5 Tips On Eating Out and Staying On Track With Your Fitness Goals

Take back control over the most common social outing

 

Do you normally throw caution to the wind when dining out and end up sabotaging your fitness goals?

 

Does the carb overload and menus at restaurants make you nervous?

 

Eating out can be daunting if you’re trying to maintain that figure or following a meal plan.

 

So, I wanted to offer some guidance on how to navigate this part of your social lives and still feel in control.

 

Here are a few tips to keep in mind to help you stay on track:

 

 

1. Don’t Arrive at the Restaurant HUNGRY

 

We all know there isn’t anything pretty about the stage of hunger. It can sometimes feel like all you see is red and all you want to do is eat everything in site! Trust me, I’ve been there. 

 

What I found helpful though is now I always like to make sure I’ve already eaten a large healthy meal before going out to restaurants.

 

I especially make a point to pack on a ton of veggies because let’s be honest, we usually don’t end up with many veggies on the plate with our order off the menu. 

 

And a bonus with using this strategy, you don’t end up ordering as much food and keep a bit more money in the bank. I am always excited about that!

 

 

 

2. The BREAD BASKET

 

What is it about free food that just makes us go overboard?! 

 

As tempting as it is to take full advantage of, ask your server to remove the bread basket right away when you arrive at your table. 

 

I know I know, I’m the same way, anything that is bottomless I go NUTS on! Fries, breadsticks, tortilla chips… Free food is my kryptonite when staying on track with my meal plan. 

 

So, just dodge this bullet and get them to remove it all together!!! Besides, you’ve done the first tip already, right?

 

 

 

3. SCOPE OUT the Menu Beforehand

 

One thing we can’t do is let our emotions take control and lead the way. Usually, when going out to eat you’re in a good mood and feeling like you want to indulge and “treat” yourself. 

 

Before you know it you’re leaving the restaurant desperate to loosen that belt buckle. Figuring out in advance what you’ll be eating (while you’re clearheaded) can prevent you from giving in to the excitement and/or social pressures of dining out. 

 

Also, so many people are becoming more and more focused on improving their health that restaurants now have a designated “healthy conscious” section of their menus as well.

 

 

4. PORTIONS

 

Chances are, the serving sizes at your chosen restaurant are HUGE. Don’t feel like you NEED to finish your entire plate of food. 

 

When you order your meal, also ask for a to-go box so you can have a portion of your order already ready to go for a separate meal later that day or the following day. 

 

Doing this, or even splitting a meal with a friend, is also another great tip that has the added bonus of saving you more money in the bank too.

 

 

5. Make Sure to HYDRATE

 

 

It is widely accepted that a lot of times when we feel “hungry,” our bodies are merely dehydrated.

 

Just think about how many times we’ve probably had an extra meal or snack or two in the day when really, all we needed was to quench our thirst.

 

Which of course makes sense as our bodies are mainly made up of water! So for your final tip, as you sit down at your table, make sure to immediately order a glass of water (just straight water folks) and start drinking away. 

 

Note: If you’re not a water fan, a bit of added lemon or lime can help quite a bit!

 

There you have it. Your once overwhelming time spent eating out has now been made a bit simpler with these five strategies. Go in with a plan and remember why you’re doing this in the first place. 

 

You’re not punishing yourself! You’ve simply got a goal to reach that’s important to you and you’re wanting to balance it out with your social life. This way you can stay the course while still enjoying great food with friends and family.

 

Happy Dining, friends!

Coach Elulu

 

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