Tuesday, November 6th, 2007...3:25 pm
Even More Paring Down at Noodles & Company
From the very beginning of my journey from fat to fit I knew in my heart I could be successful without any special diet other than making slow and steady reductions in what I was already eating. Portion size and other aspect of moderation were going to be key.
As I wrote in Paring Down at Noodles & Company, only a few short months ago this was a typical meal for me at Noodles:
- Large Indonesian Peanut Saute with Chicken (1000 calories)
- Cucumber Tomato side salad (120) or Potstickers (490)
- Flat bread (210)
- Stuart’s Orange & Cream soda (170)
- Large cookie (490)
A meal that clocked in between 2000 and 2400 calories. This would often be for lunch too, not even my primary meal of the day.
Back in September when I wrote the original Noodles post I said I had worked my way down to the following:
- Small Indonesian Peanut Saute with Chicken (510 calories)
- Small tossed side salad (60)
- Glass of water
And here is where I am at today:
- Large Thai Curry Soup with Chicken, no noodles & extra vegetables (390 calories)
- Glass of water
- Stick of sugar-free chewing gum
The next time I eat there I am going to go for the small size, and that will pare that meal down about as far as I can. We'll just have to see if it is enough for me. I suspect that if it isn't now, that it will be once I lose more weight. I am learning how good it feels to not be stuffed to the gills after a meal, like I used to be when I ate at Noodles. Just compare this meal with what I used to eat there! What I really like about having this bowl of soup for a meal is that it is so flavorful and fresh tasting. Absolutely does not feel like I am on a diet when I am savoring it.
I am just at the beginning of my journey and time will tell if this strategy is sustainable, but certainly for the time being a key element of my weight loss program is to take normal meals as I regularly eat them and optimize the hell out of them by making slow and steady reductions.
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6 Comments
November 7th, 2007 at 9:15 am
I started at about the same weight as you, John, and I was amazed at how much less I am able to eat and feel satisfied. I've learned a lot about myself in the process of losing my weight, and it looks like you are as well.
Keep up the great work!
November 7th, 2007 at 11:12 am
I think its great how much our tastes change the longer we do this. I was planning Thanksgiving dinner and so much of the heavy food just won't be served this year, bring on the veggies! That soup looks really good, now I want to try to make some at home!
November 7th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
Sounds like you've got a recipe for success for yourself there with your portion control. This is the same topic I was just talking to a someone else about who regularly eats 3 large, separate helpings (in the same meal), and is quite overweight. If he would just cut back and go back for only seconds instead of thirds, he would lose weight. However, he doesn't want to reduce his portions, much less his helpings.
Not much you can do about that, the person has to want to change, just like you obviously want to make the changes that you're making. Great job!
November 8th, 2007 at 10:34 am
I love seeing a dieter who knows healthy choices will work all on their own! Good job on your switches.
June 28th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
[...] how I was optimizing the meals I was eating at restaurants. For example, I wrote about how I had changed my standard meal at Noodles from 2400 calories down to 390. How I had gone from two bagels down to one. This meal optimization [...]
September 5th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
[...] used to eating and optimizing them to find the perfect portion sizes that still satisfy me. See Even More Paring Down at Noodles & Company as an [...]
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