Lies The Weight-Loss Industry Tell You Pt. 3

Lie #3 You can't go out to eat and still lose weight.

The Truth You can go out to eat ad still lose weight IF you make good choices.

I used to believe this lie. One of my favorite things to do is to share some quality time with people as we gather around a meal. I didn't want to give to lose weight. I thought I had to--but I was wrong.

So many women think they have to give up everything they love, including having dinner with friends and family. Don't get me wrong, you do have to make sacrifices to live a healthy lifestyle that will empower you to fulfill your dreams. But you don't have to give up everything and definitely not eating out.

The last thing you need when trying to lose weight is to feel isolated and alone. I remember being the only one at the table with chicken and a salad when I was first trying to lose weight. People get afraid of going out to lunch with their co-workers because they don't know what to order and feel embarrassed. Society makes you feel guilty now if you're the only one eating healthy. I don't want you to feel guilty now if you're the one eating healthy. I don't want you to feel like you can't go out to eat; you need healthy relationships for a healthy lifestyle.

You have to learn how to order the food that you enjoy without all the extra junk that makes it unhealthy. That means ordering the chicken in the restaurant but asking them to hold the butter and oil. Order an Italian dish like chicken marsala, but get the sauce on the side and leave the mushrooms. It comes down to making wise choices. You really can't take a huge pasta dish and make it healthy, but you can start with a healthy base like salmon abd a baked potato with no butter and sour cream.

Tip: Replace dessert with fresh fruit. It's a better way to satisfy your sweet tooth & most restaurants offer it as a dessert as well.

The key to success when dining out is to decide what you want to order before you go out. It's never been easier with so many restaurants now offering online menus you can view in advance. Once you're there and hungry, it becomes harder to make smart choices about what to eat. Look up the menu before you go--when you're not hungry or feeling pressured by your friends to make an unhealthy decision.

To be honest, I struggled with this for the longest time. When I got to the restaurant, I would have this battle in my own mind that went something like: "I know I should order the tilapia with mango salsa, but this big, huge pasta dish with all the sauce and sausage looks really good." Once I realized I was usually losing that battle, I made my choice before I went. Now I regularly enjoy going out to eat without being worried about gaining weight.

One word of warning: don't try to pressure your friends and family into following your example. If they ask why you chose the food you did, tell them you've made a decision to make a healthier lifestyle choices. But don't scold them for choosing pizza and wings while you chose something healthier.

The way you get them to join you is not by shaming them for what they're eating. Let's face it. You used to do the same thing, and the last thing you wanted was to be guilt-tripped into eating healthy. Let your results speak for themselves. Then when other people want help on their own journey, they'll come to you.

You have to realize this is the path that you have chosen; this is the choice that you have made. Other people around you haven't made that choice yet. You can't force it on them. If you do, that's when you will become isolated. Lead by example, and they'll come to you for advice when they're ready.

Tip: Save hundreds of calories by getting you salad dressing on the side and dipping your fork in for each bite.