This is my first week on IP and I know I can do it during the weekdays. However, it is the weekends that will present an challenge. For example, I am going out with some friends this Saturday. We are going to a Mexican restaurant. I know I can only eat an 8oz protein meat, 2 cups of veggies, and water. How am I going to swing this?

Can an IP expert please help me figure out what to order this Saturday at the Mexican restaurant? Here is the menu:

http://gorditosmexicanfood.com/menu/


Thanks in advance!

We have all had to learn to do this.

What do you see on the menu that is on your sheet?

I see several things.

I was thinking I can order a side serving of lettuce and spanich and then just request an order of grilled chicken even though it's not on the menu. The Fajita Style Veggies sound good, but I am only allowed to have raw onions on Phase 1. Aside from that, I don't see other options.

When we go out I usually look at the menu ahead of time which is what you are doing. I find something I like and that fits the plan and then have to choose what I can or cannot have on it. This weekend I asked them to remove all of the cream sauce and put it in a side cup (which I then gave to my DH) I sent back the salad becuz they put dressing on it after I told them not to. They served me a big ol potato which I asked them not to so we took it home for the hubby. hmmmm hubbys's gonna need IP soon! Anyway, look at your menu and find something that you like and make the adjustments. I did the taco salad once and told them no shell, cheese, sour cream or avocado. (once again my hubby took care of the extras!)
You can do it! Oh, also eat some protein before you leave because they never serve 8oz of protein in a meal at a restaurant. It is usually more like 4oz cooked so u are gonna need 4oz more!

When worse has come to worse, I've switched my main meal to lunch the day of a dinner out, then brought an IP ready-made drink, drink it beforehand, and order a garden salad with no dressing, but ask them to bring me lemon wedges and olive oil to put on it, and order club soda to drink.

You could order the fajitas. Ask them to use just a teaspoon of olive oil to the meat. ask them to replace the black beans, rice, sour cream and avocado with veggies and of course dont use the flour tortilla wraps

Ceasar salad with fajita prawns?
No croutons or cheese
Bring your own dressing.

Or Fajitas (ask for no onion),
HI-LO- HIGH PROTEIN-LOW CARBS
Any of the “plates”, skip the black beans, Mexican rice, and tortillas…. and have it with lettuce, sliced onion, tomato and avocado.
(ask for more of someting else instead of the avocado)

I eat out frequently.
The meal is about the social event, not the food.

Oooh! the creamy chipolte chicken sounds good! Just tell them to use olive oil instead of the cream sauce. YUM!!!!!
Im having a fun time with the menu now! I love the challenge of figuring out what i can eat when I go out.

Thank you everyone! I'm lucky to have you guys to help me through my first week on this program.

My problem is alcohol. My friends cannot get it into their heads that I can't drink! The same friend will sit with me at dinner and not say a word about what and how I order dinner but after when we're out will nonstop badger me about why don't I have a drink... It's very frustrating, and makes me not want to go out... Which then cause a whole other problem, lol.

Have you tried soda water with lime? It is sooooooo delicious and it looks like you're having a vodka soda.

Certain of my friends seem to not enjoy themselves if I am not drinking. It drives me crazy. But, they won't order a second or third beer since I am not having one. Kind of makes me feel like I am ruining their good time. But, I don't know what to do about it. They will ask me to meet them and say, but you aren't drinking so you probably do not want to go. Sometimes I feel like they will invite me to less things due to this. It is just something I am dealing with while on this diet. I had a coworker that would order ONE vodka and soda. He would find a way to tell the waitress privately to bring him JUST soda on the next rounds. It seems crazy to feel this peer pressure as an adult, but it does exist. Just chiming in that I feel your pain

Yes, and that's fine with me. It's my friends that have a hard time with me not drinking, lol.

I know exactly how you feel! It's like they get mad if I'm not drinking. I may start sneaking off and ordering nonalcoholic ip safe drinks and pretending. The worst part is the friend who pressures me the most has had bariatric sleeve surgery and you would think she would understand but when I tell her I can I'm on a diet she says, it's ok I know all about dieting just drink vodka!

Haha, I know what your going through...I call it 'Beer Pressure'...