Restaurant Review: Ruby Tuesday

When it was time for my hubby and I to have a date for Father's Day, which included dinner at a restaurant, I was a bit worried.  We went to see a movie and so we were limited to the restaurants close to the theater. Now I was really worried.

The theater is in a complex with McDonalds, Burger King and a Ruby Tuesday. I figured Ruby Tuesday was our best bet and a bit nicer for a Father's Day celebration.

Well, it may just be my new favorite place on earth because of this...

The CHICKEN BELLA.  Grilled chicken topped with artichoke hearts, sauteed mushrooms and garlic parmesan cream sauce.  On the side was grilled asparagus and fresh steamed broccoli.  Total calories: 454.

I could only eat about a third of it so my actual caloric intake was more like 150.  And people, it was delicious!!!

And there's more.  Ruby Tuesdays has many meals like this and every meal on their FIT&TRIM Menu has the calories listed as does every side dish on their menu.  So I counted and their menu has 8 meals which are under 700 calories (including 6 side dishes under 100 calories).  I also know that they offer whole wheat buns with their burgers.

So, if you're looking for a good restaurant with good healthy choices click here to find a Ruby Tuesday near you. 

WEIGHT LOSS TO DATE: 48 lbs.

Dumping Syndrome

First of all...the term "dumping syndrome" is just disgusting. Can't they call it something else?

So today, while running errands, we went out to dinner at Chik-Fil-A.  I got a small bowl of their chicken noodle soup and ate about half. I was almost full and all was well.  Then I ate two small bites of my daughter's chocolate chip cookie.  No bueno.

About 20 minutes later, in Target, it started.  I was sweating, heart racing, extreme abdominal pain.  It was awful.I ran to the ladies room, which was packed with women, waited for a stall and threw up like no body's business.  It was so embarrassing. 

And, just like the Grinch, 'I thought up a lie and I thought it up quick'.  As I emerged from the stall, pale and haggard, all eyes were on me and I apologized and explained that I was pregnant.  

I know, I'm lame.

It took a few hours to feel better and now I have been given a gift. The gift of dumping.  I know now what the cost is of stepping too close to that line.  That even two small bites of a cookie, at this early point, can do me in.  I hope to never experience that again.

Monthly Update: 1

After almost two full weeks with no weight loss (and much crying and frustration) the weight is starting to come of again.

Tomorrow is my one month mark and I have lost 45 pounds.

We are in the midst of a move and as soon as we reach our new place I plan to scout out gyms to join and really begin working out.  Hopefully that will make the recent slump a thing of the past.

Carbs Suck!

I realized the plateau issue.

It was carbs.

I was told by my Doctor I could slowly introduce whole grain carbs. 

I had really minimal amounts, but it's what halted my weight loss.

People, I loooooove carbs.

Sugar/chocolate are okay, but carbs?

I am passionate about bread and pasta and everything else. 

But, this is MY year.

My year to be the me I have always wanted to be.

To reclaim my body and my control.

So I am saying a tearful goodbye to carbs for now.  

Maybe I'll see ya again in 10 months!

plateau no. 1

this week i hit my first plateau.
and it sucked.

a full week and not one pound lost.
not one.
how is this possible?
i used to eat and entire large pepperoni pizza on my own
and now i am eating less than 500 calories each day and
i lost nothing? nothing?

i held out all week, telling myself it would be fine
and not to worry about it,
but yesterday i cried.
it's hard to go through this much work,
emotionally and physically,
and not see the number on the scale drop.

my mind is filled with awful thoughts:
- what if this is it? i lose nothing more than this first 40 pounds?
- what if I fail at this?
- what if I stay fat forever?

WEIGHT LOSS TO DATE: 40 LBS...still.

post-op follow up

apparently, i am a rock star.

i went to my post op follow-up.
the nutritionist (who didn't believe in me) was shocked,
amazed and proud of my progress.
she fired a bunch of questions off...

have you had any dumping?
no.
have you thrown up?
no.
are you constipated?
no.
are you following the diet exactly?
yes.

she was all smiles and congratulations.
i feel good about it if for no other reason than to burn her.

-     -     -     -     -

then on to the surgeon.
he pretty much called me a rock-star of gastric bypass.
he asked about my diet and informed me that another patient (also two weeks out) came in this morning because she was violently ill and when he asked what she had for breakfast she replied, "fried chicken".

fried chicken?  she's crazy!
i can still only eat one half of one scrambled egg!

maybe i am better at this than i thought.