchy one. You have to do what you need to do for you-while still being kind/polite. You need to surround yourself with supportive people as much as possible and not hang around with those who would have you to fail. They might just be afraid of your changing b/c change is scary to people...good luck.

Before my diet and even now I go out to eat a lot. My friends have already got offended at me for declining on lunch so instead I search the menu online and plan what I'm going to order before I get there. Even if the place doesn't have particularly healthy choices you can figure something out that will fit into your calorie goal. the other day boyfriend wanted buffalo wild wings. I searched online and found that they don't really have anything healthy so I ordered boneless wings and a side salad. I enjoyed a good meal with boyfriend AND stayed in my calorie limit. I also schedule in some exercise time if I plan on going out to eat so I can have a few extra calories without going over. With proper scheduling you can enjoy a meal with your friends and still feel good about it :]

There is always options at most restaurants. The only thing is you need to be specific with how you order your food (steak cooked with no butter and little seasonings, vegetables steamed not sauteed, etc...) If all else fails you can almost always get a garden salad with grilled chicken, steak, or shrimp and dressing on the side preferably a light or fat free vinaigrette. Most restaurant food will be higher in sodium than the food you cook at home, so make sure you drink a good amount of water that day. Since I have started back in January I eat out at least 4 or 5 meals a week. However if you don't feel comfortable you made the right choice. One thing I learned through the weight loss is that the more you exercise your ability to resist food, the easier it gets. Also looking up a restaurants menu before hand helps in making proper choices for your daily food intake.

That's one of the hardest things. I'm on a severely low-carb diet (on my doctor's orders, metabolic disorder) so most places I go with my friends have only one or two things I'm allowed to eat. The secret is to plan ahead! Check out the menu & nutritional info (if available) ahead of time. Make sure you find one or two things you can eat, write them down on a notecard, put that card in your purse or wallet & bring it with you. Then don't even look at the menu when you get there. Just order what's on your notecard.

And don't be afraid to be high-maintenance. I will order a salad with grilled chicken, but I have no problem telling them to put the dressing on the side and hold the tomatoes and croutons. You're the customer, you should be able to have your food the way you want. If being demanding makes you uncomfortable, tell people you're under a doctor's orders (and technically, you are, 'cause hasn't your doctor told you to "eat healthy" at one time or another? )

And don't let the waiter pressure you: I went to IHOP the other day, and I can't eat hashbrowns, pancakes, toast, muffins, or fruit; basically any of the sides were off-limits. I ordered an omelet that automatically comes with sides, and I had to be very firm with the well-intentioned waitress who kept suggesting different sides ("But it comes with two sides! Are you sure you don't want *anything*?" "YES, I'm sure!" "We'll still have to charge you the full price for the combo..." "That's fine."). Then there was the restaurant that completely screwed up my order & tried to apologize by bringing us a free dessert... that one just about had me banging my head on the table. :noway: You just have to stick to your plan and remember that nothing tastes as good as your body feels when you eat right.

Also, one of my cheats (especially at potlucks where you can't really know ahead of time what people will bring) is to always keep a scoop of protein powder in a baggie in my purse or pocket. If I eat everything I'm allowed to have, and am still hungry & tempted to eat bad stuff, I'll discreetly add the protein powder to my drink & sip that for the rest of the evening.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

if your "diet" is causing you to avoid social situations, you need to rethink your diet. there is nothing wrong with eating a bunch one night, just get yourself back on track the next day. so don't even check nutritional information, have fun with your friends and get back on track the next day, that shows you are in control of your diet and not the other way around

Thanks, understand what you are saying, I am not avoiding "all" social settings and I probably should have better explained. This was a situation where I had already ate my daily plan.

On Monday I went out to watch a baseball game and then Monday night football and I went over my daily goal (even with boxing up half of my meal for the next day), but I cut back a little the next few days and add a little exercise.

If you had already ate your daily plan(I'm assuming that means you had dinner, and then they wanted you to eat again...if I'm wrong correct me), then just go to enjoy the company is what I would have done.

Nothing says that when you go to a restaurant that you have to eat.. You could have just ordered a drink or something small, and just talked.