Sadly, losing weight does not happen in a vacuum. Life gets in the way sometime… okay, a lot of the time. For me, the last month has been particularly stressful, and often inhibitive of my staying on the program, but I managed to find ways to cope. Being out of my normal habitat and my normal routine was tough, but even harder was having to eat almost every meal out. Here are some things that I learned along the way about eating under extreme circumstances:

1. Salads are not always the best answer — While lettuce is full of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, salads are not always the best option. What is on the salad is what counts. A salad with fried chicken, cheese, and bacon, smothered in dressing — more calories than you ever want to know. Sometimes a simple bowl of soup or even a sandwich has fewer calories than a salad. I know when I am really stressed out the last thing I want to do is take the effort to chew something.
2. Make the best choices that you can, but also let yourself have something you want. Don’t force yourself to eat something just because it is “healthy” if it is not something that you want to eat. Compromise. Find something that sounds appealing, but doesn’t decimate your calories. For example, I went out one day and the thing I really wanted from the menu was a fried chicken sandwich topped with cheese, bacon, onions, and smothered in barbeque sauce. So here is what I ordered: a grilled chicken breast sandwich with cheese and yes— the bacon, with barbeque sauce on the side. I admit that I could have done better, but I also could have done a whole lot worse.
3. We all have cravings from time to time, and I have found that the best way to fill those cravings is to eat the thing that you crave — in moderation and in a way that fits into your diet plan. I have tried many times to “fake out” a craving by eating something else — it doesn’t work. Sometimes, I crave a slice of pizza. What do I do? I budget out my calories and figure out how to fit it in. Then, I get a small slice from my local pizzeria (WARNING: this does not mean order a whole pie and throw the leftovers in the freezer!) To fill up, I eat a big salad or pile of veggies with it. While it may not be considered the “healthiest” option, it quells my cravings and lets me move on.

With all of this said, I will make the disclaimer that you should not (and I do not) eat like this every day. It is not part of a well-balanced diet plan by any stretch of the imagination. What I am trying to say is that every once in awhile we have to make trade-offs. I’ve actually found that after a week of eating out, I am really looking forward to eating at home!