When you pay attention to your figure, going out to restaurants sometimes becomes a source of anxiety. Dr. Jean-Michel Cohen reveals a simple rule to avoid missteps.
When you decide to lose a few pounds, the first instinct is often to disrupt your entire organization… including your social life. We start by declining an invitation to a restaurant, then a birthday dinner, then a lunch with friends. “No thanks, I’m on a diet,” becomes almost automatic. Over time, meals outside become rarer and the slightest outing ends up causing stress.
In his new book Knowing how to lose weight, finally!, nutritionist Jean-Michel Cohen explains that this reaction is one of the most common mistakes when trying to lose weight. According to him, cutting yourself off from your social life can even produce the opposite effect to that sought. Refusing invitations and imposing discipline that is too rigid creates frustration. And this frustration, in the long term, can lead to breaking down more easily or giving up on your efforts.
For the specialist, the key is therefore to continue to live normally while adopting a few simple reflexes. Going to a restaurant should not become a moment of anxiety or an uncontrolled deviation. A very easy to remember rule is often enough to limit excesses without completely depriving yourself.
His recommendation is clear: in a restaurant, you must choose starter + main course or main course + dessert, but never all three. This strategy allows you to enjoy the meal, to maintain a convivial and gourmet dimension, while avoiding the accumulation of calories. A complete meal with starter, main course and dessert often represents a quantity of food much greater than actual needs. By simply removing one element from the trio, balance becomes much easier to maintain.
The nutritionist also advises anticipating the exit a little. If a restaurant dinner is planned in the evening, it may be wise to opt for a lighter lunch during the day. Consulting the menu in advance can also help you make a thoughtful choice rather than rushing to decide in front of the menu. This little preparation avoids impulsive decisions and allows you to fully enjoy the moment.
Basically, recalls Jean-Michel Cohen, lasting weight loss is not based on strict prohibitions but on realistic habits that can be maintained over the long term. Continuing to share meals with loved ones, while applying a few simple rules, is often much more effective than isolating yourself. Because a diet that leaves room for conviviality is also much more likely to last.
