Eating Out! – 5 Healthy Tips
Weight-Control-Services.com

It’s one thing to stick with your diet regimen when you’re at home, in control of the contents of your refrigerator and your portion sizes. But what about going out to dinner with friends? Worse, how do you stay on track when your dream vacation has you seated by the dessert cart at every meal?

Eating right when you’re out of your comfort zone can actually be easier than when you are at home, so long as you think smart and plan ahead.

Getting in shape can be an arduous journey, and you should allow yourself to celebrate along the way! However, celebrating doesn’t mean two helpings of dessert. Instead, focus on these simple tips to help you enjoy your dinners out on the town without compromising your weight loss goals.

Tip 1: Daily Plan

Incorporate meals out like any others. Don’t skip meals beforehand, setting yourself up to be starving, then overeat. Plan. Don’t be afraid to call ahead and find out what the specials are going to be and figure out a couple of choices, so that you don’t stress out when you arrive and order foods that are not the best options for your diet.

If the restaurant or event is going to serve you buffet-style, again, call ahead to plan. If that’s not an option, here are a couple ideas. First, ask someone with whom you’re comfortable sharing your dietary concerns to help you. Tell him or her what foods you can eat (or what you cannot eat) and ask the person to fill a plate for you. Or second, walk up to the buffet table(s) beforehand with no plate. Just take a casual stroll around and see which foods are being served. Then decide if you would like to ask someone else to place your selections on a plate for you or if you would prefer to get them yourself.

Tip 2: Slow and Steady

First of all, use manners and eat slowly. Not only will this help with your digestion, it slows your eating down so that you don’t “gulp” and be a chow-hound, eating everything in sight.

If out with others, remember you are also there for socializing, so talk between bites. Set your eating utensils down while you chew. Have a sip of water between bites. The goal is not to see how fast can you wolf down the food while someone else is talking.

Tip 3: Avoid temptation

There is no law that says you must have a basket of bread, butter and oil before a meal out. If it is on your table when you are seated, request that it be brought back to the kitchen.

If your dinner mates are eager to start off with the carbs, then order a glass of water and take a sip each time you are tempted to break bread. Besides, you’ll want the time you would have wasted buttering and dipping to spend reading the menu for smart, sensible choices.

Don’t assume that you’ll be able to hold out on temptations throughout the entire meal. Set yourself up for success when you order by requesting they leave off the oils and sauces. Request that your meat and vegetables be steamed, not fried. Order a salad (with light or no dressing, on the side) or side of veggies instead of fries or mashed potatoes.

Tip 4: Fill up on the good stuff

Drink plenty of water before you leave for the restaurant, and while you wait for the food to arrive. This will help fill you up and prevent hunger-inspired indulgences.

Request your salad (and/or soup, if it’s not creamy) be brought out first, and dig in. By the time your food arrives, you should be able to more rationally determine what portion sizes are appropriate, and if anything needs to be avoided.

Tip 5: Dreaded desserts

First of all, do not order dessert until you are completely finished with your meal. You may be full and not want anything. And that’s certainly not a crime!
After the meal, if everyone is splurging on the dessert menu, keep in mind that you don’t have to join in just to be part of the “gang.” Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea to end your meal. Or ask someone to split a dessert with you. Hint: Doggie bags can also be used for desserts! So split it in half and take part home for another day or your neighbor.
You have to be left out of choosing a neat dessert, either. See if the kitchen can put together a fruit bowl or a sorbet dish to satisfy your cravings without putting all your conscientious work at dinner to waste. This might be something to call ahead about..hint!

With the right approach, eating out can be a pleasurable experience. Remember, a successful diet is a lifelong lifestyle modification. You need to be able to incorporate healthful eating out activities into your routine.

What happens if you DO stress? Add extra activities to your schedule. Swim some laps. Walk or jog. Leave your wallet in the trunk and go to a mall for a shop-walk. Take a tour. Visit a museum. Enjoy a park and feed the ducks. Just get out, focus on something else and enjoy life.
About the Author

Weight Control Services, a site dedicated to providing current health and fitness information. The article you have read is available for your use in its entirety as part of a collection of ebooks offering valuable information on a variety of Health and Fitness topics.

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So you’re out to lose weight. You want to lose it fast, so you diet, and you diet some more. Well, diet isn’t enough. The only way to lose the weight fast is to add exercise to your diet regimen. Cardiovascular workouts trim the fat and strengthen the heart. Here are some ultimate exercises that will get you started easily.

Cardiovascular workouts you can try at home without a gym:

Bicycling: It’s that simple. Just hop on a bike and head out around town. Start with a mostly flat ride to get acclimated to the exercise, and as you get better at it, work your way up to more hilly terrain. If you don’t have a bicycle or don’t have a good place to ride, you can simulate a good ride on a stationary bike. Just don’t forget to adjust the tension on the wheel so you actually get a good workout.
Walking, Power Walking, or Running: Running? Me? Well, maybe not right away. Do these ultimate exercises in order of increasing impact; the purpose is to ease yourself into them. If you have a lot of extra weight, start by walking. If you are used to never exercising and you just start running one day, you can injure your knees, shins, feet, and even your back. Take it easy, and one day you’ll be able to run like all those people you see at the park: yeah, you know the type.
Playing with your kids or a family pet: So many people overlook the healthy benefits of good old fashion playtime that it almost never would occur to us to reap those benefits. Kids love active games. Tag, hide-and-seek, or any game with a ball can be made into a fun way to get exercise as well as get kids started exercising as well.

Cardio training is an exceptionally effective way to trim the fat from your physique. Just remember to ease yourself into it by starting small and adding higher impact exercises as your body acclimates itself to the increased activity. Cardio exercises only work if your heart rate is elevated for an extended period of time, so keep an eye on your heart rate. Don’t forget about safety, either.

If you start feeling lightheaded or shaky, stop immediately and take a rest. See a doctor before you start any exercise program. Just remember that exercise can and should be fun as well as effective. Work hard at it, be patient, and dont give up. You CAN achieve your goal with these simple ultimate exercises.

This article is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice and should not be used or intereperted as such. You should always consult a medical professional before making drastic changes to your diet and physical exercise.

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