How to Dine Out Without Screwing It All Up

This weekend I’m back in the North East attending a marketing conference up in Connecticut, traveling with my buddy and fat-loss frenemy, John Romaniello.

Now you’ve probably never heard of a frenemy, but that’s who John Romaniello is to me.  Part friend, part ENEMY.  Allow me to explain.

First, John lives in the North East (enemy), where it’s like 3 degrees right now (double enemy).  Okay, maybe not 3 degrees, but once you get under 20, it doesn’t matter.

I had to get on a plane to visit him (enemy), which took like 90 hours (triple enemy) due to delays, 3 guys in orange suits and an umbrella.  Listen, I really can’t get in to it right now…

When I finally got there, John took me to the gym (ok, cool…) and then proceeded to take me through a workout that made me vomit about 23 mins and 42 seconds in (immediate jump to quintuple enemy).

On the other hand, John allowed me to use some of his $97 hair product before heading out to dinner, which I suppose makes him my friend.

Anyway, yes, the point of this blog post.  It’s coming.

So, I’m on a rather strict diet right now.  Why you ask?  Because John Romaniello stole $5,000 of my money and has refused to return it to me, unless I come in at less than 212 lbs and 10% body fat by April 19th.

Somehow, he conned me in to signing my name somewhere, and I apparently agreed to this.

Either way, it was John’s mother’s birthday today.  And prior to departing for our conference in Connecticut (from where I am composing this post, alongside a snoring Vince Del Monte), we decided to go out to a celebratory dinner at Bryant & Cooper Steak House (Long Island, NY).

Now, you would think that John was trying to sabbotage my $5,000 non-wager by taking me to such an establishment, but the truth is, John knows I’m a ninja.

No, like a real ninja.

And by that I mean that I still managed to leave very FULL and satiated and I even ate dessert without even so much as settling for a pre-mature cheat meal.

How?  Simple, I learned a little trick called volumizing my plate  (i.e. I chose the right foods and was able to eat a lot of them—while out to eat, without skipping a course, all while never having to “watch” anyone eat while I wasn’t—and without massive caloric damage).

I started with a green bean and tomato salad (tossed in a light vinaigrette), followed by the main course (a 10 oz filet mignon, lean as could be, and 2 “family size” sides of green veggies—the first, lightly buttered asparagus, the second, spinach tossed in olive oil and garlic).

And while John and his mother enjoyed a birthday pecan pie ala mode together for dessert (sweet boy, that John), I didn’t have to forgo the 3rd course either.

Instead of the thousand calorie pie, I chose a heaping bowl of mixed berries, which was,  in comparison to their dessert, significantly larger, while bringing in about 1/10 of the calories.

The truth is this, you can EASILY be social, dine out, eat GOOD, and leave full when you make the right choices.

Not sure what to order?  Just hit up a nice steakhouse and order what I had.  It was, as the Italians say, delicioso.

And tomorrow, I’m having a beer.  A really tall one.  With some cake.  Bring on the fat-loss accelerating Cheat Day.

By the way, for your next Cheat Day, order a birthday cake.  It doesn’t matter if it’s your birthday or not, just do it.  Trust me, it’s awesome.

Your friend,

Joel

P.S.  What’s your favorite healthy “out to eat” meal?  Let me know, along with your comments, below!  At least 50 comments and I’ll be back early next week with some amazing content I’ve got lined up for you guys.  Talk to you below (I’ll be checking in throughout the day ;)