Ok so here I am at home and am craving a sandwich. I wanted to know what you guy feel about restraunts and there "healthy alternative" choices they offer? I love me and arbys Roast Turkey Ranch & Bacon Sandwich. How about subway? anything I can eat and still stay within my 1500 calories?

Isn't 1500 a little low to begin with? How tall are you? I always thought the minimum for men-folk was like 2000... I mean, even if you only burn like 400 in calories per work out, that doesn't leave you with much more than prison rations...

But anyhow to answer your questions, subway isn't bad, or get wendys and ask them to hold the mayo and get something besides fries.

Or just "make" that arby sandwhich at home. Get some lean turkey, some turkey bacon, low fat mayo, wheat bread, you're good to go.

I have found that most "Fast Food" should be avoided but you can make good choices if you have to eat at one of them. Like anything with Ranch or Bacon. Not a good choice. Subway is prolly one of the better places to get food. Turkey Breast on Wheat and Veggies is really good. Most places have salads that are good alternatives but stay away from the creamy dressings. That alone will make a healthy meal a non healthy one. Im sure other people on the boards can give ya a few more options as well.

Also I think your 1500 calorie Diet is WAY too low. I figure you should be in the 2500 range at least.

really? I mean I always find it easier to consume no calories than to try and limit them. Wll this site says my reccomended intake be 3020

Im going steady on a 2800 calorie diet, 6' 316 atm. I am also very active now. Running and Weight training. Dont limit yourself the calories. Your body needs them. Its kinda of a strange concept you actually need to eat more to loose the weight. Good Luck

Cool thanx...You run? how far? how long? I dont wanna mess up my knees but I would love to run! I always thought I should be like 200lbs before i could run without hurt myself. lol. That maybe why Im starting to plateu after only 8lbs. speaking of wich what do you do to get over that plateu?

Strict Diet and Cardio/Interval training. I just started to Run since I got the Nike+ kit. seemed like a good idea for those days I dont want to run @ the gym. But basically I was down to 290 about 4 months ago Started close to 400. Then my finance and I purchased a house. What a time sucker that was. I had no time and well let me self go. Gained 30 lbs really fast back due to the lack of exercise but more importantly lack of the correct diet. Last week I got myself back on track and down 4 lbs so im going in the right direction.

Right now im doing 2 miles a day and my knees are ok but im going to start substituting other cardio exercises back in to give my knees a rest. One of my favorites(actually really hated it lol) was the Stair master at the Gym. Man let me tell you that thing makes you work. After 10 mins on that thing you want to die from how hard you work on that thing.

About your Plateau, time to change things up. Make sure you are eating about 5 meals a day 3-4 hours in between. The biggest thing that I made sure that wasnt in my diet was Sugar and White Flour/starches. Cutting them out really helped me. So White Breads, Pastas, White Rice White Potatoes I took out of my diet and substituted Whole Wheat breads, Sweet Potatoes, and Brown Rice.

Hope that gives you some ideas on how to get yourself over that hurdle.

Subway has all their nutritional information online, here. HTH

Yes thank you I got my eat on. I had a 6" wheat ham and turkey with light mayo, green peppers, pickles, lettuce, provalone, and onions. A bag of baked chips and a diet coke. After eating nothing but salads for awhile that sandwhich tasted like heaven. Also since I started this diet I can tell my stomach internally is shrinking woot! I felt satisfied after that.

Just a word of warning. Subway sandwiches tend to be loaded with sodium. So they might not be the greatest for people having to watch their blood pressure (such as myself). That being said if I had to pick between any other fat food and Subway I would stick with Subway.

Avoid Arby's. I find all their meats very much processed and not good for you at all. Homemade sandwiches are way better for you, and you know exactly what's in it!

Don't forget soups. A healthy, home-made soup is just as good for you as salads, and they tend to feel more full and satisfying.

Subway and Wendys' (for the salads, chilis, and baked potatoes, no sour cream nor bacon) are viable options. Don't get the chicken caesar though since caesar dressing is quite fatty. Get a low-fat dressing and you're fine.

If you have vietnamese restaurants in your area, Vietnamese style sandwiches and Ph'o noodles are great alternatives as well.

Since I have started tracking everything and made a conscience effort to eat right I am finding the local (i.e. not chain) restaurants have been a boon to me. So when I am eating out it tends to be Thai or Indian food right now. Not exactly quick unless I order carry out.



I totally agree with Eric here!

Check out the local bakeries, delis too. They are way better than chains for good tasting, wholesome food. I buy all my bread and sandwich meats from them and never looked back.

Be careful with Thai or Indian curry though, as I've seen them made with a lot of oil. Definitely check out Vietnamese restaurants.

One last thing to add is Boston Pizza salads. The spinach and Chipotle chicken salads are very good.

Arby's wouldn't be on my top list of chains that provide low calorie food options, but since you love the food there, here are the official calorie figures for Arby's meals. That Turkey Ranch & Bacon sandwich sounds mighty tasty, but it costs you 834 calories, more than 300 of which are from fat. Ouch!

Most supermarkets make sandwiches at their deli counters too...that way you can get better quality meats and whole grain breads and get the sandwich made exactly the way you want it.

Dude I dont know if you guy's have publixs where you are but they make killer subs.

Here is a site I use as a reference when my husband asks me "where I want to go to dinner" http://www.dwlz.com/restaurants.html

It isn't a complete listing of the menu but it gives you agood start for healthier alternatives.

(I love the smilies)