weekend fears

[kekes444]

Okay, my TGIF mood is a little dampered by fears of my first atkins weekend slip. Weekends are typically when my hubby & I go out to eat, and our meals are not as regimented as during the week. I'm sure I can find something at a restaurant that is atkins/induction friendly...right?? Any tips?

Also, my husband suggested we go strawberry picking this weekend. I had been asking him for weeks and now he wants to do it! Argh. :mad2

Not feeling as tired today, although I did sleep through my alarm and missed my morning workout. Having terrible heartburn, tho.

Katie
Induction Day 5

[not2late]

Hi Katie, live doesn't stop because you are on Atkins.

Depending on the restaurant, you should be able to piece together a meal that will be Atkins friendly. STick with the basics: grilled or broiled meat/fish, no sauces, steammed vegetables, salads (ask for a cruet of oil and vinegar).

You can call ahead and see what their menues are. If you look at the sticky above called "Net Carbs, Added Sugar, Labels, FAST FOOD LINKS", you'll find a list of links to the nutritional info/menu of many fast food, sandwich, and family style restaurants.

As for berry picking, go. Freeze your berries and during your OWL, you'll be able to enjoy a quick berry sorbet for dessert (process the frozen berries in a food processor until it's slushy). Remember, berry picking is exercise!

[Moochiecat]

I love eating out!! Don't be intimidated by it...remember that people all over the place are eating low-carb, and they are now used to people asking for substitutions.

I like to order a mushroom bacon cheddar burger without the bun (and check what they have on the burger for condiments because you can have mustard and mayo, but no ketchup or relish, of course) and salad with ranch or blue cheese dressing on the side.

Steak and salad are great, and usually they'll offer a 'seasonal vegetable', so check out what that is, because it might be something you can have.

Print out the wallet sized Acceptable Foods list (it's in a sticky in this forum) and read the menu. Think of it as an adventure! :yes


I'm jealous about the strawberry picking!! It's good exercise and you'll be able to freeze them now and have them for when you are on the berry rung in OWL. :joy

[texwife&mom]

One good tip when dining out ---if there are Ugly evil carbs as a side I ask for steamed veggies instead. If that is not an option, just ask for them to leave off the ---Ok I will say the P word potatoes. (I fell dirty now):help It is much more "acceptable" now to want a low carb meal and no waiter worth their tip will even blink at the request. Have a great weekend. What a wonderful way to get your body moving, picking treats for you next level on this way of life!!!!! This will help instill that your new WOE is a permanent change! Enjoy the fresh air.

[Isabeau]

I agree, eating out on this woe is fairly simple. There are some restaurant types that may pose more challenges (like Chinese and Mexican) but just be assertive, ask lots of questions and ask for alternatives. You'd be surprised how obliging restaurants can be. You can do it!

[kekes444]

that's a great idea, freezing the strawberries for later. I usually do do that when we pick them b/c we end up with so many, but it didn't occur to me that I could do that now.

Thanks for the encouragement!

[Buddrfly]

When me and my fiance' do the out-to-eat thing, I just order whatever's grilled, baked, boiled, broiled (example: grilled-chicken, steaks, shrimp, fish, etc----baked-fish, chicken, pork chops, etc----boiled- shrimp, lobster, crab, etc.). And of course I order veggies in the place of the baked potato, mashed potatoes, or french fries that they normally offer you.

So far, I have not gone to 1 restaurant that I could not eat at!

[cajunthunder]

Back when I was on day 5 of Induction (boy that was quite a while back!), my sister asked me to meet her and her daughter-in-law at a restaurant so we could plan my nieces wedding shower. Well she chose a Mexican restaurant! :sadblinky

The hardest part for me was not partaking of the chips and salsa. I made sure I wasn't starving before I got there, and I ordered grilled shrimp with steamed veggies - and I asked them not to put the Mexican rice on the plate. It was delicious and filling!

Depending on where you go, you can find something yummy that fits in with this plan. Some places will simply have more choices than others. Just make a conscious effort to choose a place that will give you those choices and not tempt you with all of those 'extras'.


Good luck!
:yummy

[Moochiecat]

Cajunthunder makes an excellent point! Pack snacks with you so that you aren't starving when you go out to dinner. A hunk of cheese and some pepperoni will do fine in your purse for a late afternoon snack.

Also, talk with your husband about places you think would be best for you to go. Go online, or phone them, or drop by ahead of time to check out menus so when the time comes you don't feel ambushed by the menu. You can still be spontaneous and pick one of the ones you discussed, or you can do your homework on your own and surprise your husband with a new suggestion.

I started up a dinner club where 3 couples plus ourselves meet up at a new restuarant every month to try something new. We've eaten German, Jamaican, Pub-fare ...and I've always had a lovely meal. :yes but I did my homework ahead of time.

[AllieCat0817]

Main thing I'd like to say is do not equate the weekend with food. Just like folk equating Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas with pigging out, then come January they're on a 'diet'... which lasts all of 2-3 weeks cause then they feel deprived. It's not about food.

If you work during the week and have weekends off (as do I) then the weekend is about CHILLIN OUT and enjoying. Which means you'll probably have to determine new things that chill you out and are enjoyable.

And yup you can certainly eat out and stay on plan, very easily.