Are you %$@# kidding me?

Maybe just get the side greek salad and add a grilled chicken breast to it??

Ditto! See if you can get grilled chicken, and save the soup for another time.

side garden salad only has 197 calories
all of their dressings look awfully high in fat and calories
dinner vegetables and broccoli looks pretty low cal.
most of their soups look pretty good... not great, but ok. broccoli cheddar, chili and enchilada seem very high!
would you consdier the kids menu? b/c the spaghetti doesn't seem that awful.

I'm going to second dividing the extra calories over the rest of the week, and eating beforehand. Don't go for a super light breakfast and walk in there starving.

I'd say, up your calories for this particular lunch to 700-800 or so - that should be easy enough to make up with a light dinner, and a few cuts over the rest of the week. Also remember that, if you eat 250-500 calories over your allowance, you'll be in maintenance, not gaining, so you have that allowance, too.

Finally; drink water, and avoid dressings on the salads; that's what's bulking up those calories.

get the dressing on the side and add only a little. You may cut a lot that way. If you get a sandwhich, get it with grilled (not fried or breaded chicken). Eat the protein and skip the bread, or only eat half the bread. Bring your own apple or fruit to finish things off and fill up. Drink water or diet soda.

Honestly, don't stress over it. Go and celebrate whatever the occassion is and don't worry about it any further. Eat as reasonable a meal as you can and don't worry about making it up or anything of the like. One meal will not make ANY difference in your long term out come. That is a promise and I don't make promises lightly.

As a matter of fact, there are some really good diet plans (Body For Life is one) that actually tell you to give yourself a free day (no work out and whatever you want to eat) once a week. The thought is that if you have something to look forward to then the rest of the week will be easier and your body is less prone to go into a low metabolic state if it has a day of 'normal' food intake. I am not advocating this diet for you but what I want to get across is that you'll lose weight as a result of a LONG term effort. One special occassion will not make a difference. Just make sure that they don't occur very often.

Good luck.

I have to go to a work lunch tomorrow.

My calorie budget for the day is 1620. I won't be able to work-out tomorrow, so my lunch calorie budget would normally be around 400. I took a look at the menu so I could plan. They even have a nutritional breakdown. But, ugh! Even with half portions, I'll be out of my ballpark.

Their nutrition is at: http://www.champps.com/portals/0/menu/pdf/WebsiteNutritionals0411.pdf . What I've got so far is a bowl of Turkey & Rice soup and a side Greek salad for a total of 564 calories.

Anyone who has a minute to look at this see any better options?

Workout a little extra today and the day after. Enjoy yourself, but dont go crazy.

UGH is right! Based on the menu it looks rather daunting to stay with your program but it can be done.
Ask that your food be prepared without added fats. Grilled chicken or tuna /no added butter or oil (watch the portion size), no added salt and do a regular side salad but limit your use of dressing. I would stay away from the ceasar salad. Eating out is all about choices.

Don't be afraid to ask the waiter what options you have. Many eating establishments are willing to be flexible.

If you prefer not to make a big deal of your dietary needs in front of co-workers or a prospective client call ahead and ask about the flexibility of the menu. Take control - dont let the situation or environment control you!

You can do this!! Let me know how you made out!

If I were you, I'd have something tasty and enjoy my work lunch, and not stress about it. I go over for special and important events, and I'm still losing weight.

I'm with misskortney. Enjoy it!
I've loved everything I've eaten at Champps. The Mile High Ice Cream Pie is easily shared with a few others.

you should not be eating over 1000 calories for a single meal

why not?

I personally divide my day into 6 meals. I dont not factor exercise into that.

At the end of the day I have a large excess of calories if I worked out a lot. My dinners are usually over 1000 because I try to eat 50% of my exercise calories.

I have lost 70lbs. I also ask why not?

skip the soup and just eat the salad. eat a banana and apple and some cheese before you go to the lunch so you're not starving. a salad with water or plain tea would be appropriate for lunch. have fun and try not to stress

This is what I do and have done in the past. I usually go to socialize... not eat. lol

UGH don't you hate this predicament!?!?! I have lost 40 and met my goal and still have to deal with this but now i'm allowed a little more calories on maintenance. My first suggestion is do NOT go crazy and put it off as "well it's just one day", that is not going to be maintainable if you put meals as just ONE bad one, it's a lifestyle change so let's fit this meal in. Start with lowering your breakfast cals and dinner cals. Have some egg whites at 17 cals a piece for breakfast that will hold you over and have like 3 of them with one piece of toast (90 calories). For dinner if you can maybe get a 6 inch turkey sandwhich from subway and put all the turkey and cheese (i need cheese) on half the roll and throw the other half out.. that cuts that down to like 200 cals. SO now after like 400 calories look at what you have left. If you don't mind modifying we definitely can work with this menu. Instead of the turkey at dinner, you can have that for lunch. Don't have the chips but also ask for PLAIN turkey sandwich. They won't mind and that should be filling. I always have been picky and they will always make that fancy sandwich plain and it will be tasty and very low in calories. You could get the tuscan turkey wrap and eat just half of it and the other half for dinner... no extras unless it's brocolli. You could get the plain turkey sandwich (no mayo or anything but a slice of cheese and lettuce) and bowl of chicken noodle (194 for the soup, 90 for the bread, about 80 for the cheese, turkey no more than 100) that's over 400 but about 500 and very filling. Sorry about the suggesting of turkey but plain turkey is my go to lean protein because SOOOO low in calories. I hope this helped. If you don't like that let me know and I'll see what else I can come up with. The women at work and I go through this EVERY time we have a lunch meeting at work which is very often!!! UGH I have go to meals at like every restaurant in the city that I work in haha Good luck and don't "cheat" I dont believe in cheating on a diet because a lifestyle sticks and "dieting" doesn't. I never deprive myself but I always make sure it fits in the daily budget. The option of cutting back calories throughout the week to make up for it is a good idea too though. You can do it!!
SW 155.1
GW and CW 115
(5 foot so that's healthy)

I would have a cheat day and enjoy it!

If I were you, I'd have something tasty and enjoy my work lunch, and not stress about it. I go over for special and important events, and I'm still losing weight.

^^ This!

If this is a true "lifestyle change" then you have to ask yourself "Is freaking out any time I might go over calories for the day attainable for the rest of my life." For you the answer may be yes, but for many the answer would be NO! So relax, go, enjoy it and get back to your usual stuff the next day.

So eat less in other meals to allow for the extra calories. Better yet, do what I do every day, start intermittent fasting with a 16 hour fast starting at 8PM and don't start eating until lunch. Then you have to pack all your calories in that 8 hours and a big meal will fit in perfectly.