R.I.P. Fast Food

Hello Bloggies! I couldn't wait to blog today. Maybe because I have spent some time organizing things this time around so that it doesn't feel like "a chore" perse. Because I spent a few mins last night getting this together I was soooo tired today. I took a two hour nap and I NEVER take naps…it was good too, lol. Well this blog is about fast food…and our slooooow, painful, heart wrenching divorce.
One of the things that I emphasize in my personal weight loss journey is the refusal to deny myself. That isn't a diet…that is prison. I am finding, especially in the last 2-3 months, that restaurant food just doesn't agree with me. And when I say doesn't agree with me I mean it's ENTIRELY too salty. It's heartbreaking! One of my favorite go-to restaurants was the Olive Garden. That place is sodium suicide. This past weekend I went with my mother as a treat. Whenever I dine out I use my CalorieKing app on my phone as a guide on the best choices. I literally couldn't find ANYTHING that didn't have at least 70 percent of your suggested daily sodium intake in it. I was frustrated, angry and HUNGRY! After further investigation I saw that the pasta e fagioli soup had about 30 percent of your daily value and decided on the unlimited soup and salad lunch offering. Even with that I got the salad dressing on the side because its sodium overkill…1 salad has 64 percent of your daily value!!!!!! Needless to say, even with using the dressing sparingly, by the end of the evening my fingers were tight and my clothes uncomfortable. Almost every time I eat at fast food restaurants this happens to me. The killer is that when I attempted to order something and request it with no salt or prepared in a low sodium manner it was explained to me that it wasn't possible because the sauces and broths are pre-manufactured and basically the cooks are just responsible for pulling the dish together. While I knew this wasn't 5 star cuisines I was getting, I thought the process was a little more intricate than pour premade sauce over prebreaded chicken cutlets and viola! to my table. That's disheartening. The healthiest thing I ordered was my iced tea, no sugar. Needless to say, as hard as it is, I have to break up with the Olive Garden…and it looks like it's on a permanent basis.
Now, I was very cautious not to include ALL fast food restaurants in this because I have gone places and this hasn't happened. The Cracker Barrel for instance NEVER makes me feel that way…unless I get the house salad with bacon, cheese, and salty Italian dressing but then you could say I was asking for it, lol. They're food seems to be prepared in a way where you have more input about what goes in and what you would like to keep out of it. Cooper's Hawk also doesn't make me feel like the Incredible Bloated Hawk. Just be leery of the soups….I tried the cream of mushroom once and my tongue turned to bacon. I usually opt for the Mediterranean salad with grilled salmon or shrimp for a low cal high protein add in. It's amazing and so fresh. I also get the dressing on the side because unless I make it myself, I know it's probably chocked full of preservatives and sugars. Surprisingly The Outback doesn't send my body into overload. I order the hearts of mahi, sauce on the side, and load up on sides of fresh salads with their mustard vinaigrette and steamed veggies. I also rarely order anything other than ice water or soda water with lemon/lime when eating out. It's cost efficient and better for you. If I'm feeling a bit indulgent I'll order plain iced tea and sweeten it with splenda or a soda water mixed with a few splashes of grenadine.
The purpose of this blog is to show you that eating out can be done while losing weight. My personal life is hectic to say the least and lots of times going out for a simple meal is a way for me to relax and socialize with those I might not see often. If I have to sit down and figure out ways to be able to do this and not negate all of the hard work I've put in to losing weight, it's definitely worth it to me. Life is short…we can deny ourselves and not be happy or find a happy medium…with a martini