Review: The Cheesecake Factory's Weight Management Pear and Endive Salad

This is a ridiculously good salad. I don't even need to add "...for a light salad." There isn't much I don't love about this salad: the chunks of blue cheese, the caramelized pear slices, the slivers of chicken, the pecans, the arugula, the dressing...

What I don't love is the few sprigs of parsley hiding in with the real lettuce. It's a bitter surprise to get amid so much joy and deliciousness. I also don't love the name "Weight Management." Why must restaurants shame people who don't want to ingest a 10-pound cheesecake in one sitting? Restaurants, I know you want to set the lighter items off so those who care can identify them, but don't then give them such fruity names that no one wants to order them.

12 Weight Watchers Points, to boot!

How Not to Get Jacked at the Gym

I’ve never personally been ripped off at the gym, but I know it happens all the time. Women are especially big targets, since many of us tend to leave our purses in the trunks of our cars, thinking that they’re safe there. They’re totally not. Consumerist posted this story on the subject.

Not all gyms check IDs when members show up. In my experience, in fact, most don’t. Don’t trust that everyone there is a member there just to work out. Some people could be there just to take things; others may be members who just spot an opportunity. And gyms often post that “not liable for lost or stolen items” sign somewhere in the building, which means you and only you can prevent forest fires and gym theft.

How can you avoid getting your stuff taken from you while you’re rocking out on the elliptical?

• The easiest thing to do is leave your purse at home and only bring the essentials with you to the gym.
• If that isn’t possible, I put my purse in the trunk of my car while I’m still at work. Never let anyone see where you put it. Tuck it behind something.
• If your purse is in your trunk, lock your trunk from the inside of your car, if possible.
• Use a locker and, duh, lock it. Seems obvious, but I can’t tell you how many times I see people storing things in lockers and then NOT LOCKING THEM. This is beyond stupid.
• Watch people. Is someone sketchy hanging out by the cubbies? Tell a staff member. Did you see someone take something you know isn’t there? Be a tattletale. No one will hate you for it, except the stealing jerk.
• Don’t leave any opportunities. Look out for others – if you see an iPod left behind, take it to the front counter instead of trusting that its owner will return to fetch it. If you have to step away, don’t leave your valuables laying around thinking no one will take them. Maybe they will, maybe they won’t.
• Use common sense. Don’t let anyone see you handling anything valuable and storing it away, lock things, hide things, be alert and don’t be a damn fool.