I Could Have Had the Large Fries for That

Weight: 5lbs lighter
Listening To: Morningside by Sara Barielles
Mood: Happy and Bouncy

I'm a huge believer in the crunchy on the outside, and soft and explosive on the inside. I can spot the perfect fry, and am very picky about my egg rolls. It's incredibly difficult to find a good egg roll in this city, and I found them at a restaurant down the street that I usually get delivery from. When I drive by and take a look at it tho, I deny it's where I really order from. They also have an amazing curry, and I can usually get white meat only chicken for a buck extra. Ah, those were the days. Not much unlike today where I found myself eating an egg roll.

To understand the situation completely, I have to explain that the week was nothing that I had planned on. It started out the way I expected, but lunches morphed into something that was totally unplanned for and totally uncalled for.

On Monday and Tuesday I was working with the High School. We had set up camp at the Middle School this week to get 'em while they're young, wait that was private industry, I meant to transition the eighth graders to High School. I packed up my lunch on Monday, like the good little dieter I am, only to discover that the counselors wanted to have lunch together. Wait. This isn't what I planned! We never have lunch together! What? You want to have Mexican food? You guys are trying to keep me fat, aren't you? This is bullshit. Am I hyperventilating? Where the hell is my phone?

I reached out to those who have been a ridiculous support team for me in the whole process - Brian and my comrade, Maia. I also reached out to one of the chicklet twins 'cause I figured if I wanna be a skinny bitch, I should ask one what she would order. Yeah, she was no help. Brian and Maia did their best to help me come up with a solution. Oder and only eat half? Don't go? Then I got it! I would have the lunch I brought before we go! It filled me up enough to resist the tacos they were shoving at me but I did sneak a few chips and salsa in there, all counted in my points! I was pretty proud of myself.

On Tuesday the chicklet twins were also working at the middle school, 'cause that is their regular internship placement. They were easier to negotiate with on lunch, and I split the meal with the aforementioned twin. Bless her little heart.

Today, well, today was a totally different story. Those Glaceau guys reached out to me, wanting to have lunch on Wednesday, to return my computer and sign the final lay off paperwork. They wanted to meet early in the day, but I had a commitment at the adult school that couldn't be changed. So I told them to go ahead and have lunch without me, and I would meet them later to turn in my computer and sign the paperwork. I knew it was a tight fit, and at first I thought I could pound down one of my weight watcher meals and head out to Buena Park for the meeting. That didn't happen, and by the time I left the adult school I was starving and I didn't want to sit through this meeting starving, besides I had stuff I had to do later in the day as well. I can't go hungry. I need to dashboard dine. But where? Hmmmmmm. No tacos. Those are too hard to eat on the freeway and it won't fill me up. A hamburger? Maybe a small, simple one. I remember them being like 6 points, or something. Perfect.

I pulled up to the golden arches and took a look at the menu. Wait a minute, chicken mcnuggets. Those are even less. I'll get the kids meal! 4 mcnuggets and a small fry. Perfect portion size, and I could totally work that into my points today! Yay solutions!! And no, I don't want a drink. I don't care if 'it comes with it' lady, I told you no drink. Really? You really want me to have a drink. You got some water behind that counter? Bottled? Sure, whatever. You're really pushing those drinks. No wonder we're all fat.

As I pulled up to Panda-something in Buena, I had finished eating my fries and mcnuggets and didn't have one iota of guilt. I was comfortably full and had no real interest in Chinese food. They were supposed to have met at 11:30, so they should just be finishing up. Perfect. I walked up to their table and found, wait, what was that? . . . MENUS!!?? What the fuck, did they not eat? Oh crap they waited for me. As much as I wanted to scream bullshit, it was a really nice gesture. Dam it, dam it, dam it. What the hell am I going to do now? I can't turn down the final lunch! That would be such a bad gesture, and they waited for me. Hmm . . . lunch specials. Those should be small. Quick, look it over and figure it out. Orange chicken! It's chicken! It's a lean protein! DONE!

My now defunct counter-part arrived shortly after me and ordered exactly what I did. It made me feel like I made the right move 'cause she's stick thin. Back in the day, five months ago, I would try to discuss with her my weight loss and how I was trying to be conscious of what I ate. She would join in and tell me how fat she is, too, because she's all the way up to 130. I'm surprised I didn't get violent at times like that.

When lunch came, it wasn't small at all. Dam it, dam it, dam it. Remember, girl, split the plate in half. You've already eaten, you probably won't even eat half of it. What is she eating? Try to model it after her. She's really chowing down on that chicken. Huh. How is she so dam skinny? I mean, fuck. Wait! FOCUS! That's right! Focus! Focus on the soup and salad. Let that fill in the gaps and nibble on the chicken. Skip the rice all together.

At the end of the meal I had a cup of soup - low points, good. Salad with somewhere around a tablespoon of dressing - low points, good. One egg roll, I couldn't help it. Surprisingly low points, I can work that in - good. Let's see, I ate about a cup of the chicken, probably more like 3/4ths of a cup. WHAT THE HELL!!!?? You've gotta be kidding me? Orange chicken is HOW MANY POINTS? That's gotta be wrong. Are all the dishes that many points? Hmm . . no, no they are not. I managed to order the one item with the highest amount of points. Good job. Well, let's see how this will work out.

Yup, I've run a deficit. Well, Let's do the total math. Hmm. If I don't eat anything for the rest of the day, or use my last two extra points for today, and stay strict on track tomorrow, I should be able to come in at my point level.

I just know that tonight I'm going to be glaring at Brian while he eats the curry we made last night, and I nibble on tasteless California tomatoes. This better be worth it . . . . .