Every single week I blow it on Saturday. I only see my boyfriend once a week, we live 80 miles apart. We spend all day together Saturday, he is a person who loves 'good food', and I'm a carb addict. I've suggested cooking at home but he always wants to go out.

We usually end up going for Italian, Mexican or Chinese and I am not successful at any of these places. After eating all 3 meals out my carb counts are through the ceiling. To be honest, having salads 3 times in one day would feel like a punishment to me.

If you have any ideas or suggestions I would really appreciate it.

One other problem is that are meals are spread out really far and I'm always going into the restaurant starved, so the bread is a huge temptation.

Thanks for any help!

Nancy

Hi Nancy,

Eating meals out often does present a challenge, but not insurmountable. It is a matter of making choices that you can live with for lifetime. During the weight loss phase, you may need to make different decisions than the ones you will make for maintenance.

Italian, Mexican and Chinese sound like dinner type resteraunts. Mexican resteraunts are the easiest of the three for me to lowcarb. There are ususally many dishes served where the tortillas come on the side-just don't eat them. Italian can be hit and miss to find a lowcarb entree that isn't a salad. Even though the name "salad" is in the anti-pasta salad, it doesn't mean there are any greens. Just lots of meats, cheeses, olives, maybe some chopped tomato and onions. I think Chinese food is probably the hardest to lowcarb with, since the majority of sauces are made with sugar. Have you considered a Mongolian barbq type resteraunt where you pick out your own meats, vegies and sauces? Additionally, I have heard some people even feign diabetes in order to make special requests . If you have a fav. resteraunt and have gotten to know the staff, try asking if there is anything available without sugar or starch-you may be surprised what the chef is willing to do!

Breakfast should be fairly easy to lowcarb, omletts (hold the carbs- a bit of fruit instead?), eggs benedict-no muffin, etc, etc.
Even fast food can work. "Sausage, egg and cheese biscuit, would you please put the cheese between the egg and sausage?"

Lunch is the same way. Just eat your burger without the bun. If your in a sit-down resteraunt, you can probable substitute cottage cheese or a side salad for fries. I notice you live in SOCAL. I learned from FRIDAYEYES that In-n-out serves there burgers protein style. It's just not on the menu. I tried it out when we vacationed down there earlier this month, and it was great, albeit messy .

For long periods of time between meals, keep a stash of macadamia nuts on hand and LOTS of WATER!! In fact, many resteraunt foods are quite high in sodium, so I would reccomend water, water, water, water, water, and more water!

It may feel awkward around your boyfriend requesting special orders, but I am of the opinion that a true friend supports the endeavors of their friends as they work to make good choices for a healthy life!

Hope This Helps,

Actually, there are good choices for all 3:

Mexican: Fajitas (no tortilla)

Italian: A chicken dish cooked in an oil

Chinese: Moo goo gai pan, pepper steak

Have him find a Mongolian BBQ place, a steak house, or a cafeteria

Oh, and take snacks along (pork rinds, nuts, cheese stick, etc.)

Honey, do what we do! Go out for RIBS! I ask them to leave the bbq sauce off and bring some blue cheese dressing instead. Then I dip the ribs in blue cheese! YUM!

We also go out for seafood...snow crab rocks.

Good luck, and happy dining.

I agree wholeheartedly with KT



And Fajitas are a great choice at mexican restaurants.

But, I would start suggesting maybe an evening steakhouse.....you can have steak, pork, shrimp or burgers generally at a steakhouse and enjoy!!!!!!!!!


Hope that helps..

Cindy

I agree with all of the menu suggestions posted. I'll actually go Mexican on purpose when I want to eat out and low-carb so I can have fajitas. Just put the chips next to HIM and leave the tortillas alone. Breakfast out should be easy no matter where you go - eggs, cheese, ham, bacon, sausage etc. If you find you need to do damage control, you can always have a "Heller hour" once each day. What that means is that from the moment the first food touches your lips, you have one hour to eat it, carbs, dessert and all. Note that the first food is ANY food, even LC foods, so if your meal is salad, pasta and dessert, you have an hour from the first bite of saqlad, not an hour from the first bite of pasta. The reason this works is that insulin is released in two stages, and stopping after an hour prevents the second stage release. For some people, this 'cheat' hour causes cravings and they can't stop, or they go on a week long binge. If this is you, then don't do it. However, this is basically the essence of the CAD program. Carbs confined to once a day, for not more than an hour.

Good luck and tell us how it works!

Friday

I have another question for you, doesn't your boyfriend understand that you are trying to lc?? Isn't he supportted of your lifestyle choices?? I am not trying to be rude but it seems to me if he really cared about your health he would help with better choicecs for the both of you.

Again I am not trying to be rude--just the independant person in me coming out!!

Sonja

that when you are in these restaurants you check the WHOLE menu, these days you can usually order an "american" dish ie. steak, burger, seafood etc.

Just a suggestion...

terasun

Nawchem,
If you like seafood, don't forget, Red Lobster has "all you can eat bucket of crab legs" being offered....At least they are here! ...A salad, vegetables and crab legs and butter! All you can eat! Hope I can talk my dh into that this weekend! Otherwise, you can't beat a good ol' steak place.

Kayceecan,

What kind of crab? Snow, I assume? No way they are Alaskan, right? LOL

Thank you for the info.

Julie