If You Want to Lose belly, Avoid Eating Restaurant

Some interesting new research indicates that you are better off staying home than eating in a restaurant, if you are trying to lose belly.  Given the fact that as many as two-thirds of Americans are overweight, and many people spend at least part of their day in restaurants, the findings are particularly troubling. According to Dr. Caroline Cederquist, a physician specializing in weight management, in 1978, less than 20 percent of the calories Americans consumed were eaten outside the home.  Cederquist says that restaurant food tends to be higher in calories because it relies so much on salt, sugar, and oil.  Also, restaurant portions tend to be larger, making it difficult to make healthy choices.Another problem is that restaurants often serve bread or rolls with a meal, which can cause dieters to pack on the pounds. 

Restaurant appetizers tend to be extremely high in calories.  For instance, a basket of fried onions can pack a whopping 2,000 calories.  Now, while you might not devour the entire basket yourself, chances are you will have a good share of it if it is passed around the table.A number of restaurants now offer free refills of soda.   Soda glasses also tend to be large, meaning that you are receiving greater servings of this sugary beverage.  Just the soda alone can put you far over your daily recommended allowance of calories for weight loss. 

Perhaps the greatest challenge to any dieter is the restaurant buffet.  There are so many different foods being offered, it is difficult to limit yourself.  Also, since you can go back to the buffet as many times as you want, you may be tempted to overindulge.  As a result, dieticians recommend either avoiding the restaurant buffet altogether, or limiting your second portions to fruits and vegetables. Yet another problem is the type of entrees served in restaurants.  They tend to be rich in fat and calories.  Fettuccini Alfredo, prime rib, and fried chicken are such food can that all cause you to gain weight.   Of course, eating out does not necessarily mean eating at restaurants.  It can also mean eating in the car, where you may be prone to non-nutritious snacking, or eating at parties held at the homes of your friends and relatives.  At parties, diet-saboteurs such as potato chips and cookies tend to be plentiful; at times, you may find such goodies hard to resist.  Eating at home shortly before a party may be the best way to avoid gaining unwanted pounds.    

What can you do if you are forced to eat out several times a week? Make sure that you stick to your diet plan.  Don’t be tempted to indulge in the wrong kinds of foods “just this once.”  Select entrees that are accompanied by vegetables, and resist the urge to order dessert.  Consider eating only half of your entrée and boxing up the rest for your next meal.  And don’t starve yourself prior to eating out.  Such a tactic will cause you to overeat once you get to the restaurant.   Following sensible eating patterns, both at restaurants and at home, will help you to achieve your ideal weight.