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Might work for you, ChessieMom, but I live to eat. Food, sleep, and sex are pretty much the best things imaginable to me.
I think the key is moderation. When we go out, we go to Applebees, Moe's Southwest, get a takeout pizza, a local taco place, or Subway. I know the calorie count of pretty much everything that I'd get on each menu, and calorie budget accordingly. Sure we'll try other places, but those are what we both like, are affordable, and I know exactly what I'm getting calorie-wise so they're all pretty regular.
Like I know that when I get my absolute favorite nachos from Moe's, it's about 1,600 calories. Yikes. So I get the queso on the side, use only about half of it, and load up on veggies. I'll make sure breakfast is just a piece of fruit and if I get hungry for dinner, it'll be something like canned tuna and salad. Simple, very low calorie. I'm not about to give up one of my only vices because there are too many calories...I'd rather just have the rest of my meals that day be very spartan.
Applebees, I'll always cut my meal in half, order veggies as a side, and eat the other half for lunch the next day. That seems to cut most meals down to acceptable caloric levels.b
Subway I load my sandwich with veggies, oil and vinegar, and split a footlong with DH. Water or diet soda, always.
And at the dreaded mexican restaurant, I've found that grilled steak tacos in corn tortillas with cilantro, onion, and avocado (average 150 cals each) is just as satisfying as that deep-fried chimichanga. I just don't let myself get chip refills and call it a day.
See a theme? Veggies, veggies, veggies. Even on the takeout pizza. I'm not a sweets person, so I can't help you much there.
I love restaurant food, and I really like the break from cooking it provides. But you really have to know your food.
I wish people would stop blaming everything and anything for their weight problems.
You hit the nail on the head....moderation went out the window with lots of people. People are lazy and don't cook for themselves anymore. And I too when I go out can never finish the portion sizes I get so I will eat till I'm satisfied then bring the rest home to eat the next day.
Some people suck at cooking, and somehow manage to burn Ramen noodles, and make scrambled eggs have the consistency of a rubber pot holder.
Or oatmeal that's so hard the entire dish it was made in has to be thrown away.
Some people have tried cooking, but have given themselves food poisoning too many times whilst trying to ever have the true desire to do so again.
I've started paying more attention when I go out to eat, especially now that the nutritional information is readily available. I totally understand why so many Americans are overweight or flat out obese.
I went to a Mexican restaurant the other night. For one combo item (taco, for example) and rice and beans, it was $8.99. Two combo items cost $9.99. Three combo items cost $10.99. Anyone not paying attention to calories or fat would say, "Oh, look how much more I can get for only $2 extra!"
I was also shocked to note that a piece of my favorite "black out" cake from The Cheesecake Factor has over 1,300 calories in a single slice! Granted, the slices are huge, but even if you split a slice with friend, that's still about 650 calories per person! Just for dessert!
Even so called "healthy" restaurants aren't that healthy when you look at the portion sizes, or the buffet style of places like Souplantation.
I can never eat out again.
I LOVE TO EAT OUT!! It's all about CHOICE !I've educated myself about nutrition. I know which foods are really healthy and which foods to avoid. The internet is an excellent tool for research for anyone who is sincere about what is healthy and what is not healthy to eat.
IMHO Thai food is high on the "healthy" scale and when I eat out (several times a week) I favor Thai and seafood restaurants I've maintained the same size (10) throughout most of my adult life and I know the difference between eating healthy or not - and the restaurant is not to blame - it's the person making the choice what to eat
Eating out is doable. I got a book from Weight Watchers listing all the popular resturaunts menu items. There ARE many dishes you can have and still watch your weight. It's all about making good choices and planning ahead of time what you are going to order before you go to the resturaunt.
I was happy about the cals because the first thought I had:
"DUDE...HALF PRICE LIVING!" and just split it with whoever I was there with.
Its a win win situation!☺
I'm that way too!
I'm frugal first, and a fat kid second.
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It's a matter of "CHOICE" -
