[roxxie rocket]

OMG I really had no idea -- LOL no wonder I need to lose weight!! Thanks for the heads up!!

[xGurlyGrlx]

I have seen this before. I have eaten a few things on that list.

3 Big Macs = Chili's Dessert ??

[famograham]

HOLY CRAP!!!!!
You know, when I was reading that, I was really wondering how the HECK do they even GET that many calories into things!!??

One thing I have learned about restaurants is that the damage can always be reduced. If you are eating a burger (preferably grilled-not breaded chicken) is that you can cut your calories by making sure they don't put mayo, OR butter on your bun. I've found that they will butter and then slather with mayo, which could be HUNDREDS of calories. You really won't be able to tell that much of a difference. Also look out for cheeses and sauteed mushrooms. Mushrooms act like sponges when sauteed.. Lots of veggies, some mustard and pickles make a burger tolerable, calorie wise. I (almost) always order salad with my burger, and if they don't have a light dressing, then I do get ranch, but I just dip my fork in the dressing before each bite, and I use about half a tablespoon that way.

The rest of that stuff DOES look delicious, but most of them are double what we (as losers) should be eating in a day! CRAZINESS!

YEESH, they should post the calorie price RIGHT in the menu, right next to the cash price!


Linda

[wisher]

Originally Posted by midwife

It can be so hard to lose weight if one eats out often. I think that limiting my meals out and about has been one of the most meaningful changes in my weight loss efforts.

This is what I'm trying to do right now, not only to lose weight but also save money! It's hard though, I usually eat out a few times a week, not always at a restaurant but I just mean picking up something somewhere that isn't home! It's hard to cut down but I think it will make a huge difference!

[Hopefulpinkangel]

WOW I just went through the whole list with my mouth hanging open from shock! Knowledge is power, I can tell you I won't be eating anything off that list anytime soon.

[pamatga]

I thought that these photos made the food almost look like pig slop. Did anyone else feel that way? None of it made me want to do anything but look for something that was more "eye appealing"---for starters.

I looked at the restaurant names and I have only eaten at two of the ones listed. I ate at a Quizno's in 2002 and I don't even remember what I had. My DH and I consider McDonald's as "emergency" food only. If I am really really caught in a double bind then and only then will I eat there. I have eaten at McDonald's but the nearest one burned down on Good Friday of this year (no joke) so I went to the Arby's next door and got a fish sandwich because I had been fasting all day and I didn't want to topple over during the Passion service that lasts nearly 2 hours. I kept rubbing my tongue on the roof of my mouth. The grease had solidified from the ice I was sucking on from the iced tea I drank with it. Does that sound appealing to you?

I am so grateful that I have stopped that madness. I gained this weight in 1980s by eating 4x a week out for dinner and every morning for breakfast through various drive throughs. What stopped most of that was I got divorced and couldn't afford it financially (think about paying $8 for one burger when you can buy 2 lbs of lean ground sirloin for that!) And, the fact that every time I eat from one of these restaurants I get diarhea from all the added fat in whatever they are cooking. As I have often said, if I would choose to eat one of those monster meat sandwiches dipped in animal fat, why not meet me in the bathroom so I can sit on the toilet while I am eating it? After all, within a half hour, I am there anyway. I developed gall bladder disease and hypertension from eating all of that food. I had the gall bladder out when I was 39. You just can't punish your body like that. It wasn't meant to eat that.

I think the main thing about craving any of this food is if you don't put it in your mouth then you won't crave it. Do I miss it? Once in a great while. I still go out to eat but I am careful to eat a large (read: high calories) meal earlier in the day so I can have time to work it off. I prefer "home style" cooking instead and we have two favorite restaurants--one Asian and one multi culture that we frequent about 3x a month.

Thanks for sharing.

[traci in training]

I knew the first time I saw one of those bloomin' onion things that it had to be bad, but I didn't know how bad. Jeez!

I'm with whoever said they plan ahead. I always look online for the best choices when we're going to eat somewhere new and I know what to eat when I'm somewhere we've been before. I also think that if you go "outside the menu", you have a good shot at staying on plan.

Most people think you have to order what's on the menu, but you know that's not true. Most places will accommodate whatever you want.

We ate at Red Lobster last weekend and I ordered 1 # of crab legs (no butter), ceasar salad without the dressing and some steamed asparagus. The asparagus on their menu isn't steamed, but if you ask for it they're happy to do it. The chef/cook/whatever even came out to our table and asked if I'd like it roasted with garlic instead with just a touch of olive oil. Said he was roasting some for himself, so he'd share. Cool, huh?

I like Ceasar salad - without the dressing - because you tend to get some nice romaine lettuce instead of the iceberg ick. I usually have a small packet of fat free Italian in my purse, or I just eat it plain.

I also agree with ordering exactly what you want. If I order specifically I find that they bring me what I want.

Of course, I tip well in return. I appreciate their effort.