Eating Out... The Dreaded Bread Basket(s)

Oh, the joys and sorrows of eating out. It used to be one of my favorite things --maybe the favorite thing-- and now I can tell it is going to have to become an occasional treat. Talk about a lifestyle change! While running out-of-town errands today, Vince and I decided to eat at Red Lobster. I did that 4-course feast. I deliberately only chose from menu items under 700 calories. I started with some clam chowder that I didn't even finish half of (100 calories), a garden salad with ranch, though I did get it on the side and only dipped my fork into it to use as little as possible (140 calories), the garlic and herb shrimp and chicken that was made into three meals between Vince and myself, so I consumed about 130 calories of it for lunch and 200 for dinner, and 220 calories for part of a brownie dessert that we shared. So I figured it out and it was 590 calories for lunch and 200 for dinner, not bad for eating out, right? And then it hit me a couple minutes later... the dreaded cheddar bay biscuit basket. Well, baskets. Three to be exact. Hm, add in 2 1/2 biscuits at lunch and another one for dinner at a whopping 150 calories each, now that's about right for eating out. Damn never-ending garlicy, cheesy, carb-filled greatness that the waitress kept bringing without asking and I couldn't resist! So my grand total now becomes 965 lunch and 350 dinner. Thank goodness I talked myself out of two Coke's and into unsweetened iced tea. Thankfully, I barely went over 1300 calories and haven't had to snack on anything else today. I could have done worse. But I could do better. Had I stayed away from the bread, the meal wasn't so bad for eating out. I was extremely happy with myself that I stopped eating everything after just a few bites to gauge my appetite level. I've said for years that my "full meter" is non-existent but it's actually just broken. I've ignored it for so many years, ESPECIALLY when eating out, that its signals are weakened. But the more I begin to listen to it, the stronger it will become. I noticed today as I was eating that I was totally satisfied after just a few bites of each thing I ate. It's amazing what happens when you eat for nutrition and enjoyment even versus emotionally to fill a void. Now eventually, I hope to choose broccoli over mashed potatoes, vinaigrette over ranch, and forgo dessert and bread completely. But I am happy with my toddler steps and this is where I realize I am making life changes, not short-term diet changes. And I am not sabotaging the next day over not being perfect today. I could have chosen the 1900 calorie shrimp trip that I used to eat but I didn't. I thoughtfully made the choices that I did. And they tasted better, even! So today made me see that eating out doesn't have to kill you, but it does require planning and most importantly, willpower. The planning part I've got nailed down. The willpower, it's coming, slowly but surely. It's better to be the turtle though, right... the hare can't quite finish the race.

Oh, and I am publishing a picture within the last year-ish showing my full body. I realize I don't have many of those kinds of pictures, haha, wonder why. I love to take pictures but I really avoid the camera at this weight. I will try to get a newer, pre-weight loss picture asap to share. I want to track my progress and post cool side-by-sides like Jamy. ;)