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traineo Community / Diet & Nutrition Tips / How to avoid "bad" food - dinners with friends?
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Tina Ethridge
traineo Newbie
Posts: 19
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 # Posted: 9 Feb 2008 03:48


So lately I've been experiencing the problem of eating poorly around friends -- when we go out to eat, when I go to their house to eat, etc. I've got two main problems, really.

1) I eat too much of it, and completely FORGET to watch my portions.
2) It's not nearly as healthy for me as the food I make myself. I can't count how many calories it is, how much sat fat, what it was made out of, etc.

Can anyone provide a solution for this? I'm sure it's a common problem..

Thanks,
Tina
Katie Reigner
traineo Newbie
Posts: 14
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 # Posted: 9 Feb 2008 05:08


I have the same problem. But, when i know for sure that i won't be able to eat at home, I pack food to go along with me. Even if I think i'll be able to eat at home i'll still put something in my purse like a peice of fruit, a protein bar, or small things like that.
suesue t
Fitness Guru
Posts: 675
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 # Posted: 9 Feb 2008 05:59


I have learned that doing a little advance homework and getting mentally prepared helps a lot!!! Most of the chain restaurants and even some of the local ones have menus and nutrition information on line. I preplan what I can eat and really try to stick with it. I figuere out a calorie allowance ( it always includes a glass of wine!:wink

That really helps me a lot AND ( this is a huge ) I always allow myself "some" events with no restrictions. The important thing is that I predecide what it will be...... not as the menus are out and everyone is gleefully ordering the mega appetizer assortment for a table sharing feast!!!
Clifford Chinn
Fitness Guru
Posts: 470
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 # Posted: 9 Feb 2008 06:35


Personally it's not a HUGE problem (well, watching portions could be a HUGE problem but I'm forcing myself to be disciplined about it... although the Superbowl was pretty tough heh) since I allow myself at least one "splurge" a week and plan my meals around it accordingly (ie. small snacking throughout the day so I'm not starving and having a small lunch so that the big calorie hit at dinner with the friends isn't THAT big of a hit).

I find that it's a lot easier to stick to eating healthy if I allow myself an indulgence here and there, and I don't really budget (financially and calories) to eat out more than once a week (even that gets expensive). If you're going out to eat with your friends multiple times a week and you're not in debt; what do you do for a living and how can I get hooked up with that?
THE NEW ME
The Master
Posts: 2856
Post History
 # Posted: 9 Feb 2008 10:07


-if the restaurant doesnt have an online menu, you can call and ask about their menu
-you can eat a snack beforehand
-you can plan your day around eating out-meaning have a little less, not skip, at prior meals
-have water before, and during meals
-order a salad before the meal
-remember it is 1 meal- 1 meal wont make you fat and if you didnt eat "perfectly" move on to the next day as usual
Clifford Chinn
Fitness Guru
Posts: 470
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 # Posted: 9 Feb 2008 10:29


Just to emphasize how good a tip it is to start with a small salad: salads typically take longer to digest (meaning you should feel more full for longer) and are lower in calories so you get a nutrient rich appetizer that leaves less room for the high calories in the entree that follows.
Tina Ethridge
traineo Newbie
Posts: 19
Post History
 # Posted: 10 Feb 2008 05:09


k, thanks for the help everyone!!! i think i know what to do now.

Tina
Tim Wilson
Fitness Guru
Posts: 650
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 # Posted: 10 Feb 2008 15:33


Quoting: katiecometrue
put something in my purse like a peice of fruit, a protein bar, or small things like that


I do the same thing, other than I don't put it in my purse I will eat a little something before and have stuff with me to eat in case we are going to eat late etc. I just wrote about this on my blog yesterday www.2big.org because of an event I had Friday night. I don't always do bad, but it is difficult with all the different things that are part of eating out with friends. Eating at a restaurant, which we do very little of, the conversation and whatever is going on distracting me from watching my portions, the added stress of eating with friends, etc.

My wife and I always share meals now, but this meal they just kept bringing food, the restaurant gave us an appetizer, then I must of looked hungry because they gave me a cup of Clam Chowder (which I don't get that often, but love, so I couldn't turn it down) and then a HUGH meal - we shared, I ate too much, and we still had some left over..... I did eat a lot of salad though, and a lot of water.

I just don't let myself get down on myself and pick back up immediately afterwards..... but they made this difficult, because the restaurant gave us each a hugh cookie to go! ARRRRRGGHHH!
Clifford Chinn
Fitness Guru
Posts: 470
Post History
 # Posted: 11 Feb 2008 01:19


I feel you on that Tim, I went to a Brazilian all you can eat place in downtown Seattle that was DELICIOUS, but they bring the food (meats!) to you, so you don't get to actually stand up to see if you still can, so you just keep eating and eating.

Clearly, it was one of the most protein-rich and unhealthiest meals I've had in ages, but it was delicious and, as my weekly indulgence, totally a step backwards, but I just didn't beat myself up over it and continued back on my normal eating routine and exercise the next day.
Tim Wilson
Fitness Guru
Posts: 650
Post History
 # Posted: 11 Feb 2008 01:46


next time take me! I would be more than happy to give in one meal for that kind of meal

Wait - I shouldn't be saying that here on traineo


Jocelyn Coutant
Fitness Guru
Posts: 222
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 # Posted: 11 Feb 2008 06:39


my boyfriend and i house food when we're together. this weekend was a bad one. we had 4th meal two nights in a row (the meal you get at 1 am that you don't really need....) haha.

i told him how i felt about it, and that i was really trying to watch what i eat and get a healthy system going again, and you know what ? he said he would help me and such.
so maybe just let your friends know what you're trying to do.. and then they will help or even join you.

going out to eat.... get the salads. no dressing (or on side but odn't really use it)
that's what i do. no dressing, no cheese.

and as for eating at their house... gum. chew lots of gum. different flavors helps control different cravings.
Minu ~
The Master
Posts: 2592
Post History
 # Posted: 11 Feb 2008 11:55


Quoting: jocoutant
i told him how i felt about it, and that i was really trying to watch what i eat and get a healthy system going again, and you know what ? he said he would help me and such.
so maybe just let your friends know what you're trying to do.. and then they will help or even join you.


Totally agree. During the year I was into hard-core turkey-carving mode, I let all my friends and family know and dammit if they ALL didn't cook "diet" when they had us at dinner parties. Gems, all of them.

During that time, Hub, (who helped too of course), and I would hit the sushi joints a lot.



Dean Grimshawe
Fitness Guru
Posts: 1182
Post History
 # Posted: 11 Feb 2008 12:57


I work on the 80% rule. So long as I am track 80% of the time, then results seem to always come.

I never say never to anything, though naturally I have no craving for fast food, binge drinking sessions and sweets. However, if it happens once in a blue moon, cos you're at a dinner party and that's what is served, then I don't worry. I'm conscious that it isn't ideal and I minimise the hit with my portions etc... then get back to good when I'm in a place to make my own choices.

No worries, life's for living so join the ride!!
Dave Nicholson
The Master
Posts: 2094
Post History
 # Posted: 11 Feb 2008 20:13


2 out of 3 ain't bad... Still like those binge drinking sessions sometimes...

But I don't generally eat afterwards anymore


Jeff Bristow
Fitness Guru
Posts: 280
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 # Posted: 11 Feb 2008 21:45


I am a social eater and fall into this often. I basically tend to angle more towards doing more Cardio in an attempt to offset my bad eating the day before. This may not be the best approach, but I find that it motivates me to work harder.


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