chili con carne

I'm going for my first meal out tomorrow since starting recovery from anorexia and am very nervous! I have decided the chili con carne will be managable to really tend to overestimate calories.

Does anyone have any idea roughly how many calories are in a restaurant sized portion of chili con carne?

Thanks

This is a 'how long is a piece of string?' question.  There's no real way of knowing unless you stood next to the chef with kitchen scales and a measuring jug...   If you're trying to gain weight as part of the recovery, chalk it up to about 600-700 cals if you have the full portion with all the rice, tortilla chips and any other extra bits and pieces that come with it.  But, most of all, enjoy it.

Thank you, I was counting it as at least 1000 lol so I definatly was over judging it! I will do my best to enjoy it, hopefully it will a step into being able to eat out more often.

I am eating 2500 to gain weight, yes.

Whenever there's a situation like this where I don't know the calorie information, I find it better to UNDERestimate it, since after all, I am trying to gain! I'd probably put at least 500 cals in the log. I think 1000 is a bit much unless you have multiple servings.

But more importantly, enjoy it!!! I can't wait till my parents make chile con carne this season!! It's one of my favorite winter meals. I'll be checking back tomorrow after you've had your meal out! B)

goobyb: You're right, 1000 is probably too high, I will take it down. It crazy ED thoughts cause it should be good if it's high in calories, I am gaining! It's another fear to get over and I'm really looking forward to being like a normal teenager in a restaurant with my friends!

Will let you know how it goes on here :) x

Sooo how'd it go?! I'm anxious to hear! :D (I hope I'm not asking a day early.. Man, time zones confuse me! lol)

I also couldn't help but notice that you posted a new profile pic.. You look awesome!! You've definitely made great progress! :)

My chili con carne-for-lunch restaurant is Wendy's, where a small is 220 calories, and another 60 for crackers.  I'd judge this to be about a cup serving.  And lately it's been 99 cents.

Chili is not a meal to gain weight on.  For that you need a chili mac (spaghetti with chili and cheese topping), which runs about 700 calories a serving at Steak 'n Shake or Skyway.

goobyb: Thanks so much! I've just got back, I was even braver and had a pizza instead! I ate it all but a little bit and am sooo proud! I got a photo of it which I uploaded, my mum cried when she saw it. My first pizza in years :D Thanks so much for the support.

thhq: We don't have chili mac in the UK, but I know our restaurant portions are definatly larger than a cup.

Oh wow!! Pizza huh?! That's fantastic! Pizza can be pretty difficult.. Depending on where you go, it can have a very different caloric content. I saw your pic of the pizza too! (I hope you don't think I'm some sort of stalker, haha). It's pretty big! Congratulations!! You should be really proud of yourself. :-)

Thank you! I am very proud of myself, when I woke up today I had to ask my mum 'did I really eat pizza?'  I don't think your a stalker! It's nice to get support :)

I put the pizza at 800 calories, not sure if that's top high or too low but it's just one day anyway.

You should be proud! Pizza is a major problem food with ED sufferers, and this just shows how well you're beating the ED!! I'd say ~800 cals is a pretty good number. Of course, I'm not sure how many slices you ate, but I have full faith in your judgement. B)

Haha, just checking. I know some people who are quick to accuse you as stalker if you make it obvious that you looked at their profile, pics, etc.

hehe, I just find it nice that people take an interest.

Thanks, I ate about just over 2/3rds of it. I'm saying 800 but I'm not going to dwel on it, I've just gone back to me 2500 today so it won't effect me I'm sure.

It was a problem food for me but it was lovely to feel like the old me again. Eating 2500 has let me feel like I have the freedom to eat any food I want :)

I agree! It probably isn't the best idea to keep thinking about this.. After all, part of recovery is breaking the habit of obsessively counting calories.

Congrats on being consistent with your calories too! Sooo many ED sufferers will have a meal like this and then find some way to compensate later. Kudos to you!

You should feel the freedom to eat what you want.. In fact, everyone should, regardless of whether you're maintaining, gaining, or losing. Food is meant to provide nourishment and be enjoyed, not feared. :)

Another very motivational response thank you :) As always what your saying is so true, I just need to keep hearing or saying it so ED can't twist it.

Thanks, I am trying to take it a day at a time, forgetting about what I ate the last day so it doesn't affect the next day.

Hopefully one day food will be completely just for health and enjoyment! Thats one big reason I want to recover.

You're very welcome Emma! I know, isn't it awful how we have to hear the same thing over and over for reassurance?? I'm the same way. There will be days where I'll need that kind of reassurance too, particularly with body image =/

I actually went out to eat last night with my family, and I didn't even bother logging what I ate even though the calorie info is available on the internet. I'm pretty sure I got over 3000 yesterday anyway, so why take away the fun by looking it up? Other than HUGE feet from all the sodium haha, I don't regret it at all. B)

I'm looking forward to that day too. I used to sit by my friends or brother while they eat and wonder how the heck they can eat the way they do! I'm not that way much anymore, but I still do often think twice about eating something. I nearly always follow through with it, but I don't want to have to rethink everything I eat for the rest of my life.