When changing one's lifestyle so significantly, we always assume the worst and figure that any enjoyment that was associated with food is gone. No more eating out and enjoying drinks with friends. Since I have to eat out on a regular basis for my job, I initially thought that this was a difficult hurdle that I was going to be unable to tackle. WRONG!
Since being on www.poondiet.com, I have not only eaten out a dozen times, but I have managed to maintain a steady weight loss. There is always a high protein/low-carb option to chose from. I have eaten at Swiss Chalet, East Side Mario's, the Mandarin, Kelsey's, Montana's, Tucker's Market Place, a pizza parlour....there are more that I'm forgetting, but you get the gist. My favourite place to eat (since being on the diet) is by far the Mandarin.
They have shrimp, grilled chicken and steak, roasted chicken, poached fish, roast, and tons of leafy greens and mixed vegetables to chose from. If I go there for a lunch or dinner meal, I leave feeling quite content. True, I can't have any carbs, or sugar (natural or refined), no dairy or anything too fatty, but the variety of what I can have is still quite vast. Everyone loves variety and I love having choices. The only thing I have to worry about is salt intake and that is easily remedied by drinking unusual amounts of water while I'm there.
Eating is no longer an extra-curricular activity for me. Eating is done on a regular basis to keep my body fueled. Going to the Mandarin is no longer a test of endurance to see how much I can pack in. After two modest trips to the food aisles I am done and quite satisfied with my food choices.
Other restaurant establishments are more than happy to accommodate dietary needs. If I don't see what I need on the menu, I just ask the waiter to ask the chef if they can grill me chicken breast or salmon with no seasoning and to serve with steamed vegetables. I've yet to be denied this request.
I write this because I have gotten several remarks from people saying that even though they need to get into shape, they couldn't do this diet because they couldn't have so many restrictions and couldn't give up eating out. I am saying you can do this if is something you really want. As I said in my previous post, I'm done with excuses. Make a good choice for your health; mind, body and soul.