Ever eat an enormous number of cals at a restaurant without realizing? (aka the 1000 cal dessert)

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  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
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    ashliij wrote: »
    Yep. Now I'm that annoying person that will check the nutritional info on her phone prior to ordering. I remember ordering a pasta dish before I "changed my lifestyle" at the cheesecake factory - 2300 calories. A lot of their cheesecake (a SLICE!) packs over 1000 calories.. scary stuff. As I have no desire to kill myself to compensate for that kind of consumption, I just stick with homemade stuff when possible.

    My cheesecake factory meal was typically 3000 calories.
  • ashliij
    ashliij Posts: 54
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    Francl27 wrote: »
    ashliij wrote: »
    Yep. Now I'm that annoying person that will check the nutritional info on her phone prior to ordering. I remember ordering a pasta dish before I "changed my lifestyle" at the cheesecake factory - 2300 calories. A lot of their cheesecake (a SLICE!) packs over 1000 calories.. scary stuff. As I have no desire to kill myself to compensate for that kind of consumption, I just stick with homemade stuff when possible.

    My cheesecake factory meal was typically 3000 calories.
    I wonder how they even achieve this. I mean, AFAIK even their "light" sides are cooked in butter, but jeez. Definitely the place to go when you need some indulgence.
  • atypicalsmith
    atypicalsmith Posts: 2,742 Member
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    hmalsbury wrote: »
    All the time my job requires me to travel so eat in hotels 3-4 nights a week just getting back in to logging because the weight gain just keeps going

    I don't travel, but know that eating out at any restaurant is an entire bunker of calories. Is there any way that you can just go shopping at a nearby grocery store and get some yogurt or pre-hard boiled eggs and/or find a salad bar? Do you have time to prepare meals and freeze them, and take them with you in ice chests (assuming you aren't flying, but driving). If not, and you are forced to eat at restaurants, ask them for fresh eggs either poached, boiled, or scrambled for breakfast with unbuttered wheat toast. At lunch, request no mayonnaise or added ingredients if you are eating a sandwich. If not, get a salad with fat-free dressing. For dinner, simple seafood. You can do it!
  • cresyluna
    cresyluna Posts: 48 Member
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    Ha, I had a similar experience with thinking I'd done well getting mixed greens and a half sandwich without mayo at a local place, not so bad I'm thinking to myself, oh and let's split a sundae says my husband.. go home, said local place posts nutritional info, find out the sundae is about 1350cals. Oh well!
  • iheartdinosaurs
    iheartdinosaurs Posts: 45 Member
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    It took me longer than it should have to realize WHY I gained 40-50 pounds over 3 years (and it definitely wasn't just the 'stress'). I was traveling for work 70% of the time, and therefore eating way, wayy too many restaurant/airport meals. Doesn't matter that I was 'eating healthy' and skipping dessert and drinks most of the time and trying to exercise. I even tried logging while I was on a several-week trip and thought I was doing just fine, so was confused why I was gaining and not losing.

    Just tried to ACCURATELY count cals for a typical travel week, and, well, yep. Weight gain makes sense. :neutral_face:

    Good thing that will never happen again!
  • belimawr
    belimawr Posts: 1,155 Member
    edited March 2015
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    Well, have you ever eaten an enormous number of cats at a restaurant without realizing?

    Dare I say it... I used to live in Queens, NY...

    If I actually looked into it I'd likely not be surprised.
  • Vailara
    Vailara Posts: 2,454 Member
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    I'm sure I've done it but never bothered to check the calories afterwards! But how often do you eat out at a restaurant and have a desert? For me, it's maybe once a year. I don't really see it making a huge difference to my weight as long as I keep weighing and keep in control. From your post, it sounds like it's something you wouldn't normally do either - that you only had the desert because it was free.

    And to put it in perspective you estimated the desert at 730, so it was 360 calories more than you'd expected. That was split between two (if I understand you correctly) so you actually ate 180 calories more than expected. I wouldn't worry about it at all if it's a rare event, and I wouldn't see it as a reason to have to eat only at restaurants that give you calorie counts (which aren't always the best ones, in my opinion).
  • Cryptonomnomicon
    Cryptonomnomicon Posts: 848 Member
    edited March 2015
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    This thread has just shown me some good food porn and concreted a fact about dieting I already knew...

    People are horrible at estimating their calorie intake

    What I choose to take away from this thread is if the calorie values aren't made available for you when choosing to eat at a restaurant chalk it up as a treat, enjoy yourself and try not to overindulge if you are going to feel remorse that will effect you negatively.

    If you are trying to watch you calorie intake and I would assume some of you are if you are on this site, an occasional outing or celebration will no destroy the work you have put in. I am saddened to think anyone would deny themselves birthday outings and other celebrations because they have become too fixated upon their food intake.

    I like to think this site is about more than just calorie counting but also about creating a healthy relationship with food.
  • scottacular
    scottacular Posts: 597 Member
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    ndj1979 wrote: »
    Emilia777 wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    the mistake is in assuming that a hot fudge brownie Sunday would be UNDER 1000 calories...

    Well, brownie + 1 scoop vanilla ice cream + whipped cream doesn’t *have* to equal 1000+ cals. The issue was serving size, I think. I should have eaten half of half. The brownie part was bigger than a deck of cards, which I think is too big.

    We live and learn I guess.

    Also, cheesecake sounds yum.

    so you thought it was too big, but then under assumed the calories?




    Don't be a dick, man. She tried to compensate for not knowing the calories by eating half. She's admitting she made the mistake of underestimating the calories. Why badger her about it? What are you hoping to get out of your line of questioning?

    I'm all for slamming people who blame their lack of goal achievement on everything but their own inaccurate logging, but that's not what's going on here.

    Yep, I'm impressed by how she's faced up to it and not make silly excuses for it or blamed anyone else. S**t happens, admit to it, laugh about it, learn and move on.
  • andreamaym
    andreamaym Posts: 179 Member
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    Honestly the nutritional info for most restaurants initially startled the hell out of me. It only bothers me when I'm not in a position to choose the restaurant (ex. Someone's birthday).

    I also live in Canada and when I feel like take out I order Swiss Chalet (quarter chicken white meal with a garden salad, balsamic dressing on the side, a whole wheat bun, and of course Chalet sauce!). I peel the skin off. Boston Pizza has a garden green salad that I love as well. I put hot sauce on it instead of dressing.
  • belimawr
    belimawr Posts: 1,155 Member
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    This thread has just shown me some good food porn and concreted a fact about dieting I already knew...

    People are horrible at estimating their calorie intake

    What I choose to take away from this thread is if the calorie values aren't made available for you when choosing to eat at a restaurant chalk it up as a treat, enjoy yourself and try not to overindulge if you are going to feel remorse that will effect you negatively.

    If you are trying to watch you calorie intake and I would assume some of you are if you are on this site, an occasional outing or celebration will no destroy the work you have put in. I am saddened to think anyone would deny themselves birthday outings and other celebrations because they have become too fixated upon their food intake.

    I like to think this site is about more than just calorie counting but also about creating a healthy relationship with food.

    Well said.

    I got out every couple of weeks, and just do it. As you say of its not a regular thing, it's not going to destroy a ton of work. I still log, although I'm tempted not to even think about it, just to keep in the habit. One I clock the complete this diary button, I move on to the next day. It's done.

    What will destroy all that work is stressing over it by worrying about the rare overage, doing it too often, or denying oneself.
  • stealthq
    stealthq Posts: 4,298 Member
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    ashliij wrote: »
    Francl27 wrote: »
    ashliij wrote: »
    Yep. Now I'm that annoying person that will check the nutritional info on her phone prior to ordering. I remember ordering a pasta dish before I "changed my lifestyle" at the cheesecake factory - 2300 calories. A lot of their cheesecake (a SLICE!) packs over 1000 calories.. scary stuff. As I have no desire to kill myself to compensate for that kind of consumption, I just stick with homemade stuff when possible.

    My cheesecake factory meal was typically 3000 calories.
    I wonder how they even achieve this. I mean, AFAIK even their "light" sides are cooked in butter, but jeez. Definitely the place to go when you need some indulgence.

    It's portion size, mostly.

    Their cheesecakes are twice as thick as a typical cheesecake recipe would make, then you have the whipped cream and other toppings/mix-ins and it adds up fast. That's why I can still get their cheesecake. 1/3 of one is a decent serving, and that's worth fitting in occasionally. Plus I have cheesecake for a couple more days, or I split it with a couple of people.

    Same for their regular meals. The light meals are much smaller than the regular meals, though you can still find some that are pretty substantial, like the white bean chicken chili. Several of the light meals are also on the regular menu. As far as I can tell, they aren't prepared any differently. It's all in the portion size.
  • jetortola
    jetortola Posts: 198 Member
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    I just did this with my *own* homemade salad! Over 500 calories, using home cooked chicken and homemade dressing -- oops!

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  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
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    Yeah that's why I never pick salads at restaurants pretty much.
  • Alidecker
    Alidecker Posts: 1,262 Member
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    Francl27 wrote: »
    Yeah that's why I never pick salads at restaurants pretty much.

    Luckily I like to use salsa for my salad dressing, it cuts out a lot of calories. Usually if I am going out to eat though, I pick something besides a salad also
  • NikonPal
    NikonPal Posts: 1,346 Member
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    Cantina Laredo doesn’t normally list calories. I did find calories listed at their Philly location. The Chimichanga De Pollo Poblano has 1,850 calories and 4960 mg sodium; the Tacos Al Carbon has 1,580 calories with 8,050 mg sodium.

    Add appetizers, chips, dessert and a few drinks – and a 4000 calorie meal is pretty easy to reach…heck even a beef taco salad in a fried tortilla bowl can be more than 1500 calories.

    I had a gift card and tried to pre-plan a "somewhat" low calorie meal. In the end, I opted to hold onto the gift card until I reached my goal of losing around 200 pounds. I reached my goal and used the card recently. I love the food, but will likely go to other places that make planning a Mexican meal a little easier.

    I make Mexican food at home – but I control the ingredients & can use low-fat cheese, grilled vegetables & chicken breast, yogurt instead of sour cream, salsa instead of cream sauces etc.


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  • RhineDHP
    RhineDHP Posts: 1,025 Member
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    Emilia777 wrote: »
    So, I had to share this. I was at Swiss Chalet the other night (love their chicken, not gonna lie) with the bf and the kitchen was backed up because of a new employee. Long story short, we were offered a complimentary dessert to make up for the long waiting time. Silly naive souls that we are, we ended up getting the hot fudge brownie sundae, as we figured it can’t be that bad if you split it with someone.

    Yeah, no. I ate slightly less than half, simply because it was so rich, and we took bets on the calories (he said 600, I said 730). We then looked it up on the inter web, and behold: 1090 calories, 130 g of sugar (lord, that’s sweet).

    Moral of this story: always look up calories before you order. The rest of the meal was pre-planned and worked out fine.

    Did anything like this ever happen to you?


    Pretty much anytime I eat a restaurant pasta dish. I just log it and move on, because delicious food be delicious.