My Guide to Eating Out

I want to let you guys in on my restaurant habits, and how I fit indulgent food into my diet. I never feel deprived, and that's why this lifestyle is easy for me to maintain. 

If you don't want to lose weight, or are happy where you're at, you can ignore these tips. Go ahead and keep doing what you're doing. This is for people who want to lose weight, or want to be more in control of their restaurant experiences.

I'm not a big fan of diet plans that tell you to order something like, "grilled chicken with steamed vegetables".  Maybe that works for some people, but personally I'm like, "Ew, no." When I go out, I want to enjoy my meal, and order whatever sounds best at that time. 

First of all, I don't eat out that much. I love going to restaurants, but it's harder to remain in control if you're always doing it. Generally, we eat out 1-2 meals a week. If we are going to go out Saturday, we will eat at home Friday. 

Tip: Mentally prepare yourself before going out. Get excited about things other than just the food. I look forward to being out on the town, and enjoying the company of the people I'm eating with. If you go into it with a one-track mind towards the food, you're setting yourself up for bad choices. 

Tip: Picture yourself tomorrow morning. You have to look past the instant gratification of food. How do you want to feel in the morning when you wake up? Fat and bloated? Probably not. I want to wake up feeling like I'm still moving forward with my goals, not guilty and angry with myself. 

Tip: Don't wear your fat pants. Lol! You know exactly what I mean by this. When you dress too comfortable, you're more likely to be more relaxed about your food choices. I end up eating much more when I'm in a big sweatshirt and yoga pants. My advice is to wear something cute and form fitting. It makes you more aware of how full you're getting. 

Tip: Plan earlier meals accordingly.  My old mindset would have been "Well, I'm going to blow my diet tonight, so I might as well eat like crap all day." Wrong. I try to handle things the opposite way now. I do intermittent fasting through breakfast, and have a light nutritious lunch. In the afternoon, I might eat a small snack (under 200 calories), so I'm not ravenous at dinner time. Also, lots of water throughout the day!  

Drinks

I love trying drinks at restaurants. It's part of the experience for me. You have to count these calories though. If I'm getting a drink, I think of it as part of my meal. I only order 1, sometimes 2 at the max. If you're slugging them down, you're probably drinking more calories than what is in your actual food. Same goes for soda-drinkers. You're shooting yourself in the foot if you're getting multiple Sprite refills. Even if we are getting drinks, we always order waters with them. By sipping water in between, you are filling up quicker and staying hydrated. 

Food

Apps are probably my favorite food group. Haha! Cory always wants to get an appetizer, so I make sure I just have a couple bites. I enjoy the taste, but stop after that. 

I used to always make this mistake. I would order a salad or wrap, and think I was being healthy. If you are unsure of the calories, check them. A lot of the time you will see the salad is higher in calories than the cheeseburger! When people say, "I'm just going to have a wrap", they don't realize that they are probably consuming more fat/calories/sugar than the person next to them. Restaurants are sneaky with the sauces, cheeses, and other fat bombs. 

Here's the hard part for most people. When the food comes, I immediately cut it in half. (Or mentally cut it in half) Portions are out of control these days! We are so used to seeing a massive meal now, and we think it's normal. You don't have to, and shouldn't, eat everything they put on your plate.

Here's an example. Lets say we're at a Mexican restaurant. I order a chimichanga, rice, and beans. I will cut the chimichanga in half, and fully enjoy one of those halves. I will also eat half of my rice and beans. Once it's over, it's over. I ask for a box, and put my leftover food away. No scraping the sides of the queso dish! Haha! Basically, always get a box. Even if you don't plan on eating the leftovers, get into the box habit. 

Watch the condiments. For the longest time, I never saw these as calories. Look at the nutrition facts of your favorite sauces,  and it will blow your mind. Also, pay attention to the serving size. If it says 2 tablespoons of ranch is a serving, don't pour it over your entire meal. Be aware of your dipping! There's no prize for who can fit the most dip on a chip. Just be mindful, and use the smallest amount possible. 

If you're just getting used to cutting down your portions, remember that it takes your body 15-30 minutes to realize it's full. You might think you still feel hungry, but ignore that. Drink some water. Your body will catch up, and you will feel satisfied. 

This is typical for our week-to-week eating out. But sometimes, I don't do as well as I planned. I will eat too many fries, or finish 2 full sushi rolls. Point is, we're all going to mess up and overindulge. We just have to keep moving forward and improving. You ate your entire pasta meal and 3 breadsticks? Stop beating yourself up over it, move on, and do better next time. One of the most important parts to health and fat loss is not giving up. 

I hopes this answers some questions, and gives you something to think about before your next night out! Thanks for reading.