Really long post, my meals today

Justinstrong

Ok first off I'd like to say I'm 17 and I work at a fast food restaurant, Sonic, so it can be kind of tricky to eat healthy considering the shifts I work which is 11am to 10pm 3x a week and a 4pm to 10pm on Sundays. Usually (before finding this site) I would eat something for breakfast, then around 2-4pm at work I would eat a grilled chicken sandwich then for the rest of the day just have a piece of popcorn chicken here and there.. maybe a chicken strip.. and as I started to think on it I realized that I was eating a lot and they were really bad and that when I went to the gym on days I didn't work, well that was great but the days I did work, I just ate a lot. Wow just got off topic really bad but anyway, this is what I tried to eat today, and if you guys agree with it and think its healthy, then I will eat it every time I work a double!(11am-10pm)

Breakfast: Raisin Bran with a slice of cantaloupe

Lunch: I brought wheat bread from home and grilled a piece of chicken from sonic and had a grilled chicken sandwich with 2tomatoes shredded lettuce, ketchup and 1 slice of pepperjack cheese.

Dinner: Salad which has: shredded lettuce, pickles, chopped tomatoes, light ranch (its the only Light salad dressing we have) and a piece of chopped grilled chicken.

Being able to work at sonic I was able to personally clean the grill and get all visible grease off the grill before grilling my chicken so if you're going to eat grilled chicken I probably made the healthiest you can get at fast food.

But thats it for my day, my friend said I should have added sante fe for my salad, which is a mixture at sonic we have that contains beans corn chopped onions and other vegetables for salads. If you've ever been to sonic you can see the sante fe salad, he said I should add that for more nutrients and protein. But anyway just give me your feedback on if I should change anything or what not, according to my report (which I redid some things after the other day) my daily calorie intake should be 2,150 and I've had 1,130 So I think I might go have one of those fruit mix snacks to pipe it up a bit.


Sorry for the really long post

Justinstrong

Ok first off I'd like to say I'm 17 and I work at a fast food restaurant, Sonic, so it can be kind of tricky to eat healthy considering the shifts I work which is 11am to 10pm 3x a week and a 4pm to 10pm on Sundays. Usually (before finding this site) I would eat something for breakfast, then around 2-4pm at work I would eat a grilled chicken sandwich then for the rest of the day just have a piece of popcorn chicken here and there.. maybe a chicken strip.. and as I started to think on it I realized that I was eating a lot and they were really bad and that when I went to the gym on days I didn't work, well that was great but the days I did work, I just ate a lot. Wow just got off topic really bad but anyway, this is what I tried to eat today, and if you guys agree with it and think its healthy, then I will eat it every time I work a double!(11am-10pm)

Breakfast: Raisin Bran with a slice of cantaloupe

Lunch: I brought wheat bread from home and grilled a piece of chicken from sonic and had a grilled chicken sandwich with 2tomatoes shredded lettuce, ketchup and 1 slice of pepperjack cheese.

Dinner: Salad which has: shredded lettuce, pickles, chopped tomatoes, light ranch (its the only Light salad dressing we have) and a piece of chopped grilled chicken.

Being able to work at sonic I was able to personally clean the grill and get all visible grease off the grill before grilling my chicken so if you're going to eat grilled chicken I probably made the healthiest you can get at fast food.

But thats it for my day, my friend said I should have added sante fe for my salad, which is a mixture at sonic we have that contains beans corn chopped onions and other vegetables for salads. If you've ever been to sonic you can see the sante fe salad, he said I should add that for more nutrients and protein. But anyway just give me your feedback on if I should change anything or what not, according to my report (which I redid some things after the other day) my daily calorie intake should be 2,150 and I've had 1,130 So I think I might go have one of those fruit mix snacks to pipe it up a bit.


Sorry for the really long post

leg8

i think you did a great job eating healthily while working at a fast food restaurant just make sure you find some variety while eating healthy so you don't get bored! that happens to me a lot... hehe

shorerider

First, the food you're eating is healthy. BUT, you've got to eat more!

You're young, you're male, and you are eating very hard with an active daily schedule. You're daily caloric requirement has to be very high and you need to be careful that you are not cutting back too much. If you do, you can stall your weight loss AND do damage to your body. So try to eat the amount of calories that MFP suggests. AND, DON'T FORGET TO EAT YOUR EXERCISE CALORIES!

banks1850

Justin, I would tend to agree with Shore. Make sure you're eating enough. Remember, you are trying to retrain your body to eat healthy for life, not just quickly lose a few pounds. Bring some snacks that you can much on, carrots, almonds, maybe some cubed cheese. Things you can just grab a hand full of and pop em in your mouth so you don't need to take breaks to eat it.

I commend you on your drive to eat right while in that type of environment. I would also suggest, making an attempt to find a job that doesn't put your eating in such jeopardy. It's kind of like being addicted to alcohol and being a bartender. Do you really want to put your self in that type of a situation. Maybe it works for you, I don't know, some people see how fast food is made and it disgusts them to the point where they won't eat it. For others this doesn't work. It's choices you need to make, but I would suggest trying to find a job outside. In highschool and college I worked for a landscaper, and I'll tell you what, I was in the best shape of my life come fall, cuz I was burning an extra 1500 calories a day working 8 hours carrying trees, holding the weed wacker, digging dirt, raking mulch...etc. Plus, you got to look at your work at the end of the day and be proud of it. It was a very satisfying job.

shorerider

Maybe it works for you, I don't know, some people see how fast food is made and it disgusts them to the point where they won't eat it. For others this doesn't work.

I worked at KFC when I was that young for a few years and to this day I still cannot eat KFC! :sick: It took forever for the smell of greasy fried chicken to leave my nostrils, and my hair, and all my clothes! I'll never forget the day I walked into a bank in my KFC uniform and was standing in line when I heard one of the tellers--who hadn't seen me--say "I smell chicken!" I slunked away quietly!

Wizzle

It sounds like your doing great!!!! But, I do agree with the others. Young males need more food than that. Try packing some fresh fruit or veggies with your for lunch. I have a hard time eating veggies. So, I grill em on a little geroge forman. They are so good that way and you do not even have to put anything on them.

What you ate is great though! That is a good way to get things started. I know how hard it can be to not eat foods at work. I used to work at Starbucks and the pastries are so bad for you. I used to eat them all the time till I looked up how bad they are for you.

Good luck and your doing a great job

pmkelly409

Wow! You are doing great and it must take a huge amount of willpower working around all that food.

1st, I agree with Banks - consider finding an outdoor job that takes you away from the food and keeps you active - love the landscaping idea!

2nd - you didn't incorporate any snacks into your day? you really should be eating more often to increase your metabolism. I would suggest a little bit more for breakfast specifically protein - perhaps egg on whole wheat toast? You need protein in the morning for the mid-afternoon energy. Move the canteloupe to your mid-morning snack with a yogurt. I would also forgo the cheese on your chicken sandwich and move those calories to another mid-afternoon snack. How about adding a side salad to your sandwich at lunch and bring an apple for mid-afternoon snack to eat with the slice of cheese? Lastly, can you bring other vegetables with you to add to the evening salad? seems like you need more bulk in that salad.

Good Luck and keep asking questions - armed with info you will be amazed at your progress!!

Justinstrong

Well I want to keep my job at sonic for a few reasons, when I went there I didn't know anyone, most people find jobs where they can be near their friends, but my sister offered me the job and at the time she was in college, working at a dentistry office and only working 1 day a week carhopping for sonic. But over time I meet the guys and they are now some of my best friends. That is reason number one


Reason number 2: I have thought about quitting so may time and going to work at wal-mart or something. I mean working at wal-mart pays about 1.20 more but this is what I want to be able to do. I want to be able to face a problem head forward and be able to beat it. All my life I told myself that I could eat whatever I want and when I got into high school I would get taller and I would be skinny. Well yea, I got taller, I'm 6'2 but I also weight 316lbs. What I want to be able to do is loose weight in a fastfood environment to show myself that I can do it, that I beat a problem that was right in front of my face and that I was able to over come all the temptation. It may sound self-righteous but I want to be able to discipline myself so thats why for as long as I can stay from being overwhelmed by the temptation, and eat healthy, I want to stay. Do you guys think that is making a bad decision?

shorerider

Reason number 2: I have thought about quitting so may time and going to work at wal-mart or something. I mean working at wal-mart pays about 1.20 more but this is what I want to be able to do. I want to be able to face a problem head forward and be able to beat it. All my life I told myself that I could eat whatever I want and when I got into high school I would get taller and I would be skinny. Well yea, I got taller, I'm 6'2 but I also weight 316lbs. What I want to be able to do is loose weight in a fastfood environment to show myself that I can do it, that I beat a problem that was right in front of my face and that I was able to over come all the temptation. It may sound self-righteous but I want to be able to discipline myself so thats why for as long as I can stay from being overwhelmed by the temptation, and eat healthy, I want to stay. Do you guys think that is making a bad decision?

If you've got that kind of willpower, I admire you! Most people couldn't do it day in and day out--the temptation is too great. I KNOW I couldn't do it without giving in at least a few times a week (or day or hour!). I think it's great that you want to face your challenges and overcome it.

But also, a different job might give you better working hours, better working conditions, better pay, better opportunities, etc. Just consider it--don't limit yourself based upon a desire to overcome this challenge. There might be something better out there that could present different challenges for you to face!

Fast food service jobs aren't great--I know. I worked fast food for a total of about 7 years before finally moving onward and upward.

Bottom line--it's your decision. But don't limit yourself to one possibility either. You sound like an incredible person who wants to succeed in whatever you do--the possibilities for that type of personality are endless in the business world!!!!

Justinstrong

Hah I'm not staying there forever trust me, I probably should have said that I made my schedule.

monday: 11-10
tuesday:off
Wednesday:11-10
Thursday: off
Friday: 11-11
saturday:off
sunday:4-10

The reason I made it this way is because it allows me to have exactly 40 hours which we cant go over that and I can also still feel like I'm having a summer. My boss is extremely lenient about work hours during the school year I only worked 2 days a week. But next summer I'm going to be moving up to oxford to go to college so I will be out of fastfood for good(I hope) after that, I figured I'd get a job at bestbuy or something like that.

areason4stars

I just wanted to say hi! I work at sonic too! I have been working there for over 4 years YIKES! I guess I am like your sister , right now I only work about one day a week due to college ( full time nursing student). I think your doing pretty good , giving the choices they have there.

I spent a good amount of time on their website looking at the nutritional info and just try to keep those facts in my head when I am working to help with the urges to pop some popcorn chicken.

Luckily since I only am there once a week the temptation isn’t that bad plus if we are really busy I get a pretty good workout on my skates

Good Luck to you.

shorerider

I just wanted to say hi! I work at sonic too! I have been working there for over 4 years YIKES! I guess I am like your sister , right now I only work about one day a week due to college ( full time nursing student). I think your doing pretty good , giving the choices they have there.

I spent a good amount of time on their website looking at the nutritional info and just try to keep those facts in my head when I am working to help with the urges to pop some popcorn chicken.

Luckily since I only am there once a week the temptation isn’t that bad plus if we are really busy I get a pretty good workout on my skates

Good Luck to you.

Skates? WOW--the people at the Sonics here don't wear skates. That'd be something to see!

Justinstrong

Haha yea the carhops here don't get to wear skates because our boss doesn't want to insure them, hes cheap haha.

areason4stars

Aw, then you dont get the authentic "Carhop" experience. Not everyone at my store skates, but I love it!




Okay the only reason I have a pic, is because my aunt from Switzerland was visiting and took it then sent me a copy

Justinstrong

hah if I put up any pictures of us guys at sonic it would just be us messing around. The other day we took a cart and made a car out of a chair, stool, and cut up boxes haha.

natalie1

I think you menue is really good on carbs ,fat and protein. But the rest of your calories should be comming from GREENS. Any green vegetables will be a good addition to your plan- it wiil give you the rest of your required calories without "bad" calories

BreaNix

I think you are doing a great job! It is so commendable to face your challenges headon.
(round of applause)

I agree with some of the others about including some fresh fruit in as snacks, otherwise I think your daily work menu sounds great.

Don't forget to drink water. :drinker: