| |
| |
|
Weight Loss Information |
|
|
|
Simple Plans for Social Eating and Travel
It's one thing to stick with your diet regimen when you're at home, in control of the contents of your refrigerator and your portion sizes. But what about going out to dinner with friends? Worse, how do you stay on track when your dream vacation has you seated by the dessert cart at every meal? Eating right when you're out of your comfort zone can actually be easier than when you are at home, so long as you think smart and plan ahead. Focus on these simple tips to help you enjoy your dinners out on the town without compromising your weight loss goals. Simple Plans Incorporate meals out like any others. Don't skip meals beforehand. Plan. Don't be afraid to call ahead and find out what the specials are going to be and figure out a couple of choices. If that's not an option, ask someone with whom you're comfortable sharing your dietary concerns to help you. Tell him or her what foods you can eat (or what you cannot eat) and ask the person to fill a plate for you. Or second, walk up to the buffet table(s) beforehand with no plate. Just take a casual stroll around and see which foods are being served. Then decide if you would like to ask someone else to place your selections on a plate for you or if you would prefer to get them yourself. Eat slowly. Not only will this help with your digestion, it slows your eating down so that you notice sooner when you are full. Set your eating utensils down while you chew. Have a sip of water between bites. Have fun along the way Eating out is a way of building relationships, to enjoy the company of others. Unfortunately, for those of us looking to cut back on what and how much we eat, this can make previously enjoyable dinner dates a dreaded and avoided task. It doesn't have to be this way. Opt for a restaurant with salads and low-fat menu choices instead of a place with all deep-fried batter-dipped menu items and heavy desserts. Another option is to choose an old favourite and split it with a partner. This way, you won't feel deprived and your portion size will automatically be limited. Not only will your waistlines be smaller, but so will your bills! Avoid temptation There is no law that says you must have a basket of bread, butter and oil before a meal out. If it is on your table when you are seated, request that it be brought back to the kitchen. Set yourself up for success when you order by requesting they leave off the oils and sauces. Request that your meat and vegetables be steamed, not fried. Order a salad (with light or no dressing, on the side) or side of veggies instead of fries or mashed potatoes. It's all in the portions Restaurant portions are significantly larger than actual portion sizes; a half-size will more than adequately replace your normal meal size. Most restaurants offer half-sizes (at smaller prices). If these are not listed on the menu, just ask, and your request will more than likely be accommodated. Alternately, you can request your doggie bag in advance. If they don't offer to package half your meal for you, decide for yourself (before you begin eating) what an appropriate portion size is and wrap up the remainder. There's no rule that you must order your meal from the entrée list. Peruse the appetizer menu for attractive (and smaller) options. You can also create a delicious and unique meal by combining various side dishes. Drink plenty of water before you leave for the restaurant, and while you wait for the food to arrive. This will help fill you up and prevent hunger-inspired indulgences. Request your salad (and/or soup, if it's not creamy) be brought out first, and dig in. By the time your food arrives, you should be able to more rationally determine what portion sizes are appropriate, and if anything needs to be avoided. Do not order dessert until you are completely finished with your meal. You might be too full to eat dessert and remember, even if everyone is splurging on the dessert menu, you don't have to join in just to be part of the "gang." Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea to end your meal. Or ask someone to split a dessert with you if there is something you really want. Distract yourself Vacations should be a time to indulge oneself and have fun. Though it does lead to eating out more often, it also removes many of the day's temptations. For example, you won't be wandering over to the kitchen when you're bored, or overindulging at the grocery store and then feeling "obligated" to eat what you've bought. Spend time in the pool, on the sand, and at the shops, not at the restaurants. Most vacation hot spots are ideal for eating on the go; you can pick up a small meal from a roadside vendor and eat it while walking the boardwalk and enjoying the sights and sounds. Don't make food about suffering. If the smell of saltwater taffy engulfs you, treat yourself-to one. Having a small amount will indulge your craving without compromising your diet. Try making a rule like, "If I eat, I need to enjoy a fun activity, too: a walk, bike ride, swim, tennis, putt-putt, etc." Then coordinate daily "pairings" or events with meal planning. Life, including vacations, does not have to be all about food. Nor does it have to focus on food. Don't stress out With the right approach, eating out can be a pleasurable experience. Remember, a successful diet is a lifelong lifestyle modification. You need to be able to incorporate healthful eating out activities into your routine. Vacations and meals out are intended to be pleasurable. If you do go a little overboard, it's important not to beat yourself up over it. Forgive yourself and get on with life. Simply use that experience to learn where you can improve the next time you are in that situation and then add some extra activities to your schedule. Swim some laps. Walk or jog. Leave your wallet in the trunk and go to a mall for a shop-walk. Take a tour. Visit a museum. Enjoy a park and feed the ducks. Just get out, focus on something else and enjoy life. I hope you enjoy this article. More can be found in my FREE ezine health-hotline@getresponse.com Fran Watson "Expert Author" http://www.franwatson.ca http://www.diet-basics.org http://www.mormunny4u.org http://www.diet-basics.info
MORE RESOURCES:
Weight-Loss - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Body Fat Distribution Factors Most men and women put on weight differently. But on what makes fat settle in a preferential way, there is little evidence. Turn Off the Fat Genes - A Book Review Once in a while a good title comes along and "Turn Off the Fat Genes" is one of those titles that just have to be written about. If you are not familiar with Dr. Coconut Oil Diets Have you heard about coconut oil diets yet? People are adding coconut oil to their diets and are getting incredible results. They are losing weight, getting more energy, and getting healthier. Weight Loss - Make a Significant and Lasting Lifestyle Change Losing weight can make a significant and life altering change in how we live our everyday life. After losing weight many people experience better sleep patterns, increased energy levels, improved blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Bodybuilding Weightloss Trouble-Shooter "Help, none of this mainstream stuff works!"There is a specific reason you are not making progress with your bodybuilding weightloss and we're going to find it.Take a look below and see if any of these bodybuilding weightloss blunders look familiar?Snacking?no problem here if its nuts or fruit during the day or around workout time - but if its getting late and you are still looking high and low for some tasty snacks it means you are taking in extra calories just at the wrong time. Aerobics Imposters In health clubs, they run classes that call themselves "aerobics". As you will come to see, they are neither aerobic, nor are they the best way to lose the excess fat. Diets May Have Long Term Side Effects...Do You Know What They Are? To see the "low carb" diets on the way out is a somewhat reflective process, not that I was an advocate of ketogenic diets at all unless you have Adolescent Epilepsy, but bringing the "low carb or ketogenic diet" into the forefront of our American Society meant that more people were being educated about obesity, food and eating. This acknowledgment about food was astounding and became overwhelming , causing restaurant chains and some farmers to really suffer from these trendy diets, people have lost farms that have been in their families for years , businesses that lend job and economic stability to an area, have gone out of business or lost business, all on a dietary whim, with no research done on the side-effects of "not eating" what these diets restrict. Medical Conditions That Inhibit Weight Loss Weight loss can be a difficult goal to achieve. Some inhibitors include poor planning, low motivation, and lack of knowledge. Take Anything... Just Leave My Coffee Alone! The pursuit of a healthier me (or you) shouldn't involve losing everything we enjoy. However, it has been well-established that caffeine consumption confounds weight loss activities and most of us begin our day with a big, hot cup of it. Sensible Approach To Weight Loss Losing weight is a tough and demanding task for most of us who experience the effects of growing waistlines and concerns associated with it. Once you have made up your mind and you are fully determined to lose weight, start your weight loss campaign with a positive approach. The Lost Road of a Failed Gastric Bypass Surgery In 1994, I had a RNY surgery. At 350 lbs and 26 years of age, I felt like my life was over, I felt like my husband and my child would be better off without me. Supersizing America For some of us, food is warmth and love. We associate it with home and childhood: tempting smells that greeted us after school on a cold December afternoon. Weight Control For Webmasters Are you gaining weight sitting in front of the computer? It's easy to do.It's easy to get stuck in a rut and forget about your health needs. Dont Be Misled. The Best Attitude and Action for Weight Loss Weight loss can be one of the most difficult things to accomplish. Today's media and the marketplace can sometimes make the effort of weight loss even harder. Weight Loss: Why Do 98% of People Fail on a Diet and How to Avoid this Easily Everybody knows that 98% of dieters fail. But do you know exactly why does this happen?To understand this, let's probe a little deeper into the working of your own body. Lose Weight with One Simple Mindset Diabetes is one of the fastest growing diseases today. One of the things dealing with diabetes is maintaining consistent sugar levels in the blood stream. Fake Weight Loss Programs and Pills: Is Your Weight Loss Program Safe and Effective? In this age being ignorant is like committing a crime. With so much of knowledge around you, following a trend blindly doesn't confirm the fact that you are intelligent. Winning at Post-Partum Weight Loss: Six Simple Strategies for New Moms - Part 1 A healthy pregnancy almost always involves weight gain. But now that baby's here, you're probably wishing those extra pounds would hurry up and disappear! While it won't happen overnight, these six simple tips can help you lose that extra weight in a healthy way. Treadmill Weight Loss Tips These treadmill weight loss tips are a great way to help you shed a few pounds and shape up. A treadmill is designed for the most natural form of exercise which is walking. Hoodia- Modern Zeal of Ancient San The long marginalized San tribe of South Africa has suddenly come to the time light. An ancient practice of chewing a plant to ward of hunger has given birth to the modern charisma called P57.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
