Oreos are best eaten dunked in milk for me. But I can eat two and stop. I actually kind of like the idea of a thinner cookie. Reminds me of the PF Milano cookies - right Sabaray?!
But heck yeah, bread and butter (or cheese…) for the WIN!!!
We always have a bag of Milanos at the house (mainly for H, but I like one or two on occasion). I’ll eat an occasional Oreo, but we don’t buy them. I met a friend for lunch at Cheesecake Factory yesterday- talk about a huge menu and expensive! I had a flatbread appetizer, a couple of pieces of the wonderful bread and butter, and took a piece of cheesecake home to split with H after dinner. It was worth it.
I like those little Chessmen cookies.
Cheesecake Factory has those little lettuce wrap things - I love those. It’s probably one of those items you think isn’t so bad for you but really is. If it is, please no one tell me.
Sabaray, if you don’t eat the whole thing by yourself, you are OK:
Other web sites says 1030:
http://www.cheesecakefactorynutrition.com/restaurant-nutrition-chart.php?
More than half is carbs (114 grams!) which is counter-intuitive at best for a dish called “chicken lettuce wraps”.
I’m guessing if you avoid the noodles and go light on the sauces, it’s probably 1/3-1/2 of that amount.
Yeah, that’s kind of what I was afraid of. CF is a pretty rare occurrence for us - closest one is two hours from my house so not many opportunities to overindulge.
I am just curious - how many of you run with others or do you prefer running solo? My aggravating ankle is a result of too many miles in a four day time span. I think I need to be better at trusting my instincts about running/training. I just don’t know that running with a group is going to work for me right now - it’s amazing how much people know about training for a marathon even though they’ve never run one!
CF does have lower calorie options now, which is a good addition. We stopped going in Dallas because it was just too much food- even for us.
I honestly prefer running by myself. It’s tough on the long runs, and I did enjoy running with my daughter, but generally I’m better alone. I don’t have to worry about whether I’m too fast, too slow, make too many bathroom stops etc.
Some places give info for dishes without the dressing and the dressing separately, especially if the latter is served on the side (e.g., TJ salads). Their rationale is that some folks might not eat any dressing at all. That can easily explain the calorie difference.
When we go to CF, we often order 1 meal for every 2 people at the table. So if there are 4 of us, we order two meals and then if we are splurging, order 1-2 pieces of cheesecake to share among 4 people. We ask for extra plates and tip well for the opportunity.
My runs are shorter of course, but almost exclusively by myself - wouldn’t want it any other way! Rarely on vacation, I will run with my son.
Restaurant dining can be frustrating. I guess I know if I am going to be eating out, I plan my other meals accordingly. The nutrition info is very frustrating - for me anyway - does the count include dressing? Or not? Include standard sides? Or not? abasket, I like your method.
Ideally I would like to find a partner to train with who is about my speed and headed for a fall marathon. I had hoped that Mr. Sabaray would be in biking shape but he is not even close. On a plus note, I have routes I can run safely solo that will provide plenty of variety and challenge. I cut the run short Monday and got a follow up from one of the other runners asking my plans for the rest of the week - when I advised I was not going to run until my ankle felt better I got a lecture on keeping up my running. I think I’m better served by rest and cross training at this point. I have a good base and this is relatively minor.
I am also a solo runner - for the reasons mentioned in the posts above. 
I do bring Mr. with me for my longer runs, but he bikes in the opposite direction.
Sabaray, a few days of rest is not going to kill your marathon training plans! It is better to let it heal than overtrain and then limp during your race! You and only you can feel the level of pain and discomfort happening in your body, so it is wise to listen to the body than to other runners. That’s my mantra, anyway.
In 2009 when I was quite a bit faster, I enjoyed the Nashville Strider group runs (every other week in marathon training season in spring and fall). There were many times that I was still on the slower end of the group and was by myself, but I could still see people and there were aid stations. A few of the runs I got in with a group and it really did help pass the time. In subsequent years my daughter and I would show up- and we weren’t all that slow- but the runners going long were too fast for us and the ones our pace tended to go much shorter, so we were on our own anyway. It got to where it almost wasn’t worth the effort to show up at wherever they were running.
One of my female running friends who lives in PA (she’s 42 and a good runner) is an EXCELLENT running companion. She truly does not care if your pace is slow and she has the ability to match your pace without “pulling”. She also chats the whole time, which is nice. We’ve done several runs together when I’ve been up in PA. Some runners swear that “you can set the pace” and then they seem to be half a step ahead of you the whole way! It gets annoying.
In more important news- Bunsen, did you see the new “runsie” that has a skirt on the bottom with the shorts underneath? I’m not going to get it, but it looks cute.
Also- I am LOVING my standup/adjustable work station. I think I stand up most of the day, but I like the option of lowering it for meetings in my office or when I just want my butt in the chair for awhile. It’s really a well-designed item.
Oh the Runsie! I saw it. Cute, but I am not getting it either.
I am seeing more and more standing desks around the offices here in my neck of the woods. Glad you like yours and find it helpful! Hope your eye is doing better, too.
I did 3.5 miles on the hotel treadmill yesterday morning. I sure hate treadmills! It appears I’m going to be doing a lot more business travel, so I had better adjust my attitude!
I am definitely in the solo running camp. My (first ever, gulp!) marathon is on November 7.
sabaray-rest definitely seems like the right thing to do now. Who in their right mind would lecture you about keeping up on your running when you are injured?! Your marathon is still 3 1/2 months away - you have plenty of time to train once you are healed.
On restaurant eating–DH and I must be geezers now because we almost always order one entree to split. And sometimes an appetizer to share. It’s just too much food otherwise. But we’ve never gone for the 4:00 early bird special!
It’s hard to pace yourself with someone who isn’t naturally at your speed. When we walk, DH is always so slow, I feel bad pulling ahead but if I didn’t, his pace would keep us to a definite stroll. So I’m the one pulling the leash, as it were. The day he easily walked faster than me I knew I was sicker than I thought. Sure enough–I checked at home and found out I had a fever!
Updating the list of upcomig races created by abasket!
Gertrude - 5K - August 15
BunsenBurner - Marathon - Labor Day weekend
MOfWC - Half Marathon - Middle Half Marathon, October 10
sabaray - Marathon - Marine Corps Marathon October 25th
C3Baker - Marathon (a first!!!) - November 7
MOfWC - Half Marathon - Thunder Roadin Charlotte, November 14
Blankmind - Marathon - February 14, 2016
Yay!!
The best thing about ordering less entrees than people is that you get to take a portion of EACH meal ordered - I’d much rather have three small plates than one big plate of only one item!
treadmill habit now- at least I am doing it- slow but sure- 1.5 hours. no races on the agenda for now. outside evening exercise is out for the next month. because of the way excessive rain here this year- west nile is very high in mosquitos count and we just got our first people case in the county 2 months earlier than usual. indoors just makes sense for now after work. and I do like my netflix habit. weekends give more options.
Went for a run after work. 6 miles - punched the clock. I just drank a couple of ounces of water, and it all started to drip off my forehead!
Now at a loss as to what to make for dinner. Hmmm… Smoked salmon and cucumber salad sound good.