How do you handle "Appetizers"?

[Can'tweight 41]

Ok...here's the question. When it comes to Mexican food, I am weak as water!! Love it!! Especially the Salsa!!

So the delima is...they always put the salsa and chips on the table first. How do you NOT eat the salsa before your Protein?

I'm sure several of you have ran into this problem with ALL appetizers. So how do you handle the appetizers?

[Peronella 2]

My downfall is the bread that comes to the table with the Water. I have to put the bread literally out of reach. I cannot be able to reach it. Otherwise, it would be all over. I must admit that I have been successful, thus far.

[Tiffykins 673]

I'm weak on Mexican food too. And, during my losing stage, I'd eat 2-3 little chips with hoards of salsa. chips are definitely sliders, they mush down to nothing, the salsa moves through pretty fast. If I knew we were going for Mexican, I'd skip most of all my daily allotment of carbs during my meals so I could afford to have a couple of chips. I would typically order fajitas, and just eat the meat with sour cream and some Beans.

I would order Water and drink until my meal was delivered so it helped keep me out of the chip basket or from partaking of the appetizers ordered by friends when we were out. Since I didn't have to do that no drinking before eating, I could drink right up until my first bite.

Hope this helps.

[bilka 6]

I have no idea how to avoid appetizers. I am struggling with them too. Here in Torino instead of having dinner out we often just have an "aperitivo" or appetizer. You just pay for a drink (between 7 and 10 euros) and you can eat all what you want from the buffet, or the waiters keep bringing stuff. There are any kinds of appetizers: from small amounts of Pasta to pieces of sandwiches, crisps, fries, cheese, salamis, anything you can imagine. No Proteins, if you don't count the cheese on the mini pizzas!

It was born in Milan then many cities adopted it too.

Gosh, it's a nightmare, but it's a very common way to have this type of "dinner" with friends (because it's cheap and doesn't really require dressing up for a restaurant).

I haven't learnt how to manage it either. Yesterday I had a glass of wine (I drunk a couple of sips) and a mini pizza. I did feel guilty, thank goodness I was full straight away!

I don't have a solution but I share the same kind of problem!

[Peronella 2]

This was big in Siena, as well. Especially with students.

[Kris 78]

Hi Can'tweight, OK, this is not the VSC-PC answer, but to be honest I *do* have some chips and salsa when I go out to Mexican. But I limit myself to 2-3 chips, max, and I chew the heck out of those chips and salsa, and when they are chewed down they don't take up a lot of space in the sleeve. So, I get to enjoy the chips but still have room for Protein, and feel like I haven't deprived myself.

bread is another matter. I really never eat bread as an appetizer because it does fill me up a lot and interferes with getting enough Protein.

I admit my weight loss is not as fast as it could be, because I do indulge in little treats like chips and salsa when I go out to eat, but I feel like I am losing fine and am very happy doing so because I don't feel like I am on a super-strict diet. I still definitely do try to eat the majority of my calories in protein and I try to stay around 800 calories total each day, and I rarely eat sweets. And I am not eating out every day.

It's really all about how you want your weight loss experience to be. If you want to lose fast and hard, skip the chips and salsa until you get to a progress goal that you're really happy with. If you are willing to have a slower weight loss, but want to "enjoy" the weight loss process more, you can allow yourself strategic indulgences. It's your body, and your life -- do what is best for you!

[Can'tweight 41]

I have no idea how to avoid appetizers. I am struggling with them too. Here in Torino instead of having dinner out we often just have an "aperitivo" or appetizer. You just pay for a drink (between 7 and 10 euros) and you can eat all what you want from the buffet, or the waiters keep bringing stuff. There are any kinds of appetizers: from small amounts of Pasta to pieces of sandwiches, crisps, fries, cheese, salamis, anything you can imagine. No Proteins, if you don't count the cheese on the mini pizzas!

It was born in Milan then many cities adopted it too.

Gosh, it's a nightmare, but it's a very common way to have this type of "dinner" with friends (because it's cheap and doesn't really require dressing up for a restaurant).

I haven't learnt how to manage it either. Yesterday I had a glass of wine (I drunk a couple of sips) and a mini pizza. I did feel guilty, thank goodness I was full straight away!

I don't have a solution but I share the same kind of problem!

Off topic...Wow Greece!! My first grade teacher was from Greece. I soooo loved her and did anything to stay in from recess to help her with any and everything!! Thanks for the wonderful flashback!

I am just now getting into real foods again and being from Texas, I love me some Mexican food and could literally live on Salsa!! chips are not such a big deal...it's the Salsa! Tomatoes are my favorite thing. I can just eat them like an apple.

All these changes are so very difficult to adjust to, but with all of your help and insight, I will surely figure it all out!

Thanks guys! keep the comments coming!! Off to a day at the Zoo. By the way...the Fort Worth Zoo is ranked in the top 5 in the nation. If you get the chance, it's a must see!

[NJMOMof2 17]

I take a large chip, break it into pieces and have a scoop of salsa. I always take "bite" of app if it's on the table so I can taste it and feel part of the group.

[CamaroGal 3]

I have no idea how to avoid appetizers. I am struggling with them too. Here in Torino instead of having dinner out we often just have an "aperitivo" or appetizer. You just pay for a drink (between 7 and 10 euros) and you can eat all what you want from the buffet, or the waiters keep bringing stuff. There are any kinds of appetizers: from small amounts of Pasta to pieces of sandwiches, crisps, fries, cheese, salamis, anything you can imagine. No Proteins, if you don't count the cheese on the mini pizzas!

It was born in Milan then many cities adopted it too.

Gosh, it's a nightmare, but it's a very common way to have this type of "dinner" with friends (because it's cheap and doesn't really require dressing up for a restaurant).

I haven't learnt how to manage it either. Yesterday I had a glass of wine (I drunk a couple of sips) and a mini pizza. I did feel guilty, thank goodness I was full straight away!

I don't have a solution but I share the same kind of problem!

Bilka, Come stai? Sorry.... don't know much more Italian than that and Sono Americana and Mi chiamo. Thank you for your post. It has been a number of years since I was in Torino for work, but I'm do for another trip. At least this way I can be prepared if my colleagues want to attend such a place for dinner. If I were you, I would just eat the best that you can. I have no shame in pulling apart a sandwich and only eating the interior and not the bread. Also, are you doing this on a nightly basis? Probably not, so don't be too rough on yourself.

[DisneyAddict 10]

I haven't tried chips yet but my weakness is chips & queso.. not salsa. However, when we bbq and have friends over I usually make some sort of yummy dip. I'll have 1-2 small crackers with some dip on it and make myself leave it alone for the rest of the time. I have to admit, it's not hard "ignoring the dip" when you witness your friends practically unhinge their jaws and shovel it in as fast as their hands can carry it to their mouths. Seeing that kind of reminded me of how I used to be and made my resolve (and progress) all the sweeter for me.

[MeMeMEEE 206]

well.....shouldn't queso count for Protein? So maybe the answer is to get a bowl of queso? That is so bad, huh? I am pre-op so you have to excuse my lack of knowledge I love bread from Texas Roadhouse...wonder if I could mix in some Protein Powder with the butter? Honestly, I think I will have to stay away from places that bring bread or chips to the table, or respectfully decline them.

[meggiep 57]

Hi Can'tweight, OK, this is not the VSC-PC answer, but to be honest I *do* have some chips and salsa when I go out to Mexican. But I limit myself to 2-3 chips, max, and I chew the heck out of those chips and salsa, and when they are chewed down they don't take up a lot of space in the sleeve. So, I get to enjoy the chips but still have room for Protein, and feel like I haven't deprived myself.

bread is another matter. I really never eat bread as an appetizer because it does fill me up a lot and interferes with getting enough Protein.

I admit my weight loss is not as fast as it could be, because I do indulge in little treats like chips and salsa when I go out to eat, but I feel like I am losing fine and am very happy doing so because I don't feel like I am on a super-strict diet. I still definitely do try to eat the majority of my calories in protein and I try to stay around 800 calories total each day, and I rarely eat sweets. And I am not eating out every day.

It's really all about how you want your weight loss experience to be. If you want to lose fast and hard, skip the chips and salsa until you get to a progress goal that you're really happy with. If you are willing to have a slower weight loss, but want to "enjoy" the weight loss process more, you can allow yourself strategic indulgences. It's your body, and your life -- do what is best for you!

I actually thought this would be the way to go- more realistic. However my doctor told me we have an 12-18 months window or so of real weight loss before our capacity increases and the hunger comes back so he encouraged me to count carbs and maximize those months. Gave me pause!

[Can'tweight 41]

I actually thought this would be the way to go- more realistic. However my doctor told me we have an 12-18 months window or so of real weight loss before our capacity increases and the hunger comes back so he encouraged me to count carbs and maximize those months. Gave me pause!

Shoot! My hunger is already back at less than 4 weeks out! I was so hoping I would be in the lucky "not hungry anymore" group. Just having to measure and journal. I'm still having the "slowing it down to a snails pace" on eating problem. It's been very difficult!

[Shan 2]

Honestly, chips and salsa are my appetizer weakness as well. The bread doesn't tempt me, and I can avoid other appetizers by simply not ordering them. But the chips and salsa...ughh! Sometimes I can just skip them, and it's fine. Then other days (today for example) I just can't stop myself. My little trick is to pick through the basket and get the smallest chip I can and load it with as much salsa as possible. I also chew really slowly and wait a couple of minutes before going back for another. I do try to offset the rest of my day by eating hardly any carbs at all.

[2bslimkim 11]

Shoot! My hunger is already back at less than 4 weeks out! I was so hoping I would be in the lucky "not hungry anymore" group. Just having to measure and journal. I'm still having the "slowing it down to a snails pace" on eating problem. It's been very difficult!

Since we are both from the same city I thought i'd share my experience with Joe T's and the Bakery. I've been to Joe's twice and once shared Fajita's with my hubby and the second time I got a Beef Fajita nacho (couldn't even hardly eat a bite, gave almost all the meat away and scraped the cheese and Beans off). I had a couple chips (broken up) with salsa, but to be honest my hunger went away around the 5th week. Like you it was very active the 3 & 4 week. But it seems once I could eat real food again, it went away.

I even went to Grace on my Birthday and had a glass of wine and 1/2 a crab cake (still lost). I went to the Bakery with my family Sunday and order the Huevos con Papa's which came with flour tortillias and refried beens... I could hardly eat any of it. I've totally lost my taste for greasy mexican food. I didn't even want the flour tortillia which I use to fill (at least 2) with Huevos a la Mexicana and cheese then dip in the Beans. You may find your taste buds have changed once you start trying to eat Mexican food.

After Protein for so long I couldn't wait for a salad and now crave them. My weight lose has slowed down but it is steady and my Dr. says that is perfect since i'm down to 187 now. He reminded me that it is impossible for me to lose as fast as someone who is closer to 250-300 and that i should be happy with 2 to 3 lbs per week (my average now is 4) but it is slowing down.

I ate with my mom on Sat. at Charleston over on Hulen and ordered a salad with chicken and loved it...

You will be OK... just manage your day. If you eat to much Mexican food (which I dought you can) lighten up later or earlier in the day. If i can do it I know you can do it...

Keep up the great work!