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I would decline eating out if you're serious about watching what you eat. If you're really good you could totally lose the 15-20 in 2 months! Small sacrifice to make.

I think lasting weight loss means you learn how to change your habits in every situation - dining out included. You can still go out with your friends but order unsweetened iced tea or water instead of soda/alcohol. There are always healthy choices on menus. Soups, salads, chicken, vegetables, etc. Split a dessert with your friends instead of ordering one for yourself (or skip dessert if you aren't in the mood). Those kinds of things.

As for will power, I'd look the menu up online before I went out. Decide what I was ordering. And then not even bother to look at the menu when I got there, so I wouldn't tempt myself with different choices.

I agree with @highwire: that you have to learn to change your lifestyle and still eat healthy outside the home. Obviously this isn't an option is they are going to McDonalds for dinner but most nicer restaurants have healthy options (salads, grilled chicken or fish). So I would accept the invite but still stick to your guidelines.

I would also decline if you're starting a brand new diet. I'd wait a few weeks and then start going out again and picking healthy options. I just don't want the temptation right in the beginning but then I agree with the pp's that you'll have to start learning how to make healthy choices as your diet goes on. I've just straight up told my friends that I'm on a diet and that I don't want to go out for a few weeks.