I have a lot of food & beverage challenges facing me this weekend. I'm going out tonight to a piano bar in Baltimore with 2 free drinks, a free buffet and then to dinner afterwards. Tomorrow night I'm going to a holiday party being catered by a chef-friend of the hostess. It's somewhat a Hanukkah party, so there will definitely be latkes there. I'm not sure how I want to approach this weekend. But here's my attempt at a plan.
1. I'm chugging the water today to keep myself full. My new mission is more water, less vegan dessert.
2. Have a small lunch and then have half a bagel w/ soy cream cheese and a pear right before leaving work. Dinner won't be until 9pm ish.
3. Sticking to my vegan eating habits (which went astray after the wedding and are now back in place) will be my key to making the best choices. French fries are not an option. I will be seeking fruit and veggie trays and salad. I must keep telling myself that there will still be yummy foods if I don't eat them at these parties. In fact, I make some yummy things myself!
4. Remind myself how horrible I feel when I drink too much. In fact, I'm going to try not drinking at all. I will give my two free drink tickets to my husband and let him have a good time tonight. I'll be the DD. This isn't the time for me to go caffeine-free, because diet coke will be my friend this weekend. I will bring my water bottle filled to the brim so I can have something in my hand thats not food or alcohol at the party on Saturday.
Thanks for listening. I'm trying hard to really get back to my pre-wedding (also goal) weight.
Edited to add a #5.
5. I will get my booty out of bed both mornings this weekend and haul it down to the treadmill. Even if I just walk because I'm half asleep, its better than nothing!
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Fer,
-- midwest neurotica @ starxlr8.com {comfort foods, cottage living & sweet old fashioned goodness}
Posts: 757 | Location: College Park, MD | Registered: March 17, 2004
The party on Saturday night was fun, but I did have 3 drinks made with non-diet soda. I was really bummed they didn't have any diet. I ate a little hummus and pita and gave in to one piece of a brie & apple quesadilla.
On the exercise note, I'm working hard on getting in little bits of exercise. I got on the treadmill for 20 minutes Saturday afternoon, plus have taken several walks in the past week. I'm hitting the gym after work today w/ a friend.
I have two work parties this week - tomorrow and Wednesday. Making sure to get in the exercise is my main strategy for this week.
-- midwest neurotica @ starxlr8.com {comfort foods, cottage living & sweet old fashioned goodness}
Posts: 757 | Location: College Park, MD | Registered: March 17, 2004
I find it hard to 'save up' for a splurge or whatever because I'm not that structured with my food tracking. I'm not sure if I want to do anything differently or not. I think my preference is 'no' so I think I'm going to see how this goes for the remainder of the season and see where I wind up. I try to eat relatively clean the days surrounding something but I agree that somehow trying to save up calories during that day spells disaster for me. I also think that eating something healthy before arriving has served me well but I am totally inconsistent about actually doing it. I think in some corner of my brain I always want to see how 'bad' I wind up being and then pay for it afterwards but that probably isn't really what I should be doing. I think that is the part of me that has always, always been resistant to dieting...seems like a 'dieting' behavior in my head somehow. Thinking out loud...
Fer, how did Saturday's evening event and exercise go?
For whatever reason, It does not work for me to lighten up a lot during the day to say for a night time splurge. I can lighten up a bit- maybe 2 fewer bites that normal, but anything more than that and I end up overeating at the event. I lack self discipline when I am hungry. I has helped me to eat as CLEAN as possible throughout the day and then have a small splurge at the event. I still have trouble keeping the splurge down- I want to be able to go all out. I can't. Last weekend I ate double the amount of pizza I needed. I have a lot to learn.
quote:Originally posted by Fer: There has got to be a happy medium between eating light to save for a splurge and eating enough so that your splurge doesnt turn into a gorge.
I think that this is one of those times when figuring out was doesn't work is very helpful...
Part of figuring out what doesn't work is part of figuring out what will work.
PS... one thing that has worked for me is to save up a few calories/points in the days before and after a party... That way I can eat normally (but light normal...) the day of the dinner, so I don't go into starving mode.
It also helps to remind myself that if I am starving, I'm not thinking at my best and to just slow down. If eat a normal portion slowly, in 25-30 mins, I will no longer be starving and can think like a rational human being before hitting the dessert table.
Denise
Posts: 8742 | Location: Silicon Valley, CA | Registered: March 17, 2004
At the last minute, right before I was getting ready to leave, Sven calls and says he has too much homework to go out. I was a little relieved, because I was very hungry (despite my snack) and would have been even moreso by 9pm.
So I went home and we made dinner. Because I had eaten so light all day though - I was ravenous and overate. There has got to be a happy medium between eating light to save for a splurge and eating enough so that your splurge doesnt turn into a gorge.
-- midwest neurotica @ starxlr8.com {comfort foods, cottage living & sweet old fashioned goodness}
Posts: 757 | Location: College Park, MD | Registered: March 17, 2004
quote:Originally posted by Sandy: Also caffeine really gets me in trouble. It stimulates my appetite and makes me unsettled physically, mentally and emotionally. I am not sure what (if anything) it might do to you.
I have caffeine everyday. I have a long term goal of quiting, but until I can maintain my weight where I want it, diet soda is my savior.
-- midwest neurotica @ starxlr8.com {comfort foods, cottage living & sweet old fashioned goodness}
Posts: 757 | Location: College Park, MD | Registered: March 17, 2004
Hi Fer, A couple thoughts... First, will a small lunch and the snack after work leave you really hungry at 9PM dinner time? I think I would be really hungry and tend to overeat.
Also caffeine really gets me in trouble. It stimulates my appetite and makes me unsettled physically, mentally and emotionally. I am not sure what (if anything) it might do to you. When I am out I have things like diet tonic water with a small splash of Rosies lime juice or a mineral water with a twist. I also feel much better drinking water.
The weekend sounds loaded. I have one party on Saturday at a manageable time. This is tough work. Hang in.
I found that it really helped me this week to read KD's Party Survival Tips. Sat at the computer, ate a banana and read right before the party.
Have a great weekend! You've got a good plan. My only concern...
quote: I will be seeking fruit and veggie trays and salad. I must keep telling myself that there will still be yummy foods if I don't eat them at these parties. In fact, I make some yummy things myself!
Do you have a plan for food that is not fruit/veg? Will you feel deprived if you don't have dessert? Will you be starving if there are no good vegan options? Could it make you over eat at home after the party or the next day? Just some thoughts... as that's what would happen to me.
Denise
Posts: 8742 | Location: Silicon Valley, CA | Registered: March 17, 2004
Fer, All sounds like a great plan! It's always good to have a DD so that is a double win for you and DH. Have a lovely time this weekend, focus on the people and the laughter and hopefully the food will come easily. Sounds like a lovely couple of events.
