The art of eating out - and looking like you know what you're doing......

I had a thought the other day. You know when we were a larger version of ourselves (ahem!) and we would be eating out and would spy another person eating (I'm talking female patrons here) and they would either pick at their meal, not showing much interest OR they just ordered an entree and were happy with that and and we would think... 'Hmm, so THAT'S how that girl stays thin.' and then follow it with another thought.. 'I could never do that in a million years. I love eating too much.'


Well, now thats us! 


I went out to a work function the other week. We all know tricky it can be eating out - especially with company. When we are with our other half or family it's much easier. For me - I just take food off MOTH's (Man of the House's) plate. We choose a meal we both like and I ask for a small side plate for myself and tax his meal. It works quite well. But what do you do when you are out with a crowd of people you barely know? This was me at the work function.


I was just going to order a small meal. I planned on leaving half or more behind on the plate. No such luck this time. The kind of place we were eating at (pub food) served nothing but large serves. I ummed and ahhed over what to pick then ordered a chicken parmigiana and holy cow... the serve was about 10 times more than I could eat. So among all the girls sitting at this long table gabbing ten to the dozen, I nibbled and pushed food around my plate to make it look like I was eating. One of the girls there made a comment to me, "So that's the secret to keeping your weight under control? You've barely eaten a thing," (so much for being inconspicuous lol) while dubiously eying off her own completely cleaned plate. I felt like saying, you should have seen me a year ago. I could eat what you just did and then more on top. Instead I just shrugged and said, "I'm actually not very hungry. I shouldn't have eaten before I came out. (a big fat white-lie) In the end, I also couldn't resist the dessert. I ordered the warm chocolate pudding that came with lashings of gooey caramel and cream and then offered others a spoon. Three girls took me up on my offer and we shared the plate. Then while I was up dancing to the band about a half hour later, the rest of the dessert was whipped away without being finished. Awww...

But it occurred to me like a bolt out of the blue. Those of us with a band now eat such small portions when we are out, it makes me wonder if others now watch us and think... "Is that how she keeps her weight down (or a version thereof lol). We are now the people we used to admire - admire for their resistance to the lure of good food, admire because they would stop eating when full, even if that meant leaving food on the plate. The band forces us do that now. In actual fact we have no choice. If we do go overboard we end up over the toilet (or the sink) like a teenager on an alcohol bender. And as we all know, that ain't pretty.


On the other hand, sometimes I just want to break out and eat the way I used to. Eating breakfast out (I'm talking the bacon/egg/sausage/juice and coffee thing) is just not fun any more. Can't be done. Nor can just sitting down and polishing off an enormous meal with the worst you are feeling is the urge to undo your pants button. I do miss that sometimes, but then I look at my new clothes, the new me and I think.. nahh, I still want to be the girl who can fit into her size 12/14 clothes and I'm already over it. 


 Just a random thought for the day.


Cara xxx