Eating when away on a business trip is crazy. It has been years since I have had to do this. I had forgotten just what a difficult experience it could be for someone who is trying to eat healthier.
First, I stressed out about the flight and airport/airline food and water, not to mention my potential lack of protein/vitamin supplements. That actually ended up being OK. I was able to take vitamins and protein bars through security and onto the plane. I also had a few supplemental protein bars and my standard vitamin supply packed in my checked bag for my stay in Dallas. I was able to get a bottle of water and lunch just near my gate. I arrived at the airport with plenty of time to spare so that I could have lunch before my flight boarded.
As an aside, I just have to insert here what a joy it was to fit in the airline seat like a normal person and not need a buckle extender. I was even able to cross my legs. Of course, I’m 5’1″ and I have short lets, so I’m sure that helped. I also managed to scam a seat in the third row of coach due to my upgraded “gold” status. I have to somehow manage to get that every year because it made the whole airline experience much more pleasant.
Once I arrived at the hotel, the whole diet thing fell apart. I got some chicken wings at the hotel restaurant. They were the best wings I have had in a very long times, and I’ve had wings a couple of times since the surgery. They give you ten of them, I could only eat 4 1/2 with the celery and carrots. And the sauce that came on the side was phenomenal. I ordered the sweet and spicy Thai wings, but I think they just brought me the regular buffalo, which was fine by me because they was scrumptious.
Then there was the breakfast buffet. I did OK at first, I had a tiny bit of scrambled eggs with some spicy salsa on them and mixed fruit. Then I had two pieces of bacon. OMG! What was I thinking! Well, I came to my senses by lunch and got a small salad with cranberries, blue cheese, and chicken. Then a side of cheese for my protein snack in the afternoon.
The sales rep took us out to dinner to this very nice Italian restaurant. Of course I cannot have pasta, so I ordered the artichoke encrusted steak medallions with roasted vegetables and mashed potatoes. I can’t have the mashed potatoes either. I mean, I guess I could have a little bit of them now, but because they are starchy, they have been on the restricted list. I ate most of the vegetables and one of the steak medallions. They were 1 1/2 or maybe 2 inches around, but man they just seemed huge to me. Then the server packed them up for me to take back to the hotel, but really, I’m not sure what I am going to do with them. (yes, I have a refrigerator in the room) I’m not sure I want to have red meat two days in a row. That might be a bit much. Plus, I’m going out to dinner tomorrow with a writer’s group friend who recently moved back to Texas for some Tex-Mex food.
Don’t even get me started on all of the decaf cappuccinos I’ve had today. Well, OK one of them had caffeine!
I had to hit the exercise room after dinner tonight. I rode the bike for 30 minutes and did another 5 minutes of cool down.
I am just not used to eating out this much. OK, maybe once or twice a week I will got to the buffet place near my office for lunch. But still, I usually get salmon and vegetables or the chicken with broccoli. I stick to the plan, though. Low fat foods. Protein and veggies. After my emotional binge eating last week, I have been very strict with myself about the food I eat. The last thing I want to do after everything I have been through since October is go back to where I was before the surgery.
I have to do better tomorrow. I sure will be glad to go home!
Noms! I’m so hungry right now, those chicken wings sounded amazing! Don’t hurt yourself missy! :-*
The wings were totally awesome!