Support Network/Eating Out

It is crucial that everyone has a support network for anything that requires consistency. If you want to work out to get in shape, it may be a lot easier to find a group of similar minded people than if you want to give up, what??? How to you eat out? Most of the time, you don’t, but when you do the choice destination is not McDonald’s. Outside of a dry side salad, how much of that do you think is real food? Answer: None. Unless you just ask for slices of onion, tomato and lettuce. Oh wait, that’s a SALAD.

*deep breath*

If you can’t find people who truly understand what you are doing with the Paleo way of life (I hate the word “diet”. Diets are temporary.) maybe try looking for someone who is on or has been on Weight Watchers or something similar. Why? Because it’s important to have someone to say “Way to stick with it” and “You’re doing great, keep going!” We NEED positive reinforcement.

Now, in order to hopefully keep yourself from ending up at a Mickey D’s twiddling your thumbs while everyone else is eating their pressed meat on bread that will never go bad, tell someone what you are doing BEFOREhand. Scratch that, tell freakin’ everyone. You’re excited, tell the world. This at least gives people a chance to come up with another plan of action. So, maybe the group can’t afford to go eat at the steakhouse, but how about Luby’s? You have to love a place with options! (Chinese buffets do not count) You can even eat at Macaroni Grill if you plan ahead. There isn’t much, but it’s doable. Don’t eat the bread. In fact, don’t go to Macaroni Grill until you are 30 days in or have a lot of self-control. Me? I just thought about spandex and the urge went away.

UNLESS SOMETHING APOCALYPTIC HAPPENS, DON’T CHEAT FOR 30-60 DAYS

Two reasons: #1 – It will make your world that much easier and you will stop thinking about things like bread and French fries all together, #2 – People will see how consistent you are and take you more seriously which can be a big help if people want to hang out with you and food gets involved

Most restaurants have websites with menus for people with food allergies. Go there before you leave the house. Find out what is “gluten-free” and then use the information you learned reading to deduce the rest. Sometimes things you can eat come with “fried onions” on top. Just tell the waitress, “No onions, please.” Easy.

Another easy option that will be available at most real restaurants will be ordering a Caesar Salad, and then just add grilled chicken or fish. “No croutons, please.” This may not be 100% Paleo (unless they made their Caesar dressing from scratch), but in a pinch it will do and you won’t end up with weird cravings like you would if you had chosen/cheated badly.