The majority of us love to eat. There's nothing like a great
hamburger and beer while hanging with your friends. As a society, we are
also quite lazy. Many of us tend to eat out just because it's easier
than preparing something at home. This can be a huge problem when you're
trying to stay on track with your fitness agenda. Restaurant foods are
extremely high in fat, calories, and extremely high in sodium. Even
places that are apparently healthy, like Subway, can be loaded with
avoidable calories and fats.
Does this mean that you can never go out and eat at a restaurant? Of course not! But here is a few tips on helping you keep on track of your weight loss program while enjoying the occasional hamburger here and there. These tips will help you prevent sabotaging your weight loss or fitness program.
1. Don't wait
It is desirable if you don't wait until you're definitely starving to find a place to eat. You will be more likely to buy healthier options as well as have decreased portion sizes. Make sure you always carry snacks with you to eat throughout the day such as nuts, and other fruits such as apples and bananas.
2. Healthier Options
Many restaurants nowadays have a reduced calorie menu. Try to decide on a restaurant that has healthier options. Try choosing items that are baked or broiled rather than fried, whole-grain products, and protein such as chicken and fish. It's advantageous to avoid overly processed foods such as cheeseburgers and fries. These products will tend not to fill you up and are definitely loaded full of calories and fat. While staying on the topic of restaurants, it's also desirable to stick with a restaurant that is cooked to order rather than a buffet style or fast food style restaurant.
3. While at a restaurant, order first
While you're at the restaurant, make sure that you're the first one to order. Choose what you like to eat and hold on to that plan. This way you won't be as tempted to go along with the rest of your friends or family and thereby eating more than you would like.
4. Pay attention to serving sizes
Restaurants tend to have extremely large serving sizes. Make sure you plan ahead and eat enough that you are not feeling hungry anymore. There are always options to grab a doggie bag and bring the rest of it home for a second meal. If the main course is too massive for you, try ordering something à la cart or from the appetizer menu, as these will have decreased portion sizes. If you find that a meal might be too much food for you, see if anyone would want to split the meal with you as well.
5. Dressings
The majority of dressings are extremely high in fat and calories. Some salads can contain more fat and calories than a McDonald's Big Mac if you are not attentive. Your best bet is to ask for the dressing on the side, that way you can control how much dressing is going on the salad. The majority of restaurants are very heavy-handed when dealing with dressings and this can completely destroy your weight loss goals even though what you're eating is considered healthy.
6. Alcohol
Try your best shot to stay away from alcoholic beverages while you're eating out. Alcohol adds no nutrition to your meal but without question adds quite a few calories. Order a diet coke or just have a water.
7. Eating Slowly
While you're at the restaurant, make sure to eat as casually as possible. It takes the stomach around 20 minutes for the brain get signal that you're not hungry anymore. Eating briskly can cause you to eat several hundred more calories than what would've been required. Also you're at the restaurant to be social! Picture your restaurant outings more as a social gathering rather than a place to eat. The more social you are, the less you'll fasten on the eating aspect.
8. Skip Dessert
Many restaurants include delicious but destructive desserts to your body. While eating out, try your best to skip dessert. Order enough with your order that you have no need for dessert afterwards. Some restaurants have healthier options which can be acceptable though. If possible, choose a desert that contains fresh fruit, sherbet, or angel food cake if you without question must have a desert.
Final Thoughts:
If you abide by these easy tips while you're eating out, then you will have a much easier time staying on track with your weight loss or fitness program. Have fun eating out but don't abort all the difficult work you've done in the process.
Does this mean that you can never go out and eat at a restaurant? Of course not! But here is a few tips on helping you keep on track of your weight loss program while enjoying the occasional hamburger here and there. These tips will help you prevent sabotaging your weight loss or fitness program.
1. Don't wait
It is desirable if you don't wait until you're definitely starving to find a place to eat. You will be more likely to buy healthier options as well as have decreased portion sizes. Make sure you always carry snacks with you to eat throughout the day such as nuts, and other fruits such as apples and bananas.
2. Healthier Options
Many restaurants nowadays have a reduced calorie menu. Try to decide on a restaurant that has healthier options. Try choosing items that are baked or broiled rather than fried, whole-grain products, and protein such as chicken and fish. It's advantageous to avoid overly processed foods such as cheeseburgers and fries. These products will tend not to fill you up and are definitely loaded full of calories and fat. While staying on the topic of restaurants, it's also desirable to stick with a restaurant that is cooked to order rather than a buffet style or fast food style restaurant.
3. While at a restaurant, order first
While you're at the restaurant, make sure that you're the first one to order. Choose what you like to eat and hold on to that plan. This way you won't be as tempted to go along with the rest of your friends or family and thereby eating more than you would like.
4. Pay attention to serving sizes
Restaurants tend to have extremely large serving sizes. Make sure you plan ahead and eat enough that you are not feeling hungry anymore. There are always options to grab a doggie bag and bring the rest of it home for a second meal. If the main course is too massive for you, try ordering something à la cart or from the appetizer menu, as these will have decreased portion sizes. If you find that a meal might be too much food for you, see if anyone would want to split the meal with you as well.
5. Dressings
The majority of dressings are extremely high in fat and calories. Some salads can contain more fat and calories than a McDonald's Big Mac if you are not attentive. Your best bet is to ask for the dressing on the side, that way you can control how much dressing is going on the salad. The majority of restaurants are very heavy-handed when dealing with dressings and this can completely destroy your weight loss goals even though what you're eating is considered healthy.
6. Alcohol
Try your best shot to stay away from alcoholic beverages while you're eating out. Alcohol adds no nutrition to your meal but without question adds quite a few calories. Order a diet coke or just have a water.
7. Eating Slowly
While you're at the restaurant, make sure to eat as casually as possible. It takes the stomach around 20 minutes for the brain get signal that you're not hungry anymore. Eating briskly can cause you to eat several hundred more calories than what would've been required. Also you're at the restaurant to be social! Picture your restaurant outings more as a social gathering rather than a place to eat. The more social you are, the less you'll fasten on the eating aspect.
8. Skip Dessert
Many restaurants include delicious but destructive desserts to your body. While eating out, try your best to skip dessert. Order enough with your order that you have no need for dessert afterwards. Some restaurants have healthier options which can be acceptable though. If possible, choose a desert that contains fresh fruit, sherbet, or angel food cake if you without question must have a desert.
Final Thoughts:
If you abide by these easy tips while you're eating out, then you will have a much easier time staying on track with your weight loss or fitness program. Have fun eating out but don't abort all the difficult work you've done in the process.
Please check out my blog for more health and fitness articles.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Phil_Swain
No comments:
Post a Comment