Do you watch your calories when you eat out?

[eliza61]

Like most people, I try to maintain a healthy weight and eating habits and like most people I probably have fallen off the wagon a time or two (or three) Every once in a while I do love a MckeyD's french fry but I get my fruits & veggies in also.

I just came back from an annoying lunch experience though. Some coworkers and I decided to go to the Cheesecake factory for lunch. We're working 12 hour shifts this months so I guess that was enough justification. Anyway between the 5 of us we split 1 appertizer (onion rings) and we each had a meal.

One of my coworkers spent the entire time saying "Do you know how many calories are in that?" each and every time we ordered. Even the salads met with this exclamation. Ok so by the 5th time we're pretty annoyed.

So the 3 of us ordered various desserts to go, I got the linda's fudge cake. Which of course had "Sue" saying to me. "that's ridiculous, that thing has 1900 calories in it". Which of course led me to say some thing really childish and totally not printable on the dis.

So while I know, no one here would ever do that, I was wondering how calorie conscious are you when you dine out?

 

[Jaime4004]

I probably should be, but I definitely don't. And I certainly wouldn't comment on the calories other people were consuming!
Love the cheesecake factory!! Lucky for me, the closest one is 45mins away so I can't go too often..

 

[mster425]

I would only count my OWN calories, not yours. i go through phases- if I am actively trying to lose weight, I get the sirloin or grilled chicken or whatever, but regardless I am not noticing how many calories are on your plate, except to be jealous. But I certainly know better than to comment! How irritating.

When I am NOT dieting, the last thing I want is some know it all telling me how bad the bloomin onion is. I KNOW, that's why I ordered it, it's delightful.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

Nope. I figure going out to eat is my ticket to splurge.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Not entirely. When I eat out, it's a somewhat guilt free zone. I don't go for the full monty, but I will indulge.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I do, but I am on a calorie-counting diet right now. I've lost 39 pounds as of this morning.

But, the calories are between me and the server or the nutrition card. I would never ask a tablemate how many calories were in something. I do try to plan ahead and go to the website of the restaurant to see if they have their listings there so no one is the wiser.

 

[FireDancer]

I am careful to eat healthy anywhere, including while I am out. I don't literally count the calories or care what anyone else eats but I'll almost always order something healthy. I also make substitutions like get grill vegetables instead of fries or get my entree without the heavy sauces some come with.

I see no reason to let people know how many calories are in anything I'm not eating, why would I care?

 

[AKL_Megs]

Yes and no. I have been sticking to a 1400 calorie diet for a few months, so I do worry, but not to the point of obsession. I pretty much know what I can and can't eat, or I use a calorie app.

 

[Heidict]

Oh, I so wanna know what you said to "Sue"!! I can just imagine what I would have said to her.

Generally, when going out I don't count calories. We cook and eat healthy at home for the most part so going out is an opportunity to enjoy things I normally wouldn't be having.

 

[ccgirl]

I want to know what "Sue" ate herself??

 

[okeydokey]

We go out so infrequently, I do splurge a little. I do happen to like the healthier choices for the most part so it all works out.

 

[Gigi22]

OP, I have probably spent 1/2 my adult life on a diet. If there is one thing I know gets stale fast, it is dieting information of any type. There is a place for dieting information, and it is at a WW meeting. Anywhere else, assume no one is interested! And in a restaurant where there are a lot of yummy desserts--what was your co-worker thinking, unless she was trying to make everyone feel bad?

So, next time your co-workers go to that restaurant, don't invite Miss, "I have to talk about calories now"! (And if I were really annoyed, I would bring her back a boxed green salad with diet salad dressing for lunch and let her know that it is because, "We know how calorie conscious you are!")

 

[traviesojmt]

Unless your calories are going onto my thighs, I am pretty sure I do NOT care what you are eating. LOL I have lost 36 pounds since March 1st of this year by watching my calories. BUT, Saturday nights are my eat-out night and I eat what I want. I don't look up calories or care. One night a week and I still lost the 36 pounds. Now, if I had to eat out other days of the week, I would usually look up nutritional info online beforehand so I would know how many calories I was eating. Having said that, I still didn't share with the rest of the table their calorie count. I think that she was just jealous that the rest of your were eating what she wished she could order.

 

[klacey1]

Nope, never. I tend to eat grilled chicken breast/veggies almost every night for dinner, but when we go out, I splurge! Once or twice a year, I'll get the Outback cheese fries with the Bloomin Onion sauce Talk about calories! Probably 2000 in that dish alone. But again, I eat healthy at home most of the time, so I deserve it!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I don't eat out very often, so when I do, I'm not going to bother with counting calories.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

I don't! I eat what I want, but don't overstuff myself. I figure if I'm out, it's a treat. Your coworker sounds like my mom, who I seriously suspect has an eating disorder.

 

[superme80]

My good friend and I are like that, but we are diet buddies, so its cool. As for your co-worker, I would have said something rude as well. I love Cheesecake Factory and when I go I will indulge. I just take dessert home and indulge where no one can see me! LOL

 

[NikitaZee]

Usually not. I eat healthy at home, and usually eat healthy out as well. But, if I'm ordering something that I know is high calorie or high fat (like fettucine alfredo), I'll only eat half a serving.

 

[MIGrandma]

Most of the time I'm not all that calorie conscious when we eat out, although I'm sure I should be.

But I would certainly never, ever make remarks like your co-worker did. It is none of her business, and I would be peeved with her enough to tell her so.

 

[pigletgirl]

Yes, I try too.