Weight Loss Journal

If you are having trouble finding ways to eat out with your friends or family while you are on a diet, you don't have to resort to becoming a hermit. Eating out is not something that you want to do every day, but occasionally, it can serve as an important way of treating yourself for a job well done. You just have to make sure that it doesn't become the gateway to falling off the diet wagon.

Many people feel that once they are on a diet, fast food and restaurant food is off limits. This can lead to people chastising you for not being "fun," or being "too caught up in dieting." These people may not understand how hard it can be to try to keep to your diet and keep your friends. It's easy to get lost and not know where to turn when you're trying to find a way to keep going out without having your weight go up.

There are many ways that you can make healthy choices and still enjoy the whole experience of eating out. Let's look at a few ways that you can banish your guilt when you eat out.

1. Substitute your entrée choices.

Yes, that burger or steak may look terrific, but it may not be the best choice. Try looking online before you got out to eat to get an idea of the nutrition information for their menu. This can make it a lot easier to just order instead of agonizing over the menu at the table. Instead of that fatty burger, try to get sea bass or grilled chicken without oil. You'll still be able to enjoy your meal and your friends will be able to enjoy your company.

2. Skip the drinks.

Alcoholic drinks and soda are packed with empty calories and quickly add up. Stick with just plain water and you won't have to worry so much about what you order. Look at this way, would you rather have a lean steak or four glasses of beer? Find the right way to minimize your caloric intake.

3. Split large entrees or deserts.

This is a great way to build camaraderie and avoid pigging out on desert. You'll get a few bites, but you won't be able to eat the whole thing.

4. Don't starve yourself all day in expectation.

When you know you're going out to eat, it's all too easy to forego your other meals so that you have more freedom to eat a few more calories at dinner. This is a very bad idea and can make it easier to pig out at dinner because you are so hungry. Eat a good breakfast and a normal lunch so that you won't be tempted to eat everything in sight at dinner.

Lastly, it's ok to indulge every once in awhile, so long as you don't make a habit of it. It's also a good idea to equate the amount of exercise you would need to do to work off what you'll be eating. When faced with an extra hour of grueling cardio, that burger may suddenly seem a bit unappetizing.

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This week my normal weigh in day falls on July 4th.  The doctor's office is closed and therefore I will be going 2 weeks without a weigh in...

For most of the week I was very good...

Thursday we went to Sonoma for the 4th weekend...  Even in Sonoma I have been very good on the food front (with one exception), but the excellent wine has been a temptation I have been unable to resist...  Also at last night's dinner, my child ordered a smore for desert (this was a 4 star restaurant)...  She didn't like it, but I couldn't believe that it wasn't delicious...  I had 2 small bites of the chocolate, caramel, marshmallow, gram cracker combination...  Heavenly! So with my cheating out of the way... 

I have gone swimming and to the gym while here, but as of this writing I haven't finished week 3 day 3 of the hundred push up challenge yet.  I will be doing that (one day late) right after I finish blogging and having an egg white omelet with fresh vegetables...

I am not punishing myself for cheating, but acknolwedging that I did cheat will help me to avoid cheating today and for the rest of the week...

I hope everyone had a safe and fun 4th of July...

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Today marks day 6 in my medically assisted weightloss journey. Sunday evening I had my first craving and I made it through...

We were having dinner at my wife's parents house... It was a bit of an event... Needless to say I was expecting temptation...

Here is how I prepared... (Water, Water, Water)

Pre-exercise snack... 5 almonds and 1 serving skim milk mozzarella.

Morning Exercise: I went to the gym and did 30 minutes of cardio (20 fast uphill walking and 10 stationary bike.) I then lifted weights...

Breakfast: 2 serving of egg substitute (1/2 cup), 2 servings fat free american cheese (2 slices), 1 serving of non fat cottage cheese (1/4 cup). About 20 minutes after breakfast I had 3 large asparagus which is 2 carbs.

Lunch: 2 servings slices turkey pastrami (3 slices). 1 serving skim milk mozzarella.

Then right before leaving to go to my in-laws I had 5 almonds.

So far my daily count is 9 protein and 2 carbs... (I get to exchange nonfat cottage cheese and cheese for protein plus 10 almonds.) My doctor mentioned I could have a 5 almond snack, but it is not in my book so I will have to ask how it counts...

I brought a nonfat no sugar dressing to dinner...

Dinner:

The hors dourves... There was an unleavened pizza that looks really good, but I opted for broccoli dipped in the salad dressing I brought. I estimate I had 1 serving of broccoli.

The actual dinner was the hard part, but it was easy enough... I had just the broth of the mathza ball soup and chicken with the skin pulled off. I had a leg and thigh and ate a little more than 1/2. I also had asparagus and zucchini (both were done to perfection on the grill.)

I estimate my total count for the day being 13 protein and 5 carbs.

So what was the temptation... The unleavened pizza, the excellent wine that was served, and the matzah ball soup... Desert was not a temptation as I was full after the meal.

If you are facing a known event were temptation will be present... I encourage you to follow my example...

• WATER
• Exercise early in the day
• Eat well but within you diet before the meal leading up to the event
• Eat 5 almonds 1/2 hour prior to the temptation
• Bring you own salad dressing because you can have all the salad you can eat

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