Hey everyone - I was on LA weight loss for a while, but decided I wanted to make my own adjustments to their plan.. Which basically has resulted in calorie counting (along with a healthy balance of diet, high fiber, lean proteins, etc).. The main difference is i am occasionally allowing myself foods that LA did NOT fit into their plans at all, I am just allowing them when i have allotted calories for them and they make sense (ie- chilli, or garden veggie crisps, weight watchers popsicles)

So.. I signed up for mydailyplate.com, i like that i can log in from anywhere to track my meals. and they seem to have the best selection of restaurant food database that ive seen. so how do you guys handle going out to eat when you cant find the restaurants nutritional info? i eat out a lot due to my job, and its not always at popular restaurant chains. Just wondering how you estimate what youre having. Also, just wondering if you feel 1500 calories will be good for me? I am 5'9, 27 years old, and exercising for 30-45 min 3x per week. Thats what mydailyplate started me out on, so thats what i am initially going to shoot for. Have any of you noticed if you eat too little you dont lose? Today and yesterday I only got 1200 calories in, but didnt want to eat extra because I cant be sure those 1200 were accurate. I got soup at a local cafe w/o nutritional info so i am stopping on the low side in case I was wrong about the total calories.

Also, besides the online databases, are there any other tools you guys use to figure out calories when youre out and about?

Thanks for your support, hope to hear from you all soon!!!

Hey there... yeah, I am a new calorie counter. I had never been before. There's a tool at www.freedieting.com that calculates how many calories you should consume each day according to your height, weight, age and activity level. They have three levels- maintenance, fat loss, and extreme fat loss (which you should never fall under). I am addicted to that site. Hope that helps, and good luck with your counting!

I use a book I can carry with me it is called Calorie King Calorie Fat and Carbohydrate Counter. It has calorie counts for everythin imagineable plus fast foods and restaurants, you can find info at www.calorieking.com

I just tried that calories/day calculator posted above, and it's very different from MyDailyPlate's counter. Does anyone have any thoughts on which might be most accurate?

ooodsie, I eat out a lot for my job too, and it's a big struggle. I just try to find similar foods even if it's at another restaurant, or I put in the main items and add some fat and whatnot (e.g. yesterday I had halibut crusted with potato, so I put in halibut, hash browns, and 2 tbsp oil). Eating out for business is very difficult for me though, because I feel like there is always pressure to get what most people are getting (i.e. eat the bread, get a soup course, eat an entree that is not just salad, then eat dessert), especially since I'm new to my job.

People who have no weight problems and never need to diet never explain what they are ordering for a meal. If they want a half a sandwich, they are not at all concerned what you may think about it.If you try to encourage them to eat more. they just say no thanks and get on with it.I think we could learn a lot from these never need to diet people.

laura,
i completely agree.. we will all go out as a group and my boss will order for us, and if i don't eat what he orders he is going to be offended, and i really don't want to explain why i am not eating. or i will be at a meeting and they will order pizza in for lunch.. maybe i don't want pizza? but if i don't eat, or if i pull out an energy bar, people are going to wonder what's up with me, and i don't want them feeling like they have to make accomodations for me, either. it's tough!

ooodsie and Laura - when you start to let other people dictate what you will eat, you are setting yourself up for failure. YOU are responsible for what you put into your body. Do NOT go there. Planning and sticking to your plan are the only thing that will keep you on track.
oodsie - Your boss has unrealistic expectations if he expects to know what everyone wants. If it will, help, let your boss know before the order is placed what you want to eat. You can do so discreetly and in a professional and friendly way.

For me, when pizza is ordered, I usually order a salad.

Because I have been a vegetarian for 27 years, I rarely order the same as the group. I have had numerous jobs and bosses during that time, and it has never hurt my career or chance for promotion. In fact, my assertiveness in knowing what I want/need has suited me well and helped me move up in my career.

Bottom line - you are in control of what goes in your mouth. Don't go down that slippery slope.

EDIT: bargoo - I just noticed how close you are to your goal. woohoo - way to go!!!!

Business lunches and catered work conferences are the bane of my existence!

I usually order vegetarian meals if I'm in a restaurant for work/conferences (sometimes it even ends up being a pre ordered meat entree where I ask them to hold the meat and double the sides of veggies).. everything else I have to estimate generously and make sure I dont go over my calories for the day.

most times for me unfortunately the order is not discussed among the group, i get to the meeting, and they say "we ordered a few pizzas, they should be here shortly".. at that point i am not going to say "oh, would you mind calling them back and adding a salad for me?" .. most times its people i dont know well, and am trying to impress, being difficult is not going to cut it. when that happens, i just eat one slice, wipe off the grease, and suck it up.

That's exactly how it goes for me, oodsie. Not necessarily with people I don't know well, but I'm a first-year analyst so I'm trying to prove myself and impress people, and I completely agree that it's key to be flexible and not "difficult."

Sounds like you are doing the best you can under the circumstances. I am blessed to work in an environment that isn't so regimented. Everyone knows my "eating" preferences and is very accommodating. Hang in there! It does get better when you are a seasoned "old lady" like me - LOL

When I'm not sure what others will be ordering I bring my own lunch... sometimes it's hard to do that with others, and then I eat it either early or late, but then I'm not stuck with something I really don't want. Others rarely notice, or if they ask, I can just say 'Oh, I ate already" or something. Honestly, most people don't really care if you do something different.