Going Out and Weight-Loss
A common question we get is, can I dine out and stay on track to 
reaching my health and fitness goals? Honestly, going out to eat while you are on a weight-loss journey can feel like facing a GIANT at times! For this reason a lot of people will AVOID eating out all together when they are on a weight-loss plan. Well, I’m here to tell you that when it comes to fat loss, sustainability is the MOST important factor. This is why all those crash diets that we have done in the past did NOT work. You are SUPPOSED to enjoy life and that involves going out to eat and being social. Learning to trust yourself to make the right decisions when going out is important for growth on this journey of yours. So to answer the question, yes you can dine out and stay on track. Let’s talk about how to do that though.
What I Do
When I know I’ll be dining out, I always plan for that to be my cheat meal for the week; please notice I said cheat meal … that’s singular not plural. Although it’s a planned cheat meal, I still want to behave myself because I don’t want to derail my progress from the week. Therefore, I pull up the menu ahead of time and plan what I’m going to have. That way I have a plan of attack. Here is a list of keywords to look for and ones to avoid to help guide you in making the healthiest choices possible:
AVOID dishes with the following descriptions:
- Fried
- Battered
- Buttery
- Creamy
- Crispy
- Cheesy
- Thick
- Breaded
- Smothered
- Lathered
- Glazed
PICK dishes with these describing words:
- Fresh
- Broiled
- Steamed
- Blackened
- Baked
- Roasted
- Light
- Grilled
- Sauteed
- Grass-fed
- Gluten-free
More Dining Out Tips
Another thing to keep in mind, American portions are HUGE! When you dine out, right away put half in a take-home box. That will make the portion size much more appropriate and you get another meal out of it for yourself or a very grateful someone at home who gets your leftovers. Your waistline and wallet will thank you. Also, whenever getting a salad, get the salad dressing on the side. That way you can control how much dressing goes on. Word to the wise, stay away from cream based dressings like Ranch, Thousand Island, etc. Those are loaded with unnecessary fat and calories. You’re better off with olive oil and vinegar, balsamic vinaigrette, or Italian dressings.
You can dine out and stay on track, but it still requires you to . It’s all about making wise choices and planning.
Resources
Check out our blog on our website, Transform’s Facebook page, and our Instagram account (@TransformFitCoach) you’ll find fit tips, recipes and more so you can reach your goals. Also, don’t forget to join our FREE FB group and your Fit Fam for MORE exclusive content + daily coaching on the regular (search Your Fit and Healthy Life on Facebook).
Ready to Get Results?
If you’re really ready to take things to the next level and crush all of your health goals, go ahead and book your free breakthrough coaching call where we’re going to get crystal clear on your vision, identify challenges, motivate the heck out of you, provide you a roadmap to your goals achieved. Simply follow this link to Contact us. Our team of highly experienced coaches will help you get on track. Hit a plateau? Our rockstar staff can help you push through that too. Regardless of where you are on your fitness journey, we want to see you happy and healthy so you can live the best life possible.