OK, so I did a search and could not come up with any great results. I am a male, late 40s, and on the doctor index (which I curse when I see it) I am obese. Mind you, I am 5'10", and about 215 lbs, which most people don't think of as obese, but there you have it. I struggle with all of these easy shops that could make me eat way too much food that comes out averaging 1000 calories on one plate. When I first started shopping 10 years ago I would even do QSR, but I avoid them all now, since I worry it will cost me more on the back end then I will benefit from it now.

What are your thoughts? Do you avoid certain types of food shops? Do you limit yourself to just x number of restaurants a month? Do you have a doctor that looks at you with "that" look because you are overweight? Don't have to give numbers, I am not wanting to make anyone uncomfortable, just curious.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/15/2018 07:08PM by oteixeira.

Personally, I work to pick “healthier” options and balance what I eat. Just about every restaurant has options available, but it comes down to will power and a few google searches to check nutrition facts

For example, there’s a quick serve Chinese food shop where I choose the steamed vegetables for my side (80 cals) rather than fried rice (520 cals).

Mystery shopping has actually helped me lose weight. I would be reluctant to pay $9 for a to-go salad, but when it’s being fully reimbursed +pay for a shop... sounds good to me!

@Megs7521 Good point, I should have mentioned I have no will power. LOL

I have no problems tasting burgers and fries (for example) and then throwing them away. I do a lot of Sonic shops because I love the unsweetened iced tea. I don't eat the burgers and tots, I just taste and toss. I struggle with my weight anyway I sure don't need fast food.
Every once in awhile I eat the burger because I'm starving and need lunch but I never eat the tots. You just have to say no.

I treat the food shops as my food splurge, but even so I don't usually eat all of it. I always take home a portion of it and if it is not enough for another meal, I add much healthier ingredients to it for the second meal. I have to say that I do mostly eat clean and healthy at home, so I have no problems with splurging a few times a month.

I tend not to do many restaurants, because I have no will power. One french fry leads to two, which leads to ten, which leads to an empty container :-)

I’ve also wondered how other shoppers handle this... I normally eat very healthy at home so I also use the occasional fast food shop as my splurge and I usually just don’t allow myself to finish it. Sometimes I’m not very hungry and have a shop so I just taste it and bring the leftovers home. I’m not big on leftovers but I have a dog and mini pig as pets and they love any leftovers I bring home!

This is a great topic, thank you for starting it!

I keep my weight in check by portion control. I also do one or two restaurant shops per week. Those meals get spread out over 3 or 4 days.

Five Guys is another story. Ordering a veggie sandwich there is like going to a Vegas cathouse for a handshake. I do this shop once a month. I eat two fries and a bite of my Little Cheeseburger and leave. The greasy bag goes in my trunk. If I mistakenly put it in the passenger seat, the fries will disappear. When I get home, I portion the burger and fries into quarters and hide it under the kale.

I am amazed that people do multiple food shops in one day. It's not just a lot of calories, but sodium as well.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/23/2018 10:04PM by HonnyBrown.

I order the small sized fries and get the medium or large sized diet soda. I figured that I would eat the fries anyway but not go overboard with a medium or large. I usually eat the meals at work but only eat half of the burger during my first 15 min. break then finish off the rest of burger at lunch time. That way, my body has more time to burn off the extra calories instead of eating it all at one sitting. I also bring some fruit to add to my meal so that extra fiber is added.

@KathyG - Your response, it's like we have the same mind! LOL

@HonnyBrown - I own a mini van and an SUV, so no trunk to hide food in. I also have the sodium issue (high blood pressure), so I don't do QSR, as I said. If you research the french fries at most of those places, I think the nutritional info alone would make you throw them out.

@catgrannyof5 - I have diet soda only as a splurge, normally just drink water, so any of these shops, even a diet becomes a splurge to me. As for the fruit, I do that every day as well, have to keep the body working is my thought, and I love fruit, which is a bonus. Now if I could just love all my veggies to the same level, we would be gold.

Thanks for all the great responses! I was worried the weight thing would scare people away but this is exactly what I was wanting to hear. Basically, if you do it, how do you do it, and does it work for you. Have a great day!!

Easy.... As an avid fitness and health addict, I carry a pocket scale with a capacity of 21 oz (1 lb, 6 oz) around at all times.... Seriously. You can even argue this device as a work-related expense, if need-be. Here's the scale I use on the road (~$6-8 on Amazon): [www.amazon.com]

At home or traveling away from home, I use this (~$9-12 on Amazon): [www.amazon.com]

Then I track all calories on a fitness app such as Myfitnesspal (available on both iOS and Android).

While you can rely on many big chain restaurants on their nutrition sizes, you gotta take precautionary measures to verify portion sizes.

Next step, focus on minimizing carbs where you can such as substituting buns, bread, rices, etc. with veggies when possible and allow.

Next, next step, look out for fatty and creamy sauces, dressings and seasonings. For that reason, when allowed, always request sauces on the side if you're unsure.

Next, next, next step, aim for protein-heavy and 'whole' ingredients where you can. In other words, if you can get a whole chicken breast vs. a ground chicken patty, aim for the chicken breast. Not only is it likely to be less processed, it will be easier to estimate the macros and calories.

Final step, don't be shy to ask questions to the server about portion sizes, sauces, etc. Also, I understand if you think it's weird to weigh out your portions in the restaurant during a shop, but I do it any ways. And finally, be consistent and KNOW an estimate of calories you're taking in. If you're gaining weight after a week, say a good pound or three, cut your caloric intake gradually such as 300-500 calories average a day.

Always, always remember, YOU CANNOT OUTWORK A BAD DIET.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/16/2018 02:14PM by Tarantado.

@HonnyBrown wrote:

This is a great topic, thank you for stating it!

I keep my weight in check by portion control. I also do one or two restaurant shops per week. Those meals get spread out over 3 or 4 days.

Five Guys is another story. Ordering a veggie sandwich there is like going to a Vegas cathouse for a handshake. I do this shop once a month. I eat two fries and a bite of my Little Cheeseburger and leave. The greasy bag goes in my trunk. If I mistakenly put it in the passenger seat, the fries will disappear. When I get home, I portion the burger and fries into quarters and hide it under the kale.

I am amazed that people do multiple food shops in one day. It's not just a lot of calories, but sodium as well.

That's the flaw out eating out on food shops is that it will be damn near impossible to estimate the sodium content, which is crucial to good nutrition.

I tend to be a grazer and because I have 2 dogs, there is "tax" on everything I eat. In other words, if I have take out part of it is going to the dogs. If it's a sit down restaurant, my husband will sometimes eat part of my meal.

@Megs7521 wrote:

Personally, I work to pick “healthier” options and balance what I eat. Just about every restaurant has options available, but it comes down to will power and a few google searches to check nutrition facts

For example, there’s a quick serve Chinese food shop where I choose the steamed vegetables for my side (80 cals) rather than fried rice (520 cals).

Mystery shopping has actually helped me lose weight. I would be reluctant to pay $9 for a to-go salad, but when it’s being fully reimbursed +pay for a shop... sounds good to me!

My go-to with that fast food Chinese restaurant if you're talking about the big chain is 'double' Teriyaki chicken with sauce on the side with veggies. Then get an unsweetened and brewed iced tea as my beverage. It's basically a bodybuilder meal and very filling too!

Very true! With excessive calories, you see it on your waistline. Excessive sodium does not show (hence, the silent killer).

I don't have high blood pressure and I'm trying to keep it that way.

@Tarantado wrote:

That's the flaw out eating out on food shops is that it will be damn near impossible to estimate the sodium content, which is crucial to good nutrition.

This method takes a LOT of will power.

@CoffeeQueen wrote:

I have no problems tasting burgers and fries (for example) and then throwing them away. I do a lot of Sonic shops because I love the unsweetened iced tea. I don't eat the burgers and tots, I just taste and toss. I struggle with my weight anyway I sure don't need fast food.
Every once in awhile I eat the burger because I'm starving and need lunch but I never eat the tots. You just have to say no.

Amen @HonnyBrown, once I have have that burger in my hands, stopping becomes one of the hardest things that I can do. This is why I avoid most QSR, especially Five Guys, I have read the nutritional info on them, and that stuff is really bad for my high blood pressure.

Right now those BVA shops are messing with my good eating, I really need to stop them, but they are so easy, and the wife is out of town, so no cooking......oh well, I did order salad from the shop yesterday.

@HonnyBrown wrote:

This method takes a LOT of will power.

@CoffeeQueen wrote:

I have no problems tasting burgers and fries (for example) and then throwing them away. I do a lot of Sonic shops because I love the unsweetened iced tea. I don't eat the burgers and tots, I just taste and toss. I struggle with my weight anyway I sure don't need fast food.
Every once in awhile I eat the burger because I'm starving and need lunch but I never eat the tots. You just have to say no.

When I was going to school for my HIT degree, my pathophysiology teacher (retired urologist) said that high sodium intake is not harmful if you have healthy kidneys. He said it does not cause high blood pressure to eat a lot of salt. He said that over time if your electrolytes get out of whack and you eat a lot of salt for many years it's not a great idea, but the most common cause for hypertension is being overweight (and genetic predisposition).

My shopping consists 80% food, and I do struggle to keep my weight down, however, lately I have gained 6 pds., I think due to lack of going to the gym. For lunch I am a big salad eater, ordering light dressing, and end up taking half home for dinner (sometimes). Calories are now on the menu and that helps. When I have a burger I always gain a pd, so I never eat it for dinner, hoping lunch will have me walking and burning some off.
Fries are a no no, a couple to see if their hot and salted.....dinner can bring Salmon and veggies, you have to be aware of what you eat...I weigh myself daily, if I gain, I watch it the next day. I also drink electrolyte water. I'm not a salt lover, so I never cook or add salt to anything. I won't stop going out, cut out my fun, no way Jose!!



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/18/2018 03:15PM by Irene_L.A..

@oteixeira wrote:

Amen @HonnyBrown, once I have have that burger in my hands, stopping becomes one of the hardest things that I can do. This is why I avoid most QSR, especially Five Guys, I have read the nutritional info on them, and that stuff is really bad for my high blood pressure.

Right now those BVA shops are messing with my good eating, I really need to stop them, but they are so easy, and the wife is out of town, so no cooking......oh well, I did order salad from the shop yesterday.

If anything, you should be eating BETTER with the BVA shops....

Everyday, I get myself 16 oz of steamed chicken and/or shrimp with steamed veggies and rice. Sometimes I get steamed tofu too. No sauce.

The city near me has one pizza shop in all of the BVA options, nothing else, so when I go there, its pizza style food. Not sure other then a salad how to make that healthy. I did one Chinese restaurant in a different town, but ordered steak fried rice, so basically, as badly as I could order....

I wont eat tofu, tried it a couple of times, if living means tofu only, I would rather be gone....sorry, I love my meat to much. I have a freezer full of venison and make great healthy meals with it.

@Tarantado wrote:

If anything, you should be eating BETTER with the BVA shops....

Everyday, I get myself 16 oz of steamed chicken and/or shrimp with steamed veggies and rice. Sometimes I get steamed tofu too. No sauce.

I think tofu is an acquired taste. I buy Costco size packages (containing 4 1-lb boxes). I prepare two at a time, pressing them to remove liquid, cutting into strips, and baking them until they're firm and brown. It makes a great on the run protein for lunch.

@oteixeira wrote:

I wont eat tofu, tried it a couple of times, if living means tofu only, I would rather be gone....sorry, I love my meat to much. I have a freezer full of venison and make great healthy meals with it.

Typically, I am not a bread eater. Then, members described the Five Guys grilled sandwich. I ordered a grilled burger, which is similar to a patty melt, and I loved it. One and only time. It was too good. I now order a burger bowl. Chilled, fresh vegs on the side of a patty over grilled vegs. Have had their fries for so many years, I am over them. I eat less than 10. Don't take leftovers home because they smell up my car, even when placed in a plastic bag, in a cooler. Freddy's is more challenging for me, as their patty melt is on toasted rye. Fortunately for me, these are rarely bonused. Sonic is also rarely bonused in my area. Fine with me, as the starting fee is low. Except, I like their onion rings.

I choose high bonuses and lower calories.

At home I eat a mostly Mediterranean diet, veggies, fruits, nuts. A little meat, usually chicken or fish a couple times a week. Drink water and coffee without sugar added. So when I do a food shop, maybe two in a week, I get to indulge a bit. But I try to avoid soda’s where I can. I know the lemonade and fruit juices in the dispensers has sugar, so I’ll usually water it down. I used to eat fast food daily, but I found limiting my sugar intake not only helped with weight loss, but it curbed my craving for junk foods.

Wait... Just wait a minute.... Are you suggesting that my Jack-in-the-Box routes are not healthy? But..... But.....I was just about to sign up for another 45 shop route for tomorrow.... Should I reconsider?

LOL, you do you! My route would be like 3 of those shops, then an ER shop/visit....

@MFJohnston wrote:

Wait... Just wait a minute.... Are you suggesting that my Jack-in-the-Box routes are not healthy? But..... But.....I was just about to sign up for another 45 shop route for tomorrow.... Should I reconsider?

JAS, please don't give me a reason to eat french fries. They tend to evaporate around me.

@JASFLALMT wrote:

When I was going to school for my HIT degree, my pathophysiology teacher (retired urologist) said that high sodium intake is not harmful if you have healthy kidneys. He said it does not cause high blood pressure to eat a lot of salt. He said that over time if your electrolytes get out of whack and you eat a lot of salt for many years it's not a great idea, but the most common cause for hypertension is being overweight (and genetic predisposition).

@Mert wrote:

I choose high bonuses and lower calories.

^^^ This would be a great sig line!!!

The papa johns and lite caesars is killing me. I had to stop at trash can and get rid if the crazy bread on my way home the other day. I pra tically inhale them I can eat the bag so fast

This is why I keep the Five Guys bag out of arms reach when I am driving home.