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8 Great Ways To Stick To Your Diet While Dinning Out

When often on a special or strict diet, dinning out could possibly throw you totally off course. I’ve been on several diets for weight management and to avoid various allergies to foods, so I’ve got some really good tricks to use while dinning out. It’s not always possible to do them all, but if you can, you won’t stray from your dietary plans… or at least not by very much. Thus, you will be less likely to feel guilty about your night out.

1) Try to get a look at the menu before you get there to see if they serve things that are on your allowed diet. If there isn’t anything on the menu, be firm and move on to another restaurant. If you are dinning with friends, do alert them to your special needs whether temporary or permanent.  If they are real friends, they will understand.  If not, you'd better save your time and money by staying in.

2) If you also might want to call ahead of time and ask about the ingredients on the menu.  Ask them if you can request healthier swaps.

3) When you arrive and are seated you should immediately ask for some bottled or carbonated water for you to drink.  It might cost extra, but you can decide if you rather it cost you money or calories.  The carbonated drink is the best option, because it will make your stomach feel full.  Add a lemon wedge, for more benefits.

4) Bravely forego any nibbling unless you are on a bread diet. Casual nibbling can add up to 300 to 700 extra calories, especially if served with butter and oil.  You may want to save those calories for the actual meal.

4)  If you have a craving for something, you might want to go with the appetizer version of the dish.  If it is not on the menu, try asking.  You never know what is possible unless you ask.  And remember that if you order an appetizer ask the waiter to bring it out at the same time your party’s entrees arrive.

5) When you order, you may not want to load up your dish with a sauce that is loaded with fat and sugars. You could also ask for the sauce to accompany the dish on the side.  And you could make a game of it to see how much of the sauce you can still have left over.

6) Eat slowly and enjoy every single bit of the meal. You'll benefit from a better digestion of the meal and believe it or not, you'll feel full faster.

7) If you get an entree, try to consume only half of the meal and have the rest wrapped to go. You must use your judgment on this because you’ll want to remember that the human stomach is no bigger than your fist and most entrees served at restaurants are twice as large. The extra meal later will help your metabolism stay revved up.  And besides, some dishes are so much better as left overs.

8) Ask for coffee, tea, or a lemon wedge to wash down your meal and give you a little pick-me-up instead of a desert. Avoid over taxing your tea or coffee with lots of milk and sugar.

Good luck and remember that if you do not stick to all of these, DON’T feel guilty about it. Having your meal will be useless if you don't actually enjoy it.

Low Calorie Cocktails

Did you know that you could spoil your diet by having a cocktail and adding whopping calories to your daily caloric intake?  Maybe you did, but it's often harder to remember what we shouldn't have, rather than remember the things we can indulge.  You can celebrate any occasion in style as long as you order your libations keeping in mind their caloric value.  Here is a list of some that are a little kinder to your waistline than most.


Cosmopolitan (200 cal.)
Bellini (135 cal.)
Bloody Mary (125 cal.)
Margarita (150 cal.)
Mimosa (90 cal.)
Mojito (150 cal.)
Screwdriver (165 cal.)
Sex on the Beach (185 cal.)
Tequila Sunrise (185 cal.)
Vodka Martini (150 cal.)
Gin & Tonic (140 cal.).

Here are a few videos I found on low calorie cocktails:

5 Ways To Battle Binge Eating

So you’ve overindulged in a treat or maybe you’ve been seduced by the angel food cake and now feel you have the devil to pay for it. Never fret, I’ll be your angel, with really good tricks that will help you to undo any diet straying you may have done… or will do.

1) Take your weight, divide by 2 and drink that number in ounces of water. You’ll feel fuller and flush out those naughty extras in your body.

2) Get better at choosing your naughty moments well. Do you choose the lesser of two evils or just satisfy the present craving? Well the cool thing about cravings is that your body wants this thing… or perhaps it needs it. Scientists have studied this stuff and yet it still boggles the mind. Consider what your body really needs. If you haven’t eaten milk chocolate in a while, perhaps your body is craving magnesium or just the stress relieving benefits of chocolate. What next? Go for the craving (IN A SMALL PORTION). Get it out of the way so your body can stop wanting it. Do it and then get back on track again. It’s not going to ruin everything.

3) Divide your naughty meal or snack into portions of two or more. Eat half now, half later or tomorrow. Keep your portion sizes small, but keep your metabolism high by eating more often during the day. So breaking one cheat meal into several mini cheat meals throughout the day will keep you balanced, not loaded.  This also provides a slow insulin release.

4) Be proud of your decision. Release the pressure hold.  You definitely are still in control.

5) Do not change your physical routine. The tendency is to feel so guilty about cheating on your diet and it might make some people work out more intensely and overdo it, or completely feel overwhelmed that they will give up. Don’t change a thing. Just continue on as normal. Don’t punish yourself and don’t dwell on it longer than the moment it existed. Move on. Come on let’s face it, YOU’RE WAY TOO AWESOME!

Ways To Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

Whether you have a big family or spending the holidays alone, there will be many festivities leading up to New Years with many chances for you to sample all sorts of naughty holiday treats. But, beware. Santa is watching. He’ll leave you with a few extra pounds to squeeze into your Christmas stockings.

Don’t worry; I’ve got your back. Take a look at these easy ways to stay the same weight all through the holidays. Heck, you might even lose weight.

o Mentally, get focused and motivated. You’ve got to get a little excited. It’s the holidays. Keep your eyes open and think on your feet.

o The big lights and hoopla around free food sounds great if you are strapped for cash on groceries during the holidays. Then you’d really better know your food calories or else.  Learn all you can about holiday food. What the ingredients are and how many calories are in into your favorite treats? Figure out how many you can have without changing your current calorie intake… which brings us to my next tip.

o Try to keep your calorie intake as close to normal as possible.  So if you eat a holiday treat, you might have to minus out something in your daily meal plan.

o Stay away from so-called low calorie alternatives or substitutions. They are usually not as satisfying and that is just a waste of calories you could be enjoying. Have the real thing or nothing.

o Eat something satisfying and healthy before going to any holiday parties. There will be lots of naughty snacks to resist sampling and the pressure will diminish if you are not actually hungry. Feed yourself good and resist the bad.

o Don’t over celebrate with alcohol. Alcohol has heavy calories and it also impairs the ability to resist holiday treats and the overindulgence in them. Factor drinks into your calorie intake for the day. One tasty holiday drink to particularly limit is eggnog. Eggnog has about 350 calories per cup full. Think about lower calorie drink choices.

o Ask to take some treats home if someone is insisting that you try one of their world-famous hoobly-gobs or a dingly-floobs. Have them at your leisure. Many dishes and treats can also be frozen and consumed weeks later.

o If you can bring food to a party or you are the master of ceremonies try emphasizing healthy holiday treats like a fruit tray or veggie carousel.

o Concentrate on your time spent with friends instead of focusing on the holiday food and drinks.

o Exercise whenever possible. Take the stairs walk, just keep it moving.  And one of my favorite tips is to take as many chances as you can to dance at your holiday parties.  Secretly get in an extra little work out.

o Don’t get overwhelmed with all of the cakes, pies and cookies you see. You have to remember that they are not always for eating. They are a part of the spectacle of the holidays like ornaments on the tree and lights. Enjoy looking at them, but don’t eat them, they are ornaments.

Good luck!  I’m rooting for you!