Monday, May 25, 2009

The need to focus

Apparently I am only able to do one thing at a time.  I'm not as good at multitasking as I thought!  Every experience is lesson if you choose to perceive it as one.  I learned a lot this weekend.

Last week was a challenge with eating.  Though I now have semi-decent restriction in the mornings, it wears off after a few hours of being upright.  And I have pushed the limits of my eating.  Yeah, I can still eat quite a bit.  Bad girl.

Thursday we had a going away party for a work pal.  I ate my new favorite meal ever:  deli cheese rolled up around luncheon meat. YUM! Now I get the Boar's Head provolone and use that as a cheese tortilla around Boar's Head Low Sodium Turkey Breast.  I love this and it's chock full of protein.  The cheese and turkey are so flavorful that I don't need any kind of condiments.  Mmmmmm.

But I ate more than cheese and meat at that gig.  I had cookies.  As in plural.  It's good because I am learning about trigger foods and what I can and cannot have in my proximity.  I also took some lemon pound cake to bring along on my weekend trip.  It was free.  I couldn't help it.  But I need to remember just because it's free doesn't mean you need it.  (Just because you can doesn't mean you should!  This is my mantra, though I seem to block it out at times)  Friday we went to lunch at TGIFriday's.  I had a cheeseburger and some sweet potato fries.  I was very good about eating slowly and chewing well.  I didn't eat the bread and left at least half of the fries on my plate.

Then came the weekend dog show road trip!  I did well and ate MUCH better than I normally do at dog shows.  No icky carnival food.  I only ate out two meals, both at Cracker Barrel.  I took RTD protein drinks in Mocha, took lots of cheese and turkey, yogurt, boiled eggs and some protein bars.  I got a motel room with a fridge so I was able to keep all that fresh and my crystal light cold.  I kept a 32 oz bottle of that with me at all times.

First time I went to CB, I did well.  I ordered my typical Old Timer's breakfast with bacon, 2 eggs and hashbrown casserole.  I ate a biscuit, a slice of bacon and the eggs and took "home" the rest (see below).  Normally, I eat the whole plate and several biscuits.  So that was a good exercise in control and moderation.  When I went on Sunday with my corgi pals, I got the Sunday chicken with apples and hash brown casserole.  I ate most of one piece of chicken, the casserole and a biscuit.  That was much more than a cup of food.  And I wasn't even uncomfortable.  

Though I carried my food journal with me, I did not use it.  Though I was physically pretty active, I think I "gained," about 2 pounds.  More likely than not, it was just due to being thrown off my schedule and is probably water weight.  I know I did not consume an extra 7000 calories over those few days!  I'm not worried, but the whole weekend was a clear reminder that the band is just a tool and I will still be fighting this battle the rest of my life.  Focus and awareness are always required and documentation, for me, is quite necessary.  

I did well on my first trip post band.  My vet's wife, Joy, said I looked like I was melting.  "Oh yes, it is humid," I said.  "No," said Joy.  "You look like you're melting away!"  She said that she couldn't tell as much the previous weekend, but in the week between the two dog shows, she could really tell a difference.  Wow.  The week I gained 2 pounds! But my clothes are even more baggy right now.  So go figure.  I was just pleased that I was cool the entire weekend and barely broke a sweat in spite of the activity.  Skinny people were complaining about the humidity and I barely noticed it!  DEAR DIARY!  Me not dripping with sweat while brushing out my dogs at an outdoor show site while wearing a grooming jacket??? That's a first for sure! 

Though I did well in staying moderately on track, I learned that I have a long way to go.  But it was fun and I'm glad I went.  However, I'm looking forward to getting back to my normal routine tomorrow. Routine is good!  Helps reinforce behaviors I'm trying to train myself.


Here's the leftovers from my breakfast-dinner at Cracker Barrel.  Usually there is NOTHING left on my plate.  For $7 + tip, I got two meals.  That never happens! ; )

2 comments:

Scott said...

You are melting, and it's not the humidity! Hang in there girl, can't wait to see you again.

Beth asked me the other day if we had heard from ya!

Mareydenis said...

You're so sweet Scott!

I bought the stuff today to make your strawberry cream freeze!!! Droool, drool!

Last week was pretty good. I need to update how things are going. I got to the gym a few times and have broke my stall of the day club. I've learned I'll drop a few pounds, then hang steady awhile. Lather, rinse, repeat! As long as I understand that's how my body likes to do it, I'm good with that!

Give Beth my best and hopefully there'll be something soon so I can see the gang!

HUGS!!!
Denise