Based on my decision to have a "Treat Meal" or as some prefer to call it, a "cheat", My family and I went to Olive Garden, or after last night I think I prefer, "I'll Live Garden"..

I was sure that after eating less than 1000 calories a day, with zero cheats since the 1st of January, I would never be able to eat a big meal. But I did!

However, before this journey began, when I went to Olive garden, I always got  the dinner size plate of Eggplant parm., which was 4 slices of breaded eggplant, and a larger serving of pasta. I was  good for 2 or 3 breadsticks, and I always had at least 2 heaping servings of salad with their dressing...GAWD I love their dressing!

Last night I had the "Lunch size" portion, (2 slices of eggplant and about a measuring cup of pasta), 1 breadstick, and I had 2 plates of salad, but avoided the black olives, and only ate about 5 croutons, the old me would ask for extra croutons, dig them out, and then ask for more....."Would you like a little salad with your croutons, dear"? <<<<<Yep that was me. :)

However, I have never had desert at Olive Garden! Yes, believe it or not, I said never! Oh I've had a bite or even half of someone elses, but I was always to full to order my own.

Last night I noticed they had these tiny little cups of different deserts. They were probably the size of about 3/4's of a measuring cup. I was definitely full, but I decided that I was not going to skip desert when I didn't know how long it would be before another splurge.<<<I have since decided, it's not going to be that long...lol.....I'll tell you why in a minute.

Anywho... I had visited the website before we left, to get an idea on calorie content of the eggplant parm, and I had noticed that the Tiramisu was the lowest of the regular deserts in calories, I had never checked their website before, and the reason I even looked at that particular desert was because it was the only one my former best friend would order. (The former, is a whole different, and what will be a difficult blog to write). So, anyway I got the little mini Tiramisu. It was just the  right size, and delish! BUT...................................................................

By the time we got home I felt like crap! Not guilty, or afraid I had ruined everything, and wouldn't be able to get back on the diet. No, just physically like crap! Bloated and just plain ICKY! I was actually wondering as my stomach thumped, and my mouth watered, "would I live"?

When we got home I pretended to enjoy playing "Dino rescue" with my 3 yr old grand-daughter for as long as I could, She kept asking, "do you sick, Grammy"? Can't get nothin past her! As soon as she went to bed, I literally ran to the elliptical, I couldn't sit still, kinda like when you've had to much to drink, and you just know if you don't get up and move around you are going to toss you cookies. Yes it was that bad! After 10 minutes on the elliptical I filled my water bottle, and decided that the worst of it had passed. Thank God.

This morning I got up and weighed myself, I know, I know, but I just had to see the damages. I lost 1/2 a pound. :)  And thats when I decided that I will be doing the "treat meal" more often than once every 26 days!

BUT it won't be that much food again!  Next time I will shoot for higher calorie, but less filling food. maybe instead of a 3 course meal and desert, it will be just 2 slices of pizza and desert, Or a  burger with  fries...can ya tell I am planning already?

Today was great though, I had no issue what-so-ever getting back in the swing. 

I had fruit and some millet for breakfast, some farmers cheese and a couple potatoe chips fried in Olive oil for lunch, (Not the greatest lunch, but got busy and then didn't have time to make anything), and two 4 ounce home-made turkey burgers for dinner! Lot's of water and  my normal 7:30PM  snack of one serving of dark chocolate, did all my exercises, stayed under 1000 calories, and it's business as usual! YAY!

I wasn't too worried about getting back on track, it was like swearing off drinking after a night with your head in the toilet, Not that difficult to do!

When I started this New Plan, New Life Journey, four weeks ago, I noticed that the first 10 LBS of my weightloss came off in the first 12 days, the next 5 pounds took almost as long, so I am going to pay very close attention to the weight loss over the next two weeks, and when the weight loss begins to slow down, and then bounce up and down by 1 pound, like it has this past week, I will know it's time to have my "treat meal" again, and continue to gage when to have my treats according to the scale. Well that's the "new" plan...for now.

Have a good night....OH and by the way, if you don't understand the reason for this blog about Olive Garden, and you are saying..."so she ate at Olive Garden, what's the big deal"? If you scroll down and read some of my previous posts, it will all make sense. :)

Beth Ann