Restaurant Dilemmas

Hi all

I'm still pretty new to CC. Started Last Week. My problem is that my boyfriend loves to go to restaurants...EVERYDAY....In some ways this is a good thing for me because of health problems I find it hard to stand and cook anything but I want to stay healthy and restaurants aren't the best food choices I know...So far I try to stick with a plain chicken sandwich on whole wheat bread, no Mayo....It's getting pretty boring though....I don't want to order salad because I know from experience that their salad dressings are way too fatty and calorie ridden...I'm just at a loss at what I should order that would be nutritious and not costly...He is on pension so ordering a nice Filet Mignon with Mushrooms sounds nice but not practical....He's a Lasagna man but they are sooooooooo big and loaded with carbs and calories I don't want that.

I'm thinking the 1/4 chicken breast with baked potatoe but would like some more ideas on what you are all doing when going to restaurants. Maybe it might give me some more ideas

Thanks

Sharron

Sharron, it is pretty hard to lose weight eating out every day.

First tip, ask for a "to go" container as soon as you order.  When your food comes, put some of it (maybe half) in the container so it is out of sight.  Take that food home with you.

Salads are a very good choice, especially with roast chicken.  Ask if they have reduced fat dressing.  Tell them "dressing on the side", even if it is low cal.  Even better, tell them "no dressing" and bring your own dressing!!  The supermarkets are selling packets now that will fit in your purse. 

If the menu lists the calories, you can't believe them anyway - they are usually much higher than it says.  Get a feel for what a single serving looks like, and use your common sense when eating.

Steak is NOT a good choice unless it is a very small, lean serving.  Potatoes are usually giant at restaurants, plus, what will you put on it?  Vegetables are great, but no butter or oil. 

I find it hard to pay the money to eat at a restaurant and then try to restrict my eating.  Hence, I rarely eat out.  If you REALLY want to lose weight, think about asking your boyfriend to support you in your efforts. 

Hi Moonduster

Thanks for the tips....asking my boyfriend to be supportive is not getting me anywhere...he tries to sabotage my effort at every turn...it's unfair really :(

He just jokes and says he doesn't want all the men running after me...I told him that was a lame excuse and this is something I really want to do for my health, not to look good for other men.

I ordered a book off of ebay called "Dr Shapiro's Picture Perfect Weight Loss (2000)" I'm hoping this will help with portion control. I am also on Weight watchers and have been to see a nutrionist/dietician and she showed me things like 3 oz of Chicken is like a deck of cards....how much a teaspoon is etc. 

For the Potatoe I was thinking just 1 pat of butter, but I suppose that Salad is a better choice. I just find it hard to get up to my proper calorie intake eating salads and fruits. I tend to hit the bread and make a sandwich when I am too low but the sandwich bit is getting boring pretty quickly.

My life has been centered around this one restaurant meal a day and so I have literally gone hungry waiting and waiting for him to decide what freakin' time he is going at. It would help me to plan my day better if he had a specific time to go out, but he varies it so much. One day it might be 12:00 p.m or if he is busy or tired he can call at 6:00 pm or anywhere in between. I have had big discussions with him on trying to fix a time so I can have a routine. I told him that I am not wanting to go out just when he feels like it and that it is unfair to me.  He says that that is the way it is and if I get hungry in the meantime to have a salad or peanut butter on bread to tide me over till he calls.

I really hate living my life like this though and I know it's my own fault because I am  not setting the limits properly with him. I guess I'm afraid he will leave and then I will be all alone and not able to take care of  myself properly because of my handicaps.

Hi Sharron

I eat out for lunch every day. I've discovered seafood is a good choice, but grilled not fried. Grilled shriimp, mahi mahi or salmon are low in calories, filling and good for you. Also steamed vegetables are great. 

It really is best to do a little detective work online about the nutrition information for the restaurant where you plan to eat. To my horror I discovered a salad I ordered recently at a restaurant had more calories than my entire day's allotment.

Be sure and skip the bread!

Hi Sharron

I eat out for lunch every day. I've discovered seafood is a good choice, but grilled not fried. Grilled shriimp, mahi mahi or salmon are low in calories, filling and good for you. Also steamed vegetables are great. 

It really is best to do a little detective work online about the nutrition information for the restaurant where you plan to eat. To my horror I discovered a salad I ordered recently at a restaurant had more calories than my entire day's allotment.

Be sure and skip the bread!

I love Picture Perfect Weight Loss! Near the end is a large section where he prints menus from an incredible variety of restaurants and literally circles the healthiest choices. You can quickly get the idea as to what to look for. I know because I eat out a great deal and used that book to learn to do it well.

Like Moonduster, I suggest ordering either dressing on the side or with no dressing and bringing your own.

You'll get more tips from the book and from everyone here at CC. Try the ideas that make sense and fit the way you live, find what you are able to do, experiment until you find a bunch of new favorites out of the lower calorie options, and you will lose weight.

Sharron,

Sounds like your life's pretty complicated but there are some things you can do to cope with it as it is. 

Let your boyfriend know he'll be the one benefiting from a healthier you. More energy, better self-esteem, able to do more things... I'm not sure what your handicaps are but losing weight can only help that too. The extra pounds exacerbate so many things with all the inflammation and stress on all body parts.

Best way to handle the food issues is to plan your three meals- 2 small and 1 large. You might want to even break it into more mini meals/snacks throughout the day. Save the large meal for when you go out to the restaurant and have the smaller ones spaced out as best you can. If you're saving all of your calories for one meal, you're probably famished by the time you get there and likely to overdo it.

Then figure out one or two meals at each of your favorite restaurants and tag them on CC. It takes a little time at first but if you do it one meal at a time, it helps with planning and actually allows you to be more flexible. Done right, your boyfriend may not even notice a difference in your eating habits. If he does, just tell him you're not very hungry and want to save some for the next day. But really enjoy what you do eat- that way you're still a fun dinner companion. It's so annoying to sit with someone who spends half the meal figuring out how much they can eat and talking about their diet. Remember not to think of this as dieting, just healthier living.

pj

Great suggestions! I didn't think of planning out the restaurants by favorite meals...I guess I'm still new at this . That is a perfect answer for me, then I can order some of my usual things and Gary won't even notice probably. I agree with you that there is nothing more annoying to sit with someone who is always figuring out what to eat and talking about the diet. I have to remember that this is a lifestyle change and not a diet. I know it, but I need to reinforce it.

Thanks so much for the encouragement and ideas.

Sharron

Original Post by jannid:

I love Picture Perfect Weight Loss! Near the end is a large section where he prints menus from an incredible variety of restaurants and literally circles the healthiest choices. You can quickly get the idea as to what to look for. I know because I eat out a great deal and used that book to learn to do it well.

I"m Looking forward to it coming :) Thanks

Like Moonduster, I suggest ordering either dressing on the side or with no dressing and bringing your own.

Yes this is a great idea. Everyone is being so helpful!

You'll get more tips from the book and from everyone here at CC. Try the ideas that make sense and fit the way you live, find what you are able to do, experiment until you find a bunch of new favorites out of the lower calorie options, and you will lose weight.

I like that "ideas that make sense and fit the way you live" everyone has been so helpful.

Thanks so much

Sharron

SHARRON,

CONCENTRATE IN ORDERING ONLY GREEN SALADS (NO CHICKEN, WALNUT ADDED) AND DRESSINGS ON THE SIDE. ALSO TRY TO COOK AT HOME, YOU WILL BE SAVING TONS OF MONEY AND FEELING BETTER ABUT YOURSELF!

Good luck on your new life. I want to comment on what you said, "asking my boyfriend to be supportive is not getting me anywhere...he tries to sabotage my effort at every turn," and, "I have literally gone hungry waiting and waiting for him to decide."

For me, these are big red flags. In the same situation, I would make sure that I'm eating healthy, low calories food. See http://caloriecount.about.com/foods-eat-want- q2411. I don't make good choices when I have to wait until I'm really hungry to eat.

Second, I know what's it like to be with someone who's not being supportive, and it makes it really hard. My husband was cooking our meals, and it was impossible for me to lose weight when he was preparing the food. It was healthy food, but I had problems with portion control. So I had to start cooking for myself. Now that I'm losing weight I am SO much happier. I can make an entire head of steamed cauliflower and feel totally stuffed for under 100 calories. My husband never actually said he was trying to keep me unattractive, but I think it was a motive.

Come here for support. CC is going to be on your side every time. I don't expect support from my husband, so I'm never disappointed. We all wish you success.

Mmmmmm, cauliflower..... chop and steam for fake rice or pasta... steam and mash for fake mashed  taters... steam and blend for fake creamy soup base... I love cauliflower.... not a whole head though. You really, really love cauliflower.

Yep, get your support here. Get recipes here. Get suggestions for managing here. There's always someone who can put a positive spin on anything that's bugging you and help get you back on track.

Good luck!

Cauliflower!  What a great idea...haven't purchased it for nearly a year and forgot how versatile and wonderful it is.  WILL BUY SOME TODAY!

There are some great suggestions on here. I'm a fan of dipping my fork in dressing, myself. I can't handle it dumped on my salad anymore! Don't be afraid to order a la carte too. It may be slightly more expensive but what's the point of getting something with a meal that you don't want. Soups that are not in cream sauces are usually a good pick and filling.

Speaking of filling, while I'm a cauliflower fan too, it's not a good idea to eat ANYTHING until you're 'stuffed'. If you consistantly eat smaller portions eventually even if you mess up, you won't be able to eat the quantity of bad food that you used to. Keeping your stomach stretched isn't a good idea. IMHO.

Talking of steamed vegetables. I have bought the frozen Brocolli w Cauliflower and it is sooooooooooo tasteless. What can I do to it to make it more appealling?

TIA

Sharron