OMG Applebees Ruben!!!

Eating out will get you almost every time. I don't even trust the website nutrition facts because it has no control over how much butter the cook scoops out of the bowl with his spatula and plops onto the flat top to cook on. Everything else for places like Applebees is pretty much moderated since they buy their food precooked and flash frozen from Sysco Foods, but preparation gives the cook leeway to "improve" it. I bet it was yummy though, wasn't it? Why must bad stuff taste so good?

5000 grams of sodium. LOL! You could blow up a swimming pool with 5 kelos of sodium.

If you think Applebees is rough, try the Cheesecake Factory! Shrimp/pasta is 2,300 cals and completely jacked with fat!

You can't make that work IIFYM with a sledgehammer!

Best to all!

I like to look at the menu before I go somewhere and compare my options. Sometimes I change my mind once I'm there, but at least I can make an informed decision.

To be fair, when you go to a restaurant and that they have a 'light' menu and clearly show what items are under 550 calories, be prepared that anything not on that menu will be close to double that.

I always pay attention to this. I don't order things on the "light" menu unless it's something that I genuinely want, but I use whatever calorie threshold the light menu is based on to come up with a rough estimate of what the rest of the stuff is likely to be.

If you eat out a lot, then you need to learn how to plan for it. If you don't go out often (I don't), you get a reasonable amount of exercise, and you stick to your calorie goal 9 times out of 10, then this probably isn't worth worrying about.

My husband and I go out to eat once every week, either on a Friday or Saturday night. We always just pick a place randomly in the city and give it a try. We like to go out and enjoy a truly good dining experience from the wine to the app to the entree to a dessert.

The way I handle this is... I don't drink my calories but do have one glass of Moscato (bubbly white) when we go out. This is about the best calorie and sugar wise and is delicious. If you like it dry I would suggest a Prosseco. I always order a green salad with simply vinegar on the side. This way I am getting my veggies, I am filling myself up a bit and using vinegar only which is a natural fat burner and really makes the veggies pop! I always have a piece of bread or two with my salad... it's the only time I allow myself those kinds of carbs without feeling bad. We do order an app and try to go for a healthier option e.g., seared tuna, shrimp cocktail, etc... If we do end up ordering something that is drenched in cheese or extremely high in calories, I'll have one small bite and call it a day. My entree almost always consists of a lean protein with double the veggie vs. a veggie and a starch. If there are any sauces I ask for them on the side. I also ask for NO cheese, etc... Sometimes, depending upon the place and type of carb, I'll have the rice (brown/jasmine), or the pasta (home made/papadalle), but I never get mashed or french fries or anything like that. When my entree arrives, I ask for a "to go" box and split the portion on the spot before I even begin to eat it. That way I am not consuming much more than a standard 4 or 6 ounces. I always leave room for dessert... it is the one and only time in seven days that I allow myself a sweet indulgence.

Also - since I know we are eating out, I always make sure to save up my calories for the day.

Healthy options can be found on any menu at any eating establishment, just have to be able to ask for substitutions and stay away from the sauces, cheeses and all of the extras.

Last, if I am eating out, it's going to be at a top notch place with good quality food, I am not going to waste calories at a fast food or chain restaurant. That might help to avoid these places... save your money for a special treat at a fine dining establishment.

Applebee's is one of my favorite places to go while restricting calories. They have a great under 550 menu. The sirloin with shrimp is 510 calories with 49g protein. Plenty of food too.

Applebee's is one of my favorite places to go while restricting calories. They have a great under 550 menu. The sirloin with shrimp is 510 calories with 49g protein. Plenty of food too.

^ This. They have one of the better entree menu's for calorie restricted diets.

The shrimp and steak and shrimp and chicken are my favorites at Applebee's.

I agree that Cheesecake Factory is weird, but so are the other places really. I remember going to Ruby Tuesday with 800 calories, and couldn't find anything at all around that... They had their light menu, but everything was 400 calories or something, then everything else was 1000+. It was frustrating. I ended up getting an extra side or something.

Applebee's is one of the absolute worst restaurants for sodium overload. TGIFriday's and Outback Steakhouse are right up there as well.

Freaking ridiculous.

Pretty much every restaurant in the world is like this, especially chain restaurants. The sodium is there because it tastes good. For most people it's not a concern.