31 days of no eating out
Well, you read it here first ladies & gentlemen! The time has
come for Carlos and I to tighten up a little, re-analyze what we think is important in our budget and make some changes. You see, we are trying to get to Italy in October so we've got some saving to do! (Carlos' niece who lives in Italy is getting married. And yes, I'm totally bouncing off the walls excited about it!)As we were looking at our spending habits, and we realized we eat out A LOT. And by a lot, I mean I am one expensive date! Lately, when we've been going out we rarely spend under $50. Doing that 4-6 times a month sure adds up!
So, there ya have it. For the entire month of January, no eating out. There are a few tiny exceptions though
- New Years Eve Dinner. We have dinner reservations at a new restaurant called Samba - it's Brazilian and I can't wait!
- Carlos may occasionally grab something during the day. He is a sales rep and since he is running around from appt to appt, its hard for him to not eat out if he's at a client or doing lunch with his boss. For the past year, I've packed him some sandwiches so him going out to eat during the day isn't a huge concern.
- My sister's birthday. My little sister, Alicia's birthday is on January 31st. If we as a family decide to get together before her birthday well, we aren't willing to say no to that!
Anyone wanna do this
31 day challenge with me?
31 day challenge with me?
More PB Talk
So many of you had great alternatives & options for peanut butter including natural peanut butter, almond peanut butter and even powdered peanut butter.
Here's my thinking though - I agree that finding an alternative should be considered an option but at some point, I'm going to have to face my Peanut Butter Demon because lets face it, I can't go my entire life without eating the real stuff. Facing Demon Day was yesterday.
Today, well - I've decided that 2 pieces of peanut butter toast plus the eggs is just too much of a breakfast for me. (It's like 450+ calories!) I would rather eat one of each and then have a mid-morning snack. So today, I'm having one piece of peanut butter toast and one hard boiled egg.
Tell me, what does your well-balanced breakfast look like.
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47 comments:
About the PB... the calories scare me too.
I have the all natural kind that you keep in the Fridge. Frankly it doesn't' taste like PB it taste like peanuts. And it's says no salt added but my gosh, I can taste the salt. I really dont' know what to do about the PB for me.
I am in, but probably won't start until Monday since I traveling out of town all weekend. Great idea!
Oh I love the challenge and will join with you! The only exceptions I'll make is celebration dinners (we're taking a friend out Jan 7 to celebrate a new job). No eating out!!!
I'll be at your sister's for New Years this year (I think...). Have a great New Year!!
Blessings, andrea
I'm in! What a great challenge idea :-)
I am so with you on the eating out challenge. :) Great idea. We usually go out to eat once a week on the weekends. But, I buy food every day just about from our cafeteria and that needs to stop! Starting 1/4, I am with you.
If the challenge was to eat out as much as you want for 31 days well then, I'd be in. Just kidding. We already hardly ever eat out. In fact sometimes we only get takeout once in a month. I find it hard to eat the way we should unless I actually suck it up and plan meals and cook. I don't know how people who eat out all the time manage their weight, I really don't.
Woohoo for Italy!
Almond butter is yummy, but its nothing like Peanut Butter, its just another spread, and has the same amount of calories, if you prefer Peanut butter, I see no advantage in Almond butter.
Sounds like you have a great vacation ahead of you, well worth not eating out!
a banana and/or a couple of clementines (while they're in season) and oatmeal a little later. the high-fiber quaker oatmeal has 10 grams of fiber!!!!
I'm afraid that I'd be a total sham if I said I'd do this challenge, because we MIGHT eat out together once every 6 months. Since Rick works a rotating 3PM-1AM shift, he likes to have a home-cooked meal on the nights when he is able to be home with me. SO...it'd be really easy for me. Also, I don't really like eating out anyway, luckily for me and my boojay!
As far as peanut butter, I'm all for sticking with what you *like*. If you *like* standard peanut butter, then eat it for pete's sake (whoever pete is).
Did you ever consider not counting your calories for a week (like even mentally in your head)? Rather than being concerned that 2 pieces of PB toast and 2 eggs has 450 calories, focus on whether you **feel** full after two pieces, or if after one piece of toast you **feel** full (like in your belly full...not that other emotional full). Feelings, feelings...always about the feelings.
After I was in treatment for a while, I realized that when I was hard-core "dieting" (yuck, hate that word), I was distracting all of my feelings with the entire process of food. I'm not just talking about eating...thinking, analyzing, counting, and obsessing...all of that stuff takes a lot of time, and all of that time that I was devoting to the process of food was distracting me from all of my feelings. Food was a way to keep me from thinking about anything else. Food (in a very general, all-encompassing sense) was my procrastination, distraction, hobby, part-time job.
These days, meals are more of a "will I be full with this much? Ok, I'll try and see". For instance, at breakfast, I'll always start with one piece of PB toast. If I eat it (with fruit or eggs or whathaveyou), wait like 5-10 minutes, and then find that I'm still hungry, I have another piece/serving. I very rarely need to have another, as long as I have been keeping myself properly fueled in the time leading up to that meal (yes, that does matter for me). I also rarely need a mid-morning snack, but I'd have one if I felt my hunger cues.
It all depends on how I **feel** =)
and p.s...I still overeat sometimes, but I know that it has to do with things that I did or didn't eat previous. Personally, my hunger works on a continuum. If I don't answer my body's cravings by giving it what it wants, things start to go haywire. This doesn't mean eat a cheeseburger everyday (err...I don't eat meat), but it does mean that if I'm craving a cheeseburger, I probably need more protein in my life, or a healthy comfort food.
Gosh. I should rather just start emailing you these ridiculous books of mine. lol.
In regards to PB, I use the Skippy natural but I only use less than a TBSP. I love it but I know I can only have a little bit.
My breakfast thing-some steel cut oatmeal, agave nectar with almond milk! Warms my tummy up on a cold morning.
I think the 31 days of no eating out is a great challenge. DH & I did that during the summer and it worked out great (and we learned to love our bbq).
the only day would be a challenge is DH's bday on the 13th!!
I did the EXACT same thing last January with my husband. It was hard, but something that made it easier was getting close friends in on the deal with us. We started a rotating potluck, so every Tuesday someone would host and provide the main course and everyone else would bring the sides. It was so much fun and we had great, healthy food. We all loved it so much that we continued throughout the spring. A plan like this definitely can help make it more successful. Good luck and keep us updated!
We've looked at ways to cut down in January as well. We don't eat out too much, actually - or at least when we do it is pretty inexpensive because we tend to split meals.
We did decide that coffee out during January can only happen when we have rewards cards - so no money out of pocket.
I read somewhere that people who eat a meal out consume 250? 300? (can't remember exactly) more calories than when they prepare food at home. I knew that, intellectually, but there it was in print! So that's a huge motivator, in addition to saving $. Realistically, I'm shooting for cooking dinner four nights out of seven. Between my dislike of cooking, and my husband's dislike of my healthy recipes, it becomes a challenge not to ditch my plan for a healthy meal and head for the restaurant. I hope to prevail this year!
Count me in for the challenge! It's been 2 1/2 weeks with no eating out yet. I think it's best I get used to "real" portions and good food before I venture back out to the "real world" anyways.
Eh, whats another 31 days anyways? *gulp*
;)
Juliajewliagoulia.blogspot.com
I'm SO in!!! Starting January 1st! I have a brunch to attend on the 9th, but that's already paid for.
Great idea for the not eating out! I've got a wedding to save for, so I really need to sit back and take a look at my budget! I'll join in, starting today!
I think I am an almond butter convert. I like it more then PB. I also have a good stock on hand of PB2 and Chocolate PB2. PB2 is obviously realllly healthy - there is hardly any fat or fat calories in it, but it's not the same. I do use it in cooking for stuff like peanut sauces or Thai pizzas. I have almond butter in my oatmeal often and just weigh out my serving and enjoy it. It is easy to overestimate a serving with PB though!
Good challenge, but I'm traveling too much to make it a reality.
I agree with joggerslife - focus on how you feel. It's hard to get over counting when you've been doing it for so long, but you really need to start trusting your body more.
I actually, thankfully, don't eat out all that often. But I'm rooting for you.
I eat the same thing for breakfast every single day (I'm like a dog): a smoothie. My smoothie consists of 1 cup of soy milk, 2 cups of various frozen fruit, 1/2 bag of spinach (I know it sounds gross but you can't taste it, I swear), cinnamon and FRS powder stuff. I used to add protein powder but it's got a lot of calories. At some point I'll probably add it back in.
We rarely eat out, but I'll be rooting for you. We do, however, spend hundreds at the grocery store so same diff - except that I have to do the work too. My challenge is to work through the pantry and have less on hand. Our fridge looks like we're a family of 6 when we're a family of 2!
Good job on facing the PB! I'm still a firm believer that it's less of a "problem" without the sugar.
Neat! I just found out about your challenge from Katy of Silly Tater Tot. I'm having the SAME challenge on my blog, except I called mine "Eat in Month Challenge"! Great minds think alike! I'll be eating in right with ya! :)
I am in for the no eating out challenge!! I rarely eat out anymore without an allergic reaction to something in the food, I just need to bite the bullet and give it up totally!!! It takes planning and work, but its definitely doable. We can do this!!
oh yeah..the breakfast...bah I'm horrible. I need an eat a normal breakfast challenge!! I seriously just grab pieces of meat out of the fridge and eat them cold or have a banana or a couple of bites of the kids cereal.
We follow Dave Ramsey...and only pay cash. We have found (hubby, me, 5 year old, 2 year old) that we can eat MANY places out for less than $20. Many times $15. We drink water and share entrees with the boys....we commit to eating out no more than once a week, and only if there is enough cash left in the till. I take cash each Friday...so if there is anything left from the previous week, that is all we can spend.
Good Luck!
P.S. Got the Beck book on my bedside table...going to get going on the 50 pages, can't wait for the discussions!
Oh! For breakfast I have 1 of 3 things...
cream of wheat (skim milk, bit of brown sugar)
oatmeal (with a BIT of brown sugar, walnuts/craisins)
Arnold Thin or Tortilla...egg/ham/2% cheese.
I hardly ever eat out anymore because I enjoy cooking my own food a lot more. Morever, you never know for sure how many calories there are in dishes prepared by someone else. I think the challenge sounds great.
My new fav breakfast (if you can get over the consistency): cottage cheese, cinnamon, 1/2 tsp splenda and fiber one yogurt. Top it with fiber one or go lean crunch and it really gets me through the morning.
I'm also a fan of the breakfast cookie: oats, pb, coconut, almonds, fiber one, add other things as necessary. Mix and freeze, eat once at work. So good!
I would love to do the challenge but living in Germany I only eat out 2 times a month any but it will be interesting to see how much you save.
I'm in! What a great idea for a challenge! I'm going to focus on myself for all meals and dinner as a family...my husband may eat out a couple of times a work due to his work schedule. I'm excited to make January a home-cooked month!
You are probably tired of hearing what I eat for breakfast, but it is a homemade protein fruit smoothie, averaging about 300-350 calories, made with a banana, frozen berries, a couple frozen strawberries, some fat free lactose free milk and a full scoop of Optimum Nutrition 100% whey protein powder in vanilla ice cream flavor. 1 scoop of protein powder has 24 grams of protein, 1-2 grams of fat, and 100+ calories (100 something but in the low 100s). Oh, and all this in a 24oz glass of yumminess that I take with me to work every morning.
And, you know my pick for PB....PB2 all the way!!! Oh and the chocolate PB2....soooooo goooood!
Count me in on the challenge! Eating out is one of our biggest problems!
I just found your blog today! It is inspiring!
~Kellie
My breakfast is a cup of coffee and your blog :)
The healthiest and fave thing around!
Hey, stop auto send me emails. I want a real email!
I will totally take on this challenge with you!! I even asked my husband to go along in his own modified version. I think his will be the kick in the pants that will help my Weight Watching efforts.
Jae
We go out alot too. At least once a week, and its not so much the cost of food, its more so the odd glass of wine attached that ramps up the price to the insane! I am trying to take my lunch to work 4/5 days and then making a healthy choice on the one day that I do eat out.
My breakfast is 45g rolled oats, 1/4 cup of organic whole milk, 1/4 cup water, 1 tsp of raw sugar and 1 tbs of greek yoghut. Yum!
lutely do this challenge but from january-feb 7th as I'm not back at home from my overseas holiday until then so it's not really possible not to eat out! but i am DEFINITELY excited about this. Eating out is a big downfall calorie wise for me. i'm even considering no eating out until goal weight! but i think that might be asking a bit much
SO SO Jealous that you and Carlos are going to Italy especially where you will know some one. I would live on ramon noodles for the month of Jan to go. Some day Joe and I will make it there...hopefully before we need a cane (just kidding.) It is always good to reset and not eating out is a a great way to save money and calories. We went out (just Joe and I) last night to a nice restaurant here in NY and $120 later we walked out to full and having spent to much but we had a fabulous time (lobster and steak brushetta, lobster mashed potaties, filet mignon yes we did indulge.) Okay happy new year and catch you later.
its kinda funny that you mention that your breakfast yesterday of two hard-boiled eggs and PB toast was a lot - I remember reading your post and thinking, thats a heavy breakfast.. But everyone is diferent, and maybe the trainers/people who gave you that advice eat their bigger meal earlier in the day. I would love to join your 31 days of not eating out, but I have to wait until Jan 10th - because thats when we come back from vacation! best of luck!!!!
I am in to the no eating out, we don't usually do a ton so shouldn't be too hard, we are moving though and will have the house packed up for a couple days...so there will be 2 days that we will have to figure out something easy for dinners so we don't have to go out!
YES! I will do the 31-day challenge with you :) In terms of breakfast - I only rotate between a couple of different things:
1 scrambled egg or egg substitute wrapped up in a carb balance small tortilla with salsa and a tiny bit of fresh shredded cheese (I never do pre-shred anymore); same egg, but with a piece of whole wheat toast with lo-fat butter that has canola oil (only 50 cal and 0 trans fat - it's land o'lakes brand; OR protein smoothie with fresh fruit (currently doing pineapple & banana) - no milk, sometimes a small bit of vanilla yogurt.
One way or the other, I HAVE to have some protein in the morning mixed with a carb - let's me stay full longer. :) Jen
PS - your blog has helped keep me motivated and I've started my own weight-loss journey & blog. The eating is hard for me - I LOVE to workout - but my waist is receding and that's the important thing :)
Hey Jen! I definitely on this with ya. My husband and I never took our honeymoon to Toyko and I need to be there by April 2011. I also have some bills Id like to pay off. So I am going to commit to not eating out, packing our lunches and cooking dinner at home. We have date night once a week but who says date night has to be going out spending money...HELLO BOARDGAMES. We also cut our cable down to basic...its 13 bucks verses 50. Im serious...as you can see! Good luck in January!
This is a great idea! I am going to talk it over with the hubs and see if he's up for it. It will definitely be a challenge!
I have joined your 31 day challenge and I linked back from my blog. I hope that is ok!
I've mentioned before that I am PB fanantic! My favorite "must-eat-every-morning-can't-wake-to-wake-up-to" breakfast is:
a toasted Thomas Light Multi-Grain English Muffin, smeared with 1tbsp Peanut Butter & Co Cinnamon Raisin Swirl PB, topped with sliced small banana....yummy yummy yummy! (and all for about 270 calories!)
I am totally on the same boat as you with the eating out. I'm cutting back so that I only eat out 5 times this and next month (saying I won't eat out at all is something most likely not going to happen!). But I'm hoping it helps the checkbook too! But since I work downtown, I have to count lunches out as a default! Otherwise I'd still have the excuse to go every day! Good luck!
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