Tomorrow, I am planning on going to a birthday dinner for my coworker. She likes Chili's so we are headed there. I have come to the conclusion that to be successful in long term weight loss, I need to start planning my meals. I decided to take a look at Chili's menu online, pick out some options and then look at the nutritional facts to decide.
I was completely shocked when I looked at the nutrition information! Even with the lighter choices menu, there really aren't a lot of options available for someone who is trying to eat healthfully. I finally decided on the 6 oz. classic sirloin with steamed broccoli. It has 250 calories, 7 grams of fat and 38 grams of protein. I won' t be able to consume all of it, but it seems like a sensible choice. I decided to check out some of the items I used to eat before surgery. The chicken crispers with honey mustard dressing is 1400 calories! I thought that the spicy grilled shrimp tacos may have been a contender...until I looked at the nutrition facts: 1080 calories, 49g fat and 3570mg sodium!! How is that even possible?? They even have a salad that is 1370 calories! Many of the items are well over 1000 calories. The sodium contents of various items are out of this world! I used to go there and not even think about what I was putting in my body! I never even considered looking at the nutritional information beforehand! With items like this on the menu, it is very easy to eat your entire day's fat and calories in one meal!! I wish we could pass a law that required restaurants to post the calorie amounts next to the menu item. I feel like this would force places like Chili's to reform their menu!
A few months ago, I signed up for My Fitness Pal. I can use it on my phone or through the computer. This app has been a lifesaver! If I'm going out to eat, I can browse the menu and look up the nutritional information in MFP. This helps me make better decisions. My Dr. wants me to consume 75-100 grams of protein a day, so this helps me stay on track. This Thursday is my 6th month appointment at My GBP doctor. Before the appointment, I had to have quite a bit of blood work done so the Doctor can check my vitamin levels to make sure I'm not deficient. For some reason, my veins don't like to cooperate. When I went last Monday to have the blood draw, the nurse had a very difficult time finding a vein and when she did find one, she could only get a few vials of blood before I started feeling dizzy, hot, and tired. The nurse thought they would have enough for the tests so I left. I was at work Wednesday and the Doctor's office called my work. They said my potassium levels were incredibly high and I needed to go to the hospital that day to redraw my blood. I was curious why they would be high so I googled it. Bad idea! High potassium levels can a sign of issues with your kidneys! I was reading about kidney failure and was very afraid! I went to the hospital. The lady had to stick me twice; once in the arm and finally in the hand by my knuckle. I waited all day long to hear back about the results. At about 5 pm, the doctor's office called and said the results were normal. She said sometimes the potassium can leech out of the molecules creating a false positive. Just when I think I was done, I got a call Friday night that they needed me to come back today to draw again. Some of the blood from the first sample had clotted. If you are a hard draw like me, here's a great tip: make sure to drink ample amounts of water before you go to have your blood drawn. I did that this morning, and she had no problem finding a vein and getting multiple vials! I was so thankful! I am finally feeling better this week, so it's back to my normal workout routine again! I can't wait to get back to my schedule. I finally have some energy again!
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