Eating out can sure pack on the pounds. So much of the stuff on the menu is loaded with fat, salt, and even Sugar (we have a local pizza chain that I never go to any more because the sweeten their sauce so much -- yuck!). There are some tricks that Hubby can try to help cut down on the calories consumed when he eats out:

* Say, "Just water, thanks," when the waitress asks what you want to drink. Water has no calories, of course, and if you drink it before you eat, it helps fill the stomach. If you feel weird or cheap having just water, then ask for some fancy bottled stuff. Rave about how good it is and how you read about it in some chic magazine.
* Skip the alcohol. It's loaded with empty calories. If it's dinner and everyone else is drinking, get ONE glass of wine and make it last the whole meal -- better yet, plan to drink only half of it. Drink mostly water and slowly sip the wine. So long as you have a glass at hand, no one will notice that you're hardly touching it.
* Many chain restaurants mark "heart healthy" choices on the menu. These are usually lower in fat and are usually good choices.
* Think about the probable caloric content and salt content of the food before ordering, and go for things that are probably low cal: lean meats, salads with dressing on the side (so you can control the portion), broiled fish, etc.
* Eat slowly. There's a sort of "satisfaction setting" in our bodies that trips off about 20 minutes after you start eating, regardless of whether you eat slowly or stuff your face. So learn to eat slowly. Talk a lot during the meal. Play with your food. Take the time to really enjoy what you're eating.
* Get over the "clean plate syndrome." You don't have to eat everything on the plate. If you're presented with a huge portion, decide how much you will eat and leave the rest. Portion size has grown hugely over the last few decades, and it's one reason that so many Americans have a weight problem. (Remember when Coke came in an 8 ounce bottle? These days that hardly looks like a sip!)
* Eat low-cal stuff first, like the veggies. That starts filling you up early so that by the time you get to the high-cal part of the meal, you won't be tempted to eat so much of it.
* Stop when your stomach registers "just full," not "stuffed."
* Don't order dessert, especially if the restaurant specializes in platter-sized desserts. Or if you feel you must get dessert, then see if someone will split it with you, or just take a few bites and leave the rest. A few bites is all you really need for satisfaction anyway. After that, your brain doesn't really register and you're eating sweets on automatic pilot.

That'll get him started.

You cannot tell hum one darn thing. A littel under Two years ago, I weighed 335 pounds, and woke up on my 48th birthday eating my snickers bar and coke for breakfast, and realized I was going to die soon if I did not change that day.

I now weigh 175 pounds, eat better that I ever have, and am the picture of health.

FYI: I am 49, male, 5' 10" in height, married with trhee kids and a lovely wife.

How did I do it? It is a long story, but basically I researched, reasearched and develped what worked for me. I gave my self an entire YEAR to make a change. Here is the hard part: I had NO candy, no coke, no fast food for an entire YEAR. Period. NO cheating at all. I also wrote down EVERY SINGLE thing I put in my mouth, and what the calories were, for that year. I can tell you the calorie content of anything now!!! I lost 160 pounds in ten months. Of course, I started to excersie the very first day..could not do HALF a push-up. I now have built a gym in my garage, I work out EVERY day, not matter what, and eat wonderful meals..just count calories. The main point of this oratory to you is, HUBBY has to WANT to do it. I alos ate out alot as a musician. Now, I just make my own lunch, or eat salad type stuff for lunch. Sacrifices MUST be made..that is the ONLY way, and they must be permanent. WAs it hard? YES!!! Do I have to check my self daily to stay on track? YES!! Was it worth it? YES YES YES!!! I mean, to be able to go into Gap, American Eagle and buy cool clothes instead of the "big Men's shop" is vain, but wonderful. The best part of all of this is, I am healthy, strong, full of energy, and all my previous health problems vanished, and I did it without spending a dime on any commercial diet plans (sorry folks) or gadgets....and my wife and kids can enjoy a healthy DAd now..that is the best part of it all.