Weight-Loss Now that youre on a diet, do you still eat out...?

Weight-Loss
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DavidFatButt

New member
...as much? It seems like everywhere you look there are bad temptations that make your knees weak and mouth water. And the worse part for me is smelling the aromas that waft off my favorite foods, like bar-b-q and fresh baked cookies.

As a result, I've had to make sure I never leave home hungry lest I sabotage my healthy food choices. I make all my own dishes using minimal amounts of fat, refined carbs and sugar. It's time-consuming, but rewarding at the same time because it's grrreeaaattt to taste my own creations.

Do y'all feel like eating out at restaurants or food vendors is making your weight loss goal more difficult to achieve? And what are those foods that practically break your willpower to succeed? (Don't make it too enticing or else you might reignite a bad craving, hehe)
 
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if you're on a diet - you're going to have issues with long term success...

A lifestyle change is the only thing that is effective long term - and into each lifestyle - cookies, and restaurants do fall.. So what.. enjoy them don't go crazy..

Use good judgement and common sense...
 
Definitely eat out less.

Used to go out with my girlfriend for a nice romantic meal every week or so, that's gone.

Used to get take-aways for dinner 3 or 4 nights a week, that's gone.

I do all my own cooking and I make sure to use the healthiest, least processed stuff I can, and I try to plan all my meals. If I am out and about and have to have something I try to make it a healthy Subway option.

Having said that, I don't believe that you should cut everything out either. I don't do those things now as often, but when I do eat out I try and do it sensibly while still enjoying myself.

The thing that nearly breaks my willpower is pizza, and well alcohol. To be honest though, even though I've cut down on how much I drink, I still drink. I try to work around it, but I refuse to cut it out entirely. It's a dealbreaker! The only problem is that it's usually when I'm hungover that I'll be bad, and when I'm bad it's usually the pizza that I'm craving!

Still, everyone cuts loose every once in a while. Any 'diet' that can't allow for that is a diet that won't last. I think the most important thing is to not be discouraged by these moments and just throw the whole healthy eating out the window. If you're bad then you were bad. Just move on and be good again!
 
My parents take me and my girls out to eat every Sunday for lunch. It never fails, rain or shine, we are going to go out to eat. There are always healthier options on the menu at most restaurants. Veggies instead of fries. Water or unsweetened tea instead of soda. Sometimes, we go to a Mexican place where "healthy" just isn't much of an option. Those days, I let loose and enjoy my meal. Due to my better eating habits, 1 off the wall meal doesn't set me back.

Also, I go to school full time and I work full time through the night. Eating out is a part of my life. There are smart ways of doing it. It's simply just finding what you want to achieve and finding out what works for that.
 
I don't eat out nearly as much, but when I do I make sure I'm making healthy choices. I have a 6" double turkey sub on whole wheat and a diet coke or water at subway instead of a big xtra with cheese combo supersized plus two bacon cheeseburgers on the side with a coke at McDonalds.

A lot of sit down restaurants that are chain-based really do not have a lot of very healthy choices, but some are starting to put a healthy choice section on their menus like East Side Marios. The nice thing with ESMs is that they actually put down the calories, fat, carbs and protein content of the healthy choice meals on their menu.

It's only as tough as you make it on yourself. Personally, I don't miss eating the bad things anymore, I just eat different. It's not worse food, it's actually better food that tastes cleaner, doesn't make me feel like shit when I'm done and is definitely fresher. A lot of people get it in their mind that healthier food means sacrificing taste, but that's not the case. I've found lots of new things that I like the taste of better than what I was eating before.
 
I think it definetly makes things harder, but if I have to eat out and I AM really trying to not mess up Ill frequent Subway, if Im at resturaunts Ill order off the salad menu or just split my meal in half so I dont eat the entire thing. It is hard though when you have a lot of friends, family, and significant others who love going out to eat and drinking :smash:
 
Drinking is the worst. I try to stick to light beer now since it has half the calories at about 100 per bottle (depending on brand), but boy is it hard when everyone's spending the night out and you want to have 4 or 6 beers.
 
I think the best thing i learned about eating out..

realize what you are eating, your mind is always bigger than your stomach, but no matter what don't say a hamburger is a sandwich, don't sugar coat the truth....

I did that a LOT before, now when i eat a burger, i enjoy the hell out of it 'cause i know its gonna be bad for me, lots of calories.. but since i have them so rarely, i devour and enjoy :)
 
A LOT of my food is actually bought from cafes/restaurants.

50% of the time I will buy my lunch at work. That's usually Asian Type Noodle Soups, Sushi, Salad Rolls, Soups.

A few nights a week I will eat out, either at restaurants or takeaways. Nando's is a great option, everything is grilled and is very high protein and low fat. I used to have subway heaps but its really bland now. I eat a lot of thai and other asian food that is really good for you, containing heaps of vegetables in a non-creamy broth with broiled chicken or beef or pork.

Even if you go out to a fancy restaurant you can nearly ALWAYS get grilled lean meat with vegetables and salads. Broth based soups are great for appetisers, and sorbet is good for dessert
 
austin_88 said:
A LOT of my food is actually bought from cafes/restaurants.

50% of the time I will buy my lunch at work. That's usually Asian Type Noodle Soups, Sushi, Salad Rolls, Soups.

A few nights a week I will eat out, either at restaurants or takeaways. Nando's is a great option, everything is grilled and is very high protein and low fat. I used to have subway heaps but its really bland now. I eat a lot of thai and other asian food that is really good for you, containing heaps of vegetables in a non-creamy broth with broiled chicken or beef or pork.

Even if you go out to a fancy restaurant you can nearly ALWAYS get grilled lean meat with vegetables and salads. Broth based soups are great for appetisers, and sorbet is good for dessert
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it seems you pay alot of your attention to your meals. I also love noodle soups and sushi, grilled lean meat and I always drink green tea during meals (hot or iced bottle)

Thailand foods are usually sour and hot, I think too much spices are not good.
 
I think too much spices are not good.
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Spices add a lot of flavor- without a lot of calories... not to mention there's a lot of spices that have health benefits... Spices are good.. you just have to watch the creamy sauces or extra butter that some sauces have in them

The spicier the food, generally the less a person eats of them - because the heat slows down their eating (buffalo wings being an exception :D
 
I give myself one "worry free" day. Since I have made a life style change, it isn't a binge day either...it was at first, but it isn't anymore. If we go out to eat, my wife and i share an entree. I have to do something I can stick with, and restricting occasional trips to my favorite restaurants was not something I could maintain. Moderation.
 
It is tempting, but I remember how much effort will go into shedding it if I do too much of it. That said I don't deprive myself. One dealbreaker for me was coffee with half and half. I go to Tim Horton's every morning(just about) and get one with light cream and splenda.

I also try to look at this as a permanent eating change so when we do go to restaurants which we did a lot over the summer, I made wise choices and when there weren't any wise choices I moderate my intake. I drink so little that I also allow myself a beer when the occasion arises that I have the adult time to allow such things. Don't even think twice on it. I try and look at it as this should have been my approach to eating all along. Fast food should be no more tempting then dropping money I don't have on an expensive outfit. If I can find self control to curb impulse spending, I certainly can do the same when it comes to eating.
 
I eat out maybe more now that I have lost some weight...

Just not to the same places as before. Now, instead of the crappy pizza joint I used to eat at, I go to Uno's pizzeria because I know the calories in their menu. Or instead of Outback, I go to Ruby Tuesday's because of the same (plus the awesome salad bar).

Believe it or not, you can def still lose weight while on a calorie deficit.
 
Portion control and limiting carb intake is what I try to do when eating out. I do it at least 2 times a week. If you plan for it and limit calories during the day it really shouldn't be an issue. I also usually only eat half and eat the other half for lunch the next day.

I enjoy the Eat This Not That Sites and Books. Those are good for eating out.
 
JDhd said:
Either I'm on drugs or this didn't come off the keyboard the way you meant.
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Yes sir. You're right, it didn't. Sorry... too many thoughts at once, not enough words.

Ahem... you can def lose weight while eating out if you still maintain a caloric deficit.

Thanks JD.
 
I thought I would put in my two cents about eating out. Stephen and I eat out as little as possible, but more because its expensive. But when we do go out we try to split meals both for cost reasons and because the portions are typically huge. When we do eat out I don't really worry about making a good choice (though its become natural for me to make good choices) I just enjoy whatever it is. Also, I have learned that making requests or asking questions about the menu is really helpful. For example, this morning we went to a local breakfast place where my best friend TJ happens to be a server. I wanted an omelet, but they are all 4 egg omelets... and thats just waaaay too much, plus its smothered in cheese, which I don't care for either. So I asked if I could have it made with only 2 eggs and easy on the cheese... and it came out perfect!! Not too much and not too little... I walked out feeling satisfied and not guilty!

So long story short, I agree with Mal... its a lifestyle change that is made not just being on a diet!
 
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