Uh oh...cheesecake alert

So I am going to the cheesecake factory next week. But I want to stick to my diet. I eat 1200-1400 calories a day, and I was wondering what to do.

By the way, did you know Cheesecake factory refuses to report nutritional information????? I was shocked when I found out. In this day and age...

Anyways, I was thinking I would get the Thai Lettuce Wraps. I won't touch any of the sauces or anything, but I was wondering how much I should log for the satay chicken? And does anyone have any other suggestions from their menu?

Also another BIG question...should I get a piece of cheesecake (ah! the calories!), IF I try and fit it into my calorie budget?

And lastly...I know my friends will tease me for getting the Lettuce wraps, or not getting any cheesecake for dessert.  Any good responses for trying to defend my diet?

They have weight management salads that are 600 calories each (less if you don't get the nuts and other things that come on them(.

As for the cheesecake...You;d have to fast all day in order to fit it in you 1200 calories diet.  But I say call it a maintenance day and have the cheesecake.  I piece of cheesecake won't kill your diet if you're good the majority of the time.

Original Post by theswissmiss:

Any good responses for trying to defend my diet?

If it fits in your calorie budget, go ahead and order the cheesecake and enjoy it without guilt.  Go light the rest of the day, but still enough to get nutrients in.  You could also exercise for an extra 10 minutes to offset.

I see that they have some selections called "weight management salads" that sound pretty good (particularly the spicy chicken) - I may have to specifically go now to try it out...

As for your friends, either shake it off and ignore them, or just tell them that hey, the lettuce wraps sound good and you're in the mood for them.   You don't need to defend it - it's just another menu item.  Or just tell them that you're not as comfortable in stuffing yourself silly, but they're welcome to go for it.

My friend (who is also an exercise/fitness guru) and I just had this discussion and he says that part of "dieting" is learning to live again. He suggested that I eat something I like versus something I think I have to eat. There is a big difference on how it affects you mentally. If you deny yourself simple pleasures then somewhere along the way you will fail or binge. I was frantic about going to Chili's. Billy and I went over their menu and I wanted the steak stir fry dish but was going to settle for a salad. He said that in the long run I have to like my life and if I don't like my life I will fail at being healthy. So that nite I had my steak dish and was happier than happy.

I did gain like 2lbs of water weight due to the sodium but I drank extra water and it went away in a few days.

I would consider eating in moderation a main course you want and then have a few bites of cheesecake and send the rest away or if you want eat the whole piece, not as if their portions are huge.

Remember whatever you do, do it in moderation.

Like someone else said, they do have some salad options that are light, and hey! Splenda cheesecake!  I totally blew my diet there last week. I hope you have more willpower than I do.  Appetizers killed it.  I hate lunches out at work

I agree with pmg, you've gotta like your life and the choices you make.

Try splitting a slice of cheesecake with a friend, maybe? And maybe don't go for the Snickers one or something loaded with additional sugar; I find their "plain" cheesecakes to be better than the ones they load with goodies (too sweet); too bad it's not fall or you could have the pumpkin cheesecake - yummmm! And if you don't finish the slice, there's no law that says you have to take it home with you. ;)

Im new - but one thing I can tell you is if you have the cheesecake (which I think you should, if you want it), make sure you scrape all that ridiculous whipped cream off the top!  That has to be a huge portion of the calories/fat.

hmm...i was thinking about it, that maybe I should choose what I want to eat, rather than what I should...but I think I will feel guilty about it afterwards.

As to the Weight Management salads - 43 grams of fat! A piece! I couldn't believe it, I might as well get a steak :p

Original Post by theswissmiss:

by the way, did you know Cheesecake factory refuses to report nutritional information????? I was shocked when I found out. In this day and age...

Probably because if people knew how many cals were in one piece, they wouldn't order the cheesecake! Seriously, those pieces are BIG and oooh, yah, good! I agree with the others: eat what you want and order the cake. Such a splurge once in a blue moon won't make any difference and you can save the self-control when you are not at a place known for its desserts! (I don't particularly like their food, so I'd scrimp there, eat about 1/2 my order at most, and enjoy the cheesecake.)

cheesecake is my favorite soooo, I would skip everything and just eat a piece of cheesecake! Not the smartest decision but I don't go out often at all and I've never been to the cheesecake factory. I absolutely can't stand when I try to get a low calorie dinner when I eat out and end up hating it, then not saving up for dessert. I would just eat the cheesecake and not regret a thing! Have fun!!!

aww thanks guys...i am starting to think you're right. i havent had anything sweet in a very long time.

i know for a fact that a whole piece of cheesecake (I've seen the nutrition value on a box from the CF and i hate cheesecake but I love carrot cake which is only 200 cals less at the CF) is around 1,400-1,600 calories. I myself can survive with 1/3-1/4 a piece of carrot cake however and that's only about 500. Make it a maintenance/cheat day. Don't overdo it completely, but order what you want, just don't eat too much of it! Ask them to bag half of it before they bring it you will be surprised with how much food is there. Last time I went there I split a salad with a friend and it was still huge. I can't believe the salads are 600....if I want to eat 600 calories I'm going to do better than that. Like hot wings or something...haha well have fun!

Maybe you could split a cheesecake slice with one of your friends?  You could also use the excuse of not spending too much money to explain why you dont' want the entire thing - cheesecake factory cheesecake is so expensive anyway.

Are you a seasoned dieter or is this your first time? 

A huge event like this might be the end of your diet because it will be easier to have a portion of cake that equals more than your allowed daily intake next time.

After the cheesecake, it will be harder to go back to eating rice cakes again.  Trust me.  I have been there many times.  Once I was sugar free for 6 months, then one day someone offered me a mini pepperment patti and said "Don't worry, one won't hurt".  I then gained back all the weight I had lost within two months because sugar started sneaking back in here or there.

If you really want cheesecake, make it at home with a lower calorie recipe where you can be sure of how much you are eating and what sort of ingredients are in it.  I suspect this Cheesecake Factory stuff has more crap in it than just fat and sugar.

I would also avoid the 600 calorie salad too.  !!! 600??!?  You will be so hungry after eating a 600 calorie salad you will want two orders of cheesecake!  All those calories must be coming from dressing bcause it can't possibly be from lettuce.  I have never been to this place, but I bet they have a grilled chicken breast somewhere on the menu.  That might be the best choice in a restaurant like this.  Try and get it with a garden salad with dressing on the side and a baked potato without butter and sourcream.  Add you own portion of butter so you can control how much you are taking.  Oh and order a diet soft drink.  At the end, claim you are so full that you can't possibly eat any cheesecake.

BTW: there are all kinds of low calorie dessert yogurts on the market now.  I like the Yoplait apples and cinnamon or lemon meringue parfait.  They are only 35 calories per 100 grams.  I find they hit the spot.

Good luck!

conspiracygirl - this is a very good plan...and yes I love the low-cal yoghurts. We have a market here called The Basket, and they sell these delicious cherry and vanilla and caramel yogurts - 100 calories for 227grams!

I know that if I order the salad I will most definitely not eat the dressing ( I've never liked dressing even before I started dieting. It tastes kind of slimy to me), but I was wondering where the 600 calories come from if its only salad...a great mystery to be sure.

I looked at the menu and they have grilled chicken medallions with mashed potatoes. I'll prolly end up ordering that, but with broccoli on the side instead.

As for the cheesecake, I think I might not order one myself but maybe just sneak a few bites from friends? Or if I do order one I will only eat a few bites and save the rest for my family.

I've dieted before but never this seriously. This time, I am really committed though and I want to achieve my goal :)

http://www.calorieking.com/foods/category.php ?brand_id=1010&category_id=21

This is a link for some of their menu items. I have had the Asian Chicken Salad before and it is HUGE! I could only eat about half of it.

Edit:  Lol...I don't know how to make a link, but you can copy and paste :)

Go to calorieking.com and type in a search for cheesecake factory...you will find different types of desserts along with their cheesecakes as well as those weight management salads and thier calorie content. They have a 6 carb slice that is about 500 and a plain 4 oz slice that is 400 calories. Remember you can ALWAYS make substitutions and ask for things on the side as well..as I saw here the grilled chicken comes with mashed potatoes..I would order a plain baked ..they can put all kinds of cream and what not into those mashed potatoes..and be wary of the grilled chicken as well sometimes they put butter on to grill to give it that extra yummy flavor. I would not be explaining to my friends why I am ordering anything...be proud of your accomplishments and continue on with your success. I am sure they will be supportive. Eat what you want..in moderation..nobody is holding a gun to your head telling you to eat the whole meal or peice of cake so splurge a little and like everyone else here said go low on your intake the rest of the day..lots of water and just bump up the exercise a bit to compensate..you'll be fine. HAVE FUN, and get right back on your horse tomorrow!

Who says you have to eat the whole piece of cheesecake?  See if your lardbutt co-workers want to split a piece...