Oh Dear

Oh Dear, my new plan may not work out very well.  Here I am, Day No 2 or so, and I am on a business trip with no control over my meals and I am subjected to open bar receptions.  This is fine for my professional development and I am making great contacts nationwide - even internationally, as I had a semi lengthy conversation with an Italian engineering professor who lives in New Zealand.  I am learning a lot.

I am not, however, losing weight.  In fact, I am so full at the moment that I am a tad disgusted, and I feel bloated, sleepy, and altogether blah.  I had lofty goals to show all you Constant Readers how it can be done.  How you can make healthy choices, and come out on top, even on business trips.  How you can go to the hotel gym.  I am told it is on the 27th floor.  I am not able to verify that firsthand. 


I do not understand why this was such a failure.  After all, I did no research, no planning, and was only half committed in the first place.  What could go wrong?

Initially, I thought I would take a picture of my meals, and diligently log them into an online food journal when I got back.  I began with a large, but healthy breakfast, in hopes that I would not partake of any mid-morning snacks, and I aimed for about 400 calories.  This is more than the typical breakfast, which is 300 calories for me, but I figured it was taking the place of a snack.  And this did work out.  I did not eat again until lunch, when we were served a lovely salad and a chicken breast over beans.  Unfortunately, I was still hungry after the healthy stuff, and ate a semi-delicious dessert that had been set out at my place prior to my arrival.  The dessert was too sweet, and not to my taste, but I ate it anyway, because it would be wasted if it did not enter my digestive tract.

Dinner was a bit of a disaster, because after two drinks at the open bar, I no longer remembered or cared about my intentions.  And after the, uuhhh, fourth drink, I had lost count of the little quiches and Mexican spring roll thingies.

Today was worse.  Here is what I remember eating today:  egg with bacon quiche, two muffins, a small pastry, a chicken wrap, some pasta salad, beans, a lemon bar, a small bag of cheddar and caramel popcorn (in the same bag for some reason), a second lemon bar, a mint-chocolate truffle, a brownie, a few sprigs of asparagus, a piece of celery and a piece of zucchini, a hamburger slider, a chicken bite, a fried spring roll, a piece of brie with pastry and fruit, some adorable little appetizers of unknown, bite size chemistry, a plate of risotto and three Samuel Adams Original Lagers.

And that's just what I remember.

I am hoping this little list might help me out tomorrow.  And maybe, just maybe, I might check out the 27th floor before I head to get deep dish pizza and tours of the Hancock and Willis Buildings.  Did you know that's what they call the Sear Tower now?

Whachu talkin' bout Willis?

New Direction

I'm going back to my roots, Constant Readers.  This blog began as a means to discuss my awesomeness and occasional struggles with weight loss.  It slowly moved away from that as I lost interest in writing about losing weight.  Incidentally, I also lost interest in losing weight.  Let's face it, folks.  It ain't fun.  It ain't easy.  And it is a tad discouraging.  I had weeks of extreme planning, for every little morsel that entered my mouth, and for every expended sweaty calorie.  At the ends of those weeks, I managed weight loss - even up to a pound or three.  And the next week, I'd try to do it all again.  That second week might have a slip or two - maybe a glass of wine or a chocolate chip cookie.  Perhaps I would miss a workout.  And the result?  Not only a significant decrease in my losses, but sometimes a freaking gain!

What is the point?  If I have to be that rigorous every week for weeks and weeks and weeks, it simply isn't worth it.  It's not like my self esteem revolves around my waistline, after all.  I'm perfectly happy sipping suds poolside in my non-two piece suit.  I'm not looking for a modeling deal or a movie star boyfriend.  I don't need to replace my wardrobe with items itsy bisty or teeny weeny.

On the other hand...
I want to be healthy.  I want to be able to take the stairs, if I so desire.  I remember how good it felt to eat well and to get the most from this less than perfect body.  It was nice to fit into smaller clothes, and to know that the image in the mirror was the best me I could be.  I never felt bloated or crampy or just plain "blah" when I was watching what I ate.  I felt good.

But how to perform this juggling act?  To maintain some interest in the plan, indeed, to have fun with the plan?  Well, here's the plan:  I'm going to try some healthy diet and exercise plans for one month at a time, and report to you, Constant Readers, on my successes and frustrations.

But where oh when will I relate my zany exploits?  I am thinking they may slide through now and again, much to the chagrin of those among us with attention spans longer than a gnat's.  I just can't help it.  Case in point?  When exiting the gym today I noticed a yoga mat that appeared to be left by its owner, and I stopped at the front desk to tell someone.  There were free fruit snacks at the desk - real dried fruit covered in yogurt - and I began searching through the flavors, and forgot to tell them about the mat.

So if you are missing your yoga mat, it is in locker #53.