Nov. 26, 2009
I don't go to Ryan's often. I don't dare.
I am on a new eating regimen. On my 67th birthday last February, I started my new lifestyle. Here are my three rules: (1) Cut the carbs to practically nothing. (2) Lift weights three days a week. 3) Don't eat after 6 p.m.
It's working. I have lost 11% of my weight: 189 lbs to 168 lbs. I have kept it off. I have changed my eating habits.
I have three weaknesses: (1) frozen grapes (sugar), (2) fat-free milk (sugar); (3) Ryan's (you name it).
Whenever I drive by Ryan's, I quote Scripture to myself.
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (I Corinthians 10:13).
I keep driving.
At Ryan's, it's all you can eat. Once you have paid, it's free food -- if you don't worry about your weight.
The food is above average. For a cafeteria, it's exceptional.
The price is reasonable.
To keep from going way, way overboard, I have adopted a plan.
1. Go to the steak grill first.
2. Go to the salad bar -- veggies with a little Italian dressing.
3. Go to my seat. Eat.
4. Go to the sliced meat chef. If I'm going to pig out, I prefer beef.
5. Go to my seat. Eat.
6. Check out the chicken and fish. I am slowing down.
7. Go to my seat. Eat.At this point, I might risk one of Ryan's rolls, which the server brings to the table. If I succumbed any earlier, I would eat five.
8. Now it's time for the make-them-yourself tacos. Carbs: taco shells.
9. Go to my seat. Eat.
10. Go back to look around. Seconds? Firsts? Green beans?
11. Go to my seat. Eat.
12. Next: cottage cheese with canned pineapple chunks on top.
13. Go to my seat. Eat.
14. Dessert.
Let's talk about desserts. I am not a pie guy. I am not a cake guy. I am not a dark chocolate guy. I like cookies, but unless they are snicker-doodles, I can limit myself to one. Well, maybe two.
Ryan's frozen custard (soft ice cream) is my downfall. "Lift the lever and let the good times roll." There are still lots of pineapple slices nearby: a great topping.
Seconds? Probably.
This is my Ryan's self-defense strategy. It may not work for you. One size does not fit all . . . especially since your size will be larger when you leave.
If I were not watching my weight, I would eat at Ryan's every Sunday after church. Fortunately, Ryan's is not on the way home from church.
If you have struggled to lose weight, Ryan's might be a solution, if you adopt Larry "Fats" Goldberg's controlled cheating strategy. At 5 feet 6, he topped out at 325 pounds. He realized he would die young if he didn't find a way to lose weight. He did. He went to 160, and he kept it off for the rest of his life.
His plan was simple: once a week, he ate whatever he wanted. To stay on the program, he needed weekly hope that he could eat all he wanted once a week. After he got his weight under control, he would do this twice a week, separated by several days. Twice a year, he would return to Kansas City and eat for a week. He would gain up to 17 pounds. Given what he would eat, it is amazing that did not gain 30.
If I were on the controlled cheating program, Ryan's would be one of my major cheats. I would probably eat nothing but rolls and soft ice cream. Maybe soft ice cream on rolls.
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