The Battles of Eating Out

Another 1.8 pounds lost this week. I think things are starting to come together again on this. My head's pretty much right during the week. I'm still having problems on the weekends though.

Here's my struggle during the weekend: Eating out. Why is it that the healthier choices on the menu cost more? We went to Olive Garden the other day, and I think the cheapest thing on the menu was the "Never Ending Pasta Bowl." That's just not right. Same thing for grocery stores. The organic produce costs way more than the regular kind.

Eating out is very difficult for me. See if you can follow my intenal dialogue...

Oh, you're going out to eat? Where to?
Probably this place over here.

Why do you want to go to that restaurant?
Most likely because of something on the menu that I like.

Is that menu item a healthy menu item?
Look at me. What do you think?

Is there something else on the menu that would be a better choice?
Yeah, probably.

Why don't you order that?
Because I don't like that. I like the other stuff.

But the other stuff got you where you are today.
What are you saying?

I'm saying that maybe you should try a healthier option. You might like it!
I won't like it.

You might if you try it.
I won't like it. I know me.

Sigh. OK. Well, maybe you could only eat half of the bad stuff. Limit your portions.
Yeah...that's a good idea. It won't work though.

Why not?
Because. If I put my favorite food in front of me, I'm going to eat it. And I'll probably finish off the kids' plates too.

So then we're back to where we were. You should order something healthy.
Order something I don't like, so I'll eat less of it?

Well, no, not exactly. Order something healthy because you might like it and find a new favorite!
But look! I can get a cheeseburger and fries for like 4 bucks! If I get the stupid salad, it'll cost me like 7 bucks!

I see your point.
Thank you.

OK. How about this? Get the kid's sized cheeseburger and then get a side salad instead of the fries?
That might work.

Careful with the salad dressing though.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

And look, they have grilled chicken! You like chicken.
Yeah, chicken's pretty good usually.

So get the grilled chicken sandwich and a salad. Doesn't that sound good?
Yeah, not bad, not bad. And then I have extra calories for the ice cream!

You're killing me here.
What?! It's that low fat frozen yogurt stuff. It's like eating air!

And so it goes. Usually my conscience wins and I eat healthy. But sometimes, my will power falters. I tell myself I deserve it. I've done pretty well all week and I deserve a reward. But really, eating bad food isn't a reward. It may seem like it at the time, but then the guilt and gastro-intestinal pain set in. Not good.

So, I have to find that balance between my cheapness and my desire to be healthy. If I can leave half my plate untouched that is a major victory. But so far, I haven't been able to do that. So I get smaller or healthier items. And I have found some things out there that are good for me that I actually like.

But sometimes you just really want that cheeseburger, you know?

After decades of dieting only to gain it back, two That's Fit readers have decided to finally rethink their relationship with food and exercise over the next year to move toward a lifetime of fulfilling, healthy living. Come by every week as Ashley and Lee share their successes and challenges as they tip the scale.

Ashley has committed to losing substantial weight by her birthday. Find out just how much she's looking to shed by November.