Eating out for the first time since starting CC!!!

Hi All,

I am 7 days into CC and 10 days into my latest try and dieting, tonight my boyfriend and I are going out to eat for his brothers birthday and Im really nervous about it. This is my first restaurant experience while counting calories and OF COURSE his brother had to choose going to a bar for his birthday so the options will likely all be grease covered and/or fried. I really didnt want to "cheat" this early in the game!! I have been very careful about what I have been eating so far today, knowing that my options will be limited later. UGHH!! Anyhow...how do you ladies cope with eating out while counting calories??

Thanks

~Beth

obviously it would be perfect if you watched a little what you ate (e.g. cut out the fries, lean meats, turkey instead of red meat etc.) but hey if you've gotta celebrate, you've gotta do it! I would run the two extra miles in the gym tomorrow to make up!! Also, try to make that martini stay longer ;)

I'm not familiar with the bar scene, but do they have salads at all?  Veggies with some protein - either lean meat or eggs - would be a safe bet with some low-cal dressing.  Otherwise, a lot of places are jumping on the wrap bandwagon.  They're not usually as healthy as they look, but they're much better than a drippy burger and soggy fries :)

One thing to keep in mind - "cheating" every now and then won't completely sabotage you.  You might retain some water from all the salt, but a burger and fries isn't going to make you gain back the weight you've lost.  If you think you'd have a better time celebrating like the boys, go for it, and get back on track tomorrow.  Don't try to "make up" for it by overexercising or cutting back on calories tomorrow...just do what you've been doing.  Anything else will just leave you discouraged.

Have fun :)

Everywhere on earth has salad - even if it isn't on the menu.  Restaurants use lettuce in tons of stuff and always have some on hand.  Order a salad.  Watch out for salads with lots of extras on them though - they can end up being as high as 1000 calories.  Get the dressing on the side and have them omit things like fried noodles, etc.

Try and get whatever seems healthiest, and enjoy yourself. One day isn't going to hurt you, but you might retain salt, so don't get on the scale the next day and drink plenty of water. Have fun! (:

When my boyfriend insists on going out for dinner, he usually orders a meal and a couple appies, so I just get a nice chicken ceasar or something similar and treat myself to one or two bites from his greasy, salty high calorie but delicious appies!!

I usually try to find a drink that has low calories when Im at the bar. Vodka and cranberry juice is delicious! Just dont add the pop and you cut out over 100 calories a drink!

Watch it all day and then eat a huge salad before you go!!  :)

have a big green salad no dressing, before you go, it'll take the edge off your hunger so you can make good choices once there.  drink either clear spirits and low cal mixer, I.e. 25ml vodka and diet coke is 60cals, or light beers.  Eat food that you can know the calories in, salads with dressing are really hard to estimate.  Chips on the other hand are easy.  Just 'budget' the calories, do your best but don't stress if you go over it's just one night.