Are you going to eat that?

Last week my Dad had a check up with the oncologist..(which turned out well).  Afterwards, he asked if I wanted to get something to eat.  He wanted pancakes so we went to IHOP.  Once we were seated, our waitress brought us our menus along with their "special menu".  They had 3 new griddle sandwiches and when I saw this one, my immediate thought was, "healthy". Being a vegetarian, I noticed the spinach and roasted red peppers first, which made me think this might be a good sandwich.  However, after I noticed how much cheese was in it, I thought I'd better look up the nutrition facts. 

  

New! Spinach, Roasted Red Pepper & Cheese Griddle Melt

One-of-a-kind. That's this new, hand-crafted breakfast Griddle Melt with sautéed spinach and onion in a fluffy omelette, layered with roasted red peppers and melted Provolone, Parmesan and Pepper Jack cheeses on grilled, sourdough artisan bread. Served with your choice of hash browns, seasoned fries or seasonal fruit.

 

  Well, I almost fell out of my chair.  Check out the stats:

 

1590  Calories    55  Protein  109 Fat  100  Carbs 

Calories from Fat 970  Saturated Fat 43

Trans Fat 2.5  Cholesterol 575  Fiber 9  Sugar 5 (notice they don't tell us sodium content??!!)

 

This is the stats for the sandwich ONLY!!!  So if you get fries or hash browns, you are in for an even deeper shock.  The other two sandwiches are up to 100- 200 calories less than this one and they have ham in them.  Kudos to them for offering fresh fruit but seriously....who needs a sandwich with this many calories??  They do offer half a sandwich for those that don't want a full serving.  Oh Yay, so I can eat 795 calories and still be hungry?!  This does go to show you, just because it is vegetarian, does not mean it is healthy. 

 

Wondering what I ate?  I was really wanting multi- grain pancakes so I settled for one instead of the stack of four.  I eat my pancakes dry.  I'm not a big fan of syrup although I have been known to put peanut butter on my cakes.  That one pancake cost me 247 calories...normally they come in a four stack for 990 calories!!!  And that is without syrup or butter!!!  Gah!!!!!! 

 

 

 

I also had the oatmeal with banana.  This rang up to be 260 calories.  It also came with a huge scoop of butter and brown sugar and milk.  I used just a touch of brown sugar. 

 

 

The waitress kept trying to give me margarine and sugar free syrup and it upsets me that she believes those items are supposed to be good for me??!!  NOT!!  Margarine is horrible for you and what exactly is in that sugar free syrup?  It's not going in this body. 

I escaped with 507 calories vs 1590 calories plus that I could have eaten had I not checked.  Check your stats when you go out to eat my friends.  If you don't have a smart phone, check online before you leave or ask your waiter for the nutrition information. 

If you are trying to lose weight and you tend to eat out a lot...you might be shocked at what you think you are consuming verses what you are consuming. 

Stay educated my friends.

With love,
j

 

Grumpy cat? No, grumpy j.

 

Decide today to not let your circumstances control your attitude. ~ Joyce Meyer Ministries

 

That quote screamed my name when I read it on facebook.  Yep, she was talking to me.  Have you ever felt like your aura has changed?  Or you went to bed as a positive person and woke up a completely different person....I'm grumpy j.  My circumstances are totally controlling my attitude.

 

I know this has a lot to do the fact that I haven't jazzercised in what feels like a year but truly is close to 5 months now.  I did have a two week spot in there that I was able to jazz but my feet gave out and it was time for another surgery.  I was, "in a perfect world", supposed to be able to go back to jazzercise last Wednesday.  However, my feet are not going to let that happen.  I am still in too much pain.  Doc says, I am physically ready whenever my pain is gone but to "listen to my body" before going back to my feet pounding torture  workout.  Listen to my body?!!! That is something we fitness gurus tell our clients...not something we follow.  Pffffff!!!!

 

There are so many circumstances that have changed my attitude in the last year.  Things at work, things at home.....life is hard. 

 

I keep thinking, "at least I don't have a terminal illness", "at least I have food on the table and a roof over my head", "at least, at least...."  I can play that game all day but that doesn't change the fact that

 I. Feel. Grumpy.  Most of the time.

 

When I was 14, I got a job at The Candy Emporium.  Do you remember that store?  It was on Lincolnway, the same block as jazzercise.  It is now a bicycle shop.  The gal that hired me was named Mary Lou.  Mary Lou became sort of a surrogate mother to me.  When I was quiet for too long, she knew something was bothering me.  She would painfully drag it out of me. 

 

In other words...I haven't blogged for a while.....when you have nothing nice to say, you don't say anything at all right?! Hmph! 

 

So I've decided to tell you 10 things that I am thankful for this week....will this make me feel better.  No.  But it looks good on paper.  These are not in any particular order.

 

1. Lunch with my son Cory

2. Yoga class (my feet allowed me to do down dog)

3. Talking with my friend Tammy

4. My four legged babies snuggling with me 

5. Reflexology

6. jazzercise of LaPorte AND New Carlisle

7. Free oil change at Cannons

8. Good nights sleep

9. Coffee

10. Headache free week

 

I've been having headaches almost daily.  My jaw hurts when I wake and I'm sure I am clenching my jaw while sleeping.  I am also having nightly nightmares.  I seem to have them right before I wake up so I remember every detail.  They are disturbing and horrible.  This of course puts me in a great mood to start the day.  It's weird how a dream can feel so real and throw you off for a duration of the day. 

 

Ok, let's move on shall we? Here is something positive.... I got my new outfit from Ellie last week. 

 

Despite the fact that those pants look like they could fit a two year old, the entire outfit is AWESOME!!  Yes, they fit me.  It's called stretch.......lol.  I absolutely LOVE this Ellie.com.  I have not received an outfit that I do not like or that I think was not worth it.  The material on these workout clothes are of the best material. 

 

As you know, I am the worlds worst blogger.  I was supposed to post my foodie pen pal goodies on Feb 28th, but that post never happened.  My biggest apology to my foodie pen pal.  I received this in the mail last month....

 

 

Janet from Michigan sent me these goodies.  The chocolate was delicious! The package in the top right are caramel ginger drops.  They are SO good!!!  I love the trail mix and the granola too!  I have not received a package of goodies I have not liked yet.  It is like getting a Christmas present once a month.  I should be receiving this months package any day.  I will post the results of that package on April 1st.  I promise. 

 

I guess that is enough for my first day back in 5 weeks. 

 

One day at a time.  One day at time.

 

Peace and love,

j