Wendy’s helped me lose weight
RunsWithBees
Posts: 1,508 Member
6 years ago when I was starting my weight loss journey by counting calories and exercising regularly for the first time in my life, I would often eat at a Wendy’s fast food restaurant that was about 0.75 miles from my apartment. So walking there and back I’d get an extra 1.5 mile walk added to my activity (and the last half mile trek is up a very steep hill) I’d almost always get the “Apple Pecan Chicken Salad” which was under 600 calories including the Pomegranate Vinaigrette Dressing. I can’t tell you how many times I got that salad for dinner but maybe 3-4 times a week during the 10 months it took me to lose 42 lbs. Sometimes I’d get a different meal but that was my go-to default because it’s tasty and fit into my calorie goals at the time. Since then I’ve maintained my goal weight, become a runner and don’t have that for dinner often anymore but I look back fondly on that time when my lifestyle was changing for the better. It was good to know that I could still lose weight eating fast food by making better choices and upping my activity level and not feel deprived. Thanks Wendy’s!
Starting weight 209 lbs
Current weight 167 lbs
Starting weight 209 lbs
Current weight 167 lbs
86
Replies
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Great job! I love Wendy's.. haven't got their salad yet though . I get chicken salad at Chick-fil-A.. a little more calories than what you posted.3
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I've enjoyed watching your story ... and always love your barefoot running pics.
Super inspiring3 -
Muito interessante sua história1
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I have loved your journey. You are a inspiration. I also have found that you can enjoy the little things in life if you’re willing to put forth the extra effort. You are looking fantastic and thank you for sharing your journey with all of us. Keep running 👣🏃♀️😎1
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I had to read this, funny, fast food making you slim. Wow, whatever works, you look great!1
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Great job! I’ve lost 15 pounds eating Chick Fil A for dinner four nights a week. I’ve been craving it like crazy and it fits well into my calorie limit.7
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Great job.
This isn't a popular opinion, but I've always said that I can lose weight easier by eating fast food. Just pick lower calorie options, and it provides portion control. If I eat at home or a sit down restaurant, then I always eat more.8 -
Great job! I love Wendy's.. haven't got their salad yet though . I get chicken salad at Chick-fil-A.. a little more calories than what you posted.14apfigley641 wrote: »Great job! I’ve lost 15 pounds eating Chick Fil A for dinner four nights a week. I’ve been craving it like crazy and it fits well into my calorie limit.
I love Chick fil A! But the nearest one to me is a traffic-filled-nightmare-drive away
so I rarely go there, probably for the best though because I can easily overdo it on the waffle fries! 
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You did a great job-2
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When I am on the road and need a quick bite, I look for Wendy's - they do good salads!
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Wendy's chili is great too!4
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I tried the Southwest Avocado salad.....wow. I was genuinely surprised at how good it was. I got the half for lunch, it was definitely fulfilling!1
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The apple pecan chicken salad is my favorite there! Great job!1
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You are looking fantastic! Wendy's to is my go to fast food place I normally either get the chili or a caesar side salad.1
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Awesome job! And you're running barefoot on Powell Butte, right? Inspiration!1
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well done
I am wondering though how you're not troubled with Plantar fasciitis with the barefoot running - I did a bit of that myself (only on machines/indoors!) and had to give up as my arches fell.1 -
LivingtheLeanDream wrote: »well done
I am wondering though how you're not troubled with Plantar fasciitis with the barefoot running - I did a bit of that myself (only on machines/indoors!) and had to give up as my arches fell.
Never had a problem with plantar fasciitis. I had the opposite effect that you describe, all my life I had pancake-flat feet and after about a year of barefoot running I discovered I had developed strong arches, a pleasantly surprising side effect. I don’t know if barefooting actually has any benefits for the body or not, I do it because I find it super fun! But I have noticed that my posture is 100% better, my balance has improved immensely and of course I love my new arches!
This is simply my opinion, I have no idea if it’s correct or not so please take it with a grain of salt I think running outdoors would be a lot different from indoors/treadmill. It’s supposedly the fact that there are uneven surfaces that challenge the foot muscles to work that build strength. On a treadmill every footstep is exactly the same (perfectly flat!) so it’s easy to overwork the same muscles repeatedly and cause overuse injuries. Outdoors, different muscles are firing off because every single step will be different, no two muscle groups will be working exactly the same way for every step so they don’t tire as easily and share the workload. In my case, it’s the only way I really feel comfortable running, I’ve tried shoes and suffered horrible shin splints, and out of desperation that’s why I tried barefoot and have had no more shin splints since so I’m sticking with the barefoot running, have been doing it for almost 5 years now 6 -
megaperson1015 wrote: »Awesome job! And you're running barefoot on Powell Butte, right? Inspiration!
It does look similar but actually it’s in northern Ca near Mt. Diablo 1 -
Great job! I completely agree with your method. You have to find what works for you and believe in the process...not to expect miracles. You look fantastic! Very inspirational!2
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Congratulations on your success!! Thank you for sharing your story!1
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I love Chick fil A! But the nearest one to me is a traffic-filled-nightmare-drive away so I rarely go there, probably for the best though because I can easily overdo it on the waffle fries!
Same here and the location is now well over two years old. The funny thing is I remember the Chick-fil-A in the mall food court in the late 80s/early 90s. There was never the insane spin up to the opening of one or the chronic massive, long lines at one like there is today, no matter which one you go to. Same with In-N-Out (more like Stay-N-Wait Forever) Burger, even in CA locations that used to see "normal" non-insane customer traffic years ago.1 -
grinning_chick wrote: »I love Chick fil A! But the nearest one to me is a traffic-filled-nightmare-drive away so I rarely go there, probably for the best though because I can easily overdo it on the waffle fries!
Same here and the location is now well over two years old. The funny thing is I remember the Chick-fil-A in the mall food court in the late 80s/early 90s. There was never the insane spin up to the opening of one or the chronic massive, long lines at one like there is today, no matter which one you go to. Same with In-N-Out (more like Stay-N-Wait Forever) Burger, even in CA locations that used to see "normal" non-insane customer traffic years ago.
Social media. Before social media, you wouldn't know there was a new place opening unless you drove by and saw the sign, read it in the paper, or saw it on the local news. Now you get it on facebook, twitter, people share it with their friends....you get the idea.
Chick Fil A is always SUPER busy for us too. It's always busy where we are because they have a good play place and maintain it well, so moms with little kids at home love it. They are always polite and get orders correct more often than their competitors.
I like Wendy's too, I like that when I'm craving a burger I can a JBC (Junior bacon cheese) and it won't blow my calories for the day like other places burgers will. And it tastes good.2 -
Just chowed down a cobb salad from CFA.. yum2
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monkeefan1974 wrote: »6 years ago when I was starting my weight loss journey by counting calories and exercising regularly for the first time in my life, I would often eat at a Wendy’s fast food restaurant that was about 0.75 miles from my apartment. So walking there and back I’d get an extra 1.5 mile walk added to my activity (and the last half mile trek is up a very steep hill) I’d almost always get the “Apple Pecan Chicken Salad” which was under 600 calories including the Pomegranate Vinaigrette Dressing. I can’t tell you how many times I got that salad for dinner but maybe 3-4 times a week during the 10 months it took me to lose 42 lbs. Sometimes I’d get a different meal but that was my go-to default because it’s tasty and fit into my calorie goals at the time. Since then I’ve maintained my goal weight, become a runner and don’t have that for dinner often anymore but I look back fondly on that time when my lifestyle was changing for the better. It was good to know that I could still lose weight eating fast food by making better choices and upping my activity level and not feel deprived. Thanks Wendy’s!
Starting weight 209 lbs
Current weight 167 lbs
I like that salad too. Yum.
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You look good.1
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brenn24179 wrote: »I had to read this, funny, fast food making you slim. Wow, whatever works, you look great!
How's it funny? Fast food doesn't make you fat.
Amazing transformation OP.2 -
Fast food places don't necessarily have to be the enemy. I like Wendy's because there's a surprising amount of items that won't break my calorie bank. And I think the humble baked potato is an under-rated food.4
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What a transformation! Where did you get your swimsuit? Maybe I can get one like it when I meet my goals 2
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What a transformation! Where did you get your swimsuit? Maybe I can get one like it when I meet my goals
Thanks! 🙂 I get all my bikinis from eBay from UK sellers because I can’t find my size tops in the stores in the US 😬 the one in the picture is from a brand called Pour Moi 😎 and you should absolutely treat yourself to a nice goal swimsuit! It took me some time to feel completely confident in mine but once I did it was such a liberating feeling... I’ve worked really hard to maintain my body in shape and now I’m gonna wear whatever I want!2
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