I had an opportunity tonight to have dinner at PF Changs and go dancing with 4 of my most cherished girlfriends and their husbands. Because of the program I'm on, and my challenges with sticking to it at restaurants, I almost decided not to go. PFC is one of my FAVORITE restaurants and I have a history of going overboard there. Add to that, great conversation, laughter and drinky-poos and my resolve could weaken. I wasn't completely wrong but I DID make better choices than I have in the past:
-I brought a baby bowl: I DID eat about 3 bowls of food back to back during the course of the 2 hours we were at the restaurant but it was about half the amount I normally eat.
-I chose brown rice instead of white rice: This was HUGE for me! As a Filipino it's not been uncommon for me to eat white rice with most of my meals. I've never really liked brown rice because of the texture. I knew though that I was more likely to eat less if I didn't have my white rice chaser. What I DID do was add the sauce from the chicken lettuce wraps and it made the brown rice much more enjoyable!
-I ordered ONE entree: My hubby had to work so he met with us after dinner. Since he couldn't eat with us, the plan was for me to get mongolian beef and save at least half so he could still enjoy the food. It also meant I had a limit to what I could eat. PFC has a GREAT deal for $39.99: 2 bowls of soup, one appetizer, 2 entrees and 2 dessert shots. I was SO tempted to do this as thoughts of leftovers and value ran through my head. I ended up spending a little over $20 on one entree and a dessert shot but I also didn't stuff my self solid which was the bigger victory.
-I drank water: I was really tempted to get a plum wine but I knew we were going to Harbour Walk afterwards and didn't want to overindulge. (A good thing because when we got to the Red Door they were making drinks for FREE and I ended up having a decadent and YUMMY butterscotchy dessert drink. Seriously, it was like melted butterscotch ice cream on ice. Despite the total de-li-shee-osity of it, I only had one.)
-I had a dessert shot: If you're tempted to have a dessert at the end of dinner, check if the restaurant has these dessert shots or can make a smaller portion. It was served with a mini spoon and there were at least 5 satisfying little bites, a perfect amount. I had the tiramisu which was WONderful!
-Once we left the restaurant, we went DANCING: Once we got to Red Door, we hung out but my girlfriends and I eventually hit the dance floor and danced for at least an hour! It was a great cardio workout and was SO MUCH FUN! I'm pretty sure I burned the two lettuce wraps I ate.
I never want to be a person who gives up PEOPLE for my program. Had I sat at home and eaten a mango, I would've missed out on the calories but I also would've missed out on a GREAT night of fellowship, laughter, dancing and TOTAL FUN!!! I never want to live with that regret. THANK YOU to Mark, Patrick and Tanya, Jenny and Josh, Cyndi and Jeff and Nikki and Matt for a GREAT NIGHT!! We have to do it again!!! LOVE TO ALL!!!
Meaningful Movement: 30 minutes of stepladder on the treadmill, over an hour of dancing with my girls! woot woot!
Foods that fit in a baby bowl, Day 34:
-mango
-2 eggs scrambled with American cheese, green peppers and green onion
-Lenten fast: Lunch
-At PF Changs:
appetizer: Two chicken lettuce wraps, a crab wonton and a piece of calamari
dinner: brown rice, mongolian beef, 4 pieces of honey chicken and 1 piece of kung pao shrimp
dessert: tiramisu dessert shot
NOTE: Yes, this is what happens when you have very generous friends. Nummers!
-Butterscotchy drink on ice.
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