Shock and awwwwww, man! NEVER AGAIN - a lesson learned

bas1955
bas1955 Posts: 29 Member
edited November 9 in Health and Weight Loss
Starting 4th week, 14 lbs down, lots of my family participating in this great program. Sharing a lesson learned in checking before you eat.

Had to do a business lunch meeting yesterday, and figured I'd find something that looked reasonable on the menu at Champps. Rather than check MFP app while with colleagues. I tried to chose based on "lite" verbiage. Big mistake!

Later, shocked and awwwww, man! A "Side Salad" + Bleu Cheese Dressing + "Lite Portion" of Tortellini = how many calories? wait for it, wait for it!!! 1744 Calories, which would take me over 4 HOURS of treadmill to work off!!!! arrgghhhhh. Never again, Champps!

So, today, back to normality! And sharing what may be an obvious lesson to many, to "look before you order" vs. trust the helpful menu. Have a great day!

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Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter
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Replies

  • Tywana
    Tywana Posts: 135 Member
    No worries, it will be o.k. tomorrow is another day..:smile:
  • Kirkajuice
    Kirkajuice Posts: 311 Member
    Yep, I did that, now I look at the nutrition online before I go to the restaurant!
  • IfICanLoseIt
    IfICanLoseIt Posts: 26 Member
    Discovering the things we do that work to sabotage us is part of the journey. Great discovery! Congratulations!
  • violetness
    violetness Posts: 131 Member
    HOLY COW. That is just OUTRAGEOUS. :( Thanks for sharing, I would have thought that would be a decent meal too.
  • missikay1970
    missikay1970 Posts: 588 Member
    TFS. sorry about that! whoa that is crazy and so not worth it!
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,218 Member
    Inconceivable.
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    I've found that, surprisingly, at places like that a hamburger is often the best option. 1/3lb, no cheese, no mayo is only about 600 calories. And order it without fries.
  • stylistchik
    stylistchik Posts: 1,436 Member
    I hate when that happens. It also bums me out when the food isn't even good enough to be worth the calorie splurge. lol
  • MandaJean83
    MandaJean83 Posts: 675 Member
    Wow!!!! Makes me wonder what the "normal portion" contains!
  • CouchSpud
    CouchSpud Posts: 557 Member
    That is beyond crazy. see, here in the UK, there are a lot of restaurants that will show the calories on the menu... wtg I say ^^
  • pucenavel
    pucenavel Posts: 972 Member
    My standby at Champps:

    Turkey burger, no mayo, no cheese, extra tomato
    Fresh fruit for the side

    I think it's about 500
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    As long as you eat below TDEE daily you lose weight.
    If you have been eating below TDEE for a while now and you have a 1700 calorie meal, congratz on discovering the health benefits and metabolism boosting effects of having this kind of meal!
    Enjoy it!

    I stopped eating at Cheesecake Factory because their "lite" version of a sandwich had more sodium and saturated fat than anything ive seen!
    Its a great cheat meal though!

    I love learning these lessons.
  • cloud2011
    cloud2011 Posts: 898 Member
    Thanks for sharing...in a case like that if you don't know but you still want to order, just swapping out the salad dressing for something 0 calorie or low fat would probably save you a fair number of calories.

    Wonder how many people do the same thing...think they're eating "light" when they're not.

    Some restaurants now have the heart healthy menu items, with calories, fat, etc. right in the menu.
  • ImSoPerfectlyFlawed
    ImSoPerfectlyFlawed Posts: 127 Member
    Aww man, that sucks, but its happened to the best of us. You live and you learn
  • bas1955
    bas1955 Posts: 29 Member
    The answer is.........a regular portion is 2292 calories, 153 fat, 142 carb, 92 protein - Can almost hear the body cry in protest!
  • magiale05
    magiale05 Posts: 14
    Totally have been there. I chose what I thought was a "healthy" option from The Green Turtle when I decided on the turkey burger. Over 800 calories! I was shocked.
  • PinkEarthMama
    PinkEarthMama Posts: 987 Member
    But now you KNOW! And KNOWING really is half the battle!
  • RumOne
    RumOne Posts: 266 Member
    I hate when that happens. It also bums me out when the food isn't even good enough to be worth the calorie splurge. lol

    I have found that alot in the past month. :grumble:
  • karen0080
    karen0080 Posts: 64
    Thanks for the great info. I did the same last week at Cracker Barrel when I went out with some friends. They don't even list nutrition info on their website. I'm so afraid of them now.
  • deluda
    deluda Posts: 146 Member
    That's a wake up call!

    I just started checking the calorie count before going out. My favorite sandwich at Corner Bakery (and I only eat half) is less than a chicken salad! Go figure.

    Depressing..actually!
  • LazyDaise
    LazyDaise Posts: 48 Member
    Steak and salad every time!
  • moc585
    moc585 Posts: 1
    That is disappointing...I know how you feel. I have done the same thing. But today is a new day!

    I love when restaurants have low cal menu items that actually live up to low cal.

    For examples, Applebee's has a Under 550 calories menu and it actually is. And the choices are yummy too!

    As another person already posted, I try and check the restaurants website before I go so I go with a plan.

    I sometimes get frustrated that everything has to be so planned out - but its not worth the awful surprise that you blew a bunch of calories, especially when it doesn't seem worth it.:glasses:
  • MaximalLife
    MaximalLife Posts: 2,447 Member
    I don't go out without know the menu first.
    And usually, I make it a "free day", because I am not going to nibble on carrot sticks and soy wafers while everybody else is enjoying fabulous foods. I'd rather just blow it out, eat what I want, then consider it a "free day/cheat day".
    I love my cheat days, or as I prefer to say: "RE-FEED THERAPY"
    I have a weekly day where I eat about twice my daily goal, and a monthly food orgy where I eat like a man going to the electric chair for 24 hours.
    LOVE IT!
    It's nice knowing I am never more than 7 days from eating anything I desire in whatever quantity I want.
    I'd go nuts otherwise.

    I have lost over 70 lbs doing this, so those who say it inhibits progress are clueless. I still get people who want to argue...:laugh:
  • CheleLynn44
    CheleLynn44 Posts: 339 Member
    My mom learned that same lesson when she first started on here. She struggles sometimes with how to find nutrutional values online and will get frustrated easily, but the one time she didn't check ahead of time she got burned just like you did. I was kinda glad it happened to her cause it helped with her stubbornness to learn how to navigate the websites!!

    Isn't it amazing how much some foods we thought were doing us some good are filled with calories and sodium? Since I have addedsidium to mu coir diary man oh man have so many things surprised me!!
  • lmelangley
    lmelangley Posts: 1,039 Member
    Did it myself. I don't remember the full meal calories, but I had a fish sandwich at Friendly's that rang in at 900 calories alone. Lesson learned.
  • jvorrei
    jvorrei Posts: 13
    That is beyond crazy. see, here in the UK, there are a lot of restaurants that will show the calories on the menu... wtg I say ^^

    I need to move to the UK! I find if I check the calorie content first, I'm less likely to eat junk... I think restaurants should be required to list calories for everything on a menu. Might help those of us who want to make good choices.
  • loopybec2002
    loopybec2002 Posts: 313 Member
    Thats wrong! I am goingout tonight and there isn't any calories listed on the website. I am now lorried
  • Kelekat
    Kelekat Posts: 174 Member
    I take my Trader Joe's Champagne Vinegrette dressing with me when I go out to eat....40 calories-2 tablespoons--and delicious. Then I choose a non-fried protein option and a salad. Works every time.
  • Cris725
    Cris725 Posts: 81
    Yep, I did that, now I look at the nutrition online before I go to the restaurant!

    Thats exactly what I do also. If we decide we want to splurge on fast food, I go to the website and decide what I want before I even get there. Things are so deceiving. And I think we've all had to learn that lesson. LOL. :glasses:
  • Zaggytiddies
    Zaggytiddies Posts: 326 Member
    I love Champps and they have Shrimp and white wine sauce over summer squash that is tasty and 550 cals
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