Going out to eat.

It's hard going out to eat in my opinion because you want to eat the stuff you don't normally eat.. You can always find something somewhat healthy though or just order what you want if you have the calories remaining for it, have them pack up half of it to take home and then you just eat a smaller portion. Applebees offers meals for 500 calories, so not all going out is "bad". Good luck!

Tell them you're going to the game and you'll have to re-schedule. It sounds like you want an excuse not to go and that's a reasonable one.

^^Agree.

If you have to go. Get something that's not terrible and then box up half to go home right as you get your plate. Then you will only eat half of it.

If it is a common restaurant....search the nutrition values ahead of time to help you choose caloriewise
San

When you're starting to get in your "groove" with healthy eating, meals out are tough. Sometimes you can say no to a meal out, sometimes you can't. My strategy is to think ahead. If the place has a nutritional website, check it out. You don't have to eat salad. But pick something and stick to it. I have "go to" choices at most places. If it is somewhere unfamiliar with no information, the basics are always good - grilled chicken or fish, maybe some rice if you hard time with the veggies. Broth-based soup is a good choice, too. Good luck!

I am going out today also to see my daughter and new daughter in law. I am buying them a dress. I just looked up Chili's and Applebees. They both have a light menu. The nutrition info is online. I say to look up the nutritional value of a couple of restaurants that you usually go to. Plan ahead what you will be eating. That way you can go and enjoy the company without the stress of worrying about what to eat. Have fun.

If you know you are going out look at the menu ahead of time (if possible), exercise beforehand to get extra calories, box up half of the meal to start with, drinks lots of water with your meal, and try to find something healthy on the menu. You could always eat something small at the restaurant (like a salad) and eat a nutritious meal afterward.

Eating out is a big part of my life -- it's one of the main social activities that I engage in. While I still want to lose weight, I don't want to give up my social life. You have to remember that watching what you eat and making healthy choices (and exercising and whatever else you're doing to lose weight) is the beginning of a new lifestyle, not a "diet". You need to make sustainable changes in your life that will lead to gradual weight lose and that you can continue on the future to keep the weight off. I don't think it's reasonable to say you'll never eat out again, you just have to plan when you do.
First, don't go to a restaurant ravenous -- eat a snack beforehand (a protein bar/a special K bar/a piece of fruit whatever) so you're not scarfing down the bread or tortillas or whatever they put on the table while you're waiting to order.
Second, if you're going to a chain, look up the nutritional info on line and limit your selection to the healthier choices (I've found that all places have at least a few healthy choices). You'd be surprised at the calorie counts. Some things that you'd think would be "low cal" are much higher than others that might seem more caloric (and more desirable). You don't know until you look at the numbers. Armed with the real information allows you to make wise choices, not just guess. If you really feel that you have to skip going out for a while until you get your willpower under control, then do so. But just know that you CAN (and will) continue to lose weight as long as you continue to count your calories and make a reasonable attempt to stay under or near your limit. Good Luck! And HAVE FUN -- YOU CAN DO THIS!

Eat half of the meal.........