I guess I run now

So tomorrow I pack up the dog, the laptop, papers to grade, an article I MUST finish, clothes, running shoes, etc & take the 9 1/2 drive to the UP to see hubby for a few days.

Road trips aren’t good for me. For one, I’m usually lucky to log in 2,000 steps for the day & worse still, the only time I allow myself fast food (even when I’m not dieting) is when I’m on a long road trip. A McDonalds cheeseburger & small fry has become my best friend and greatest guard against road fatigue. And the 9 1/2 hour trip sometimes means beginning the day with a Panera bagel, then indulging in McDs for lunch AND dinner, and eating either Pringles or candy as snacks. Might help me to look up how many calories that typical road trip menu is…hang on…

Okay, I’m back. I did the math and it’s terrifying:

Asiago cheese bagel: 350 calories

Cream cheese: 120

McDs Cheeseburger x 2: 600

Small fries x 2: 500

Small pack of Pringles: 320
Chocolate bar: 320

Total: 2210

NOT GOING TO HAPPEN MY FRIEND!

I’m having cereal in the morning, a 30 minute walk on the treadmill while the dog’s at the groomers, and for lunch and dinner, I’m packing PB&Js (lots of calories, but better than a cheeseburger & I really love them). I’m going to stick to my rule of eating dinner with no distractions and stop along the way to eat the sandwiches (rather than mindlessly munching them while driving).

And I have already measured out snack bags with pretzels, veggies chips, grape tomatoes, olives, and dried apricots (all in 100 calorie portions–thank you Biggest Loser). I have a nectarine and a hard boiled egg for hunger attacks. & when I want a treat, I have WeightWatchers chocolate toffees (60 cals each, so not something I can eat a lot of, but I can savor one or two on the trip).

I’m ready to do this the smart way. I can do this the smart way. I will do this the smart way. I don’t have to deny myself fun food on the road, but I don’t have to eat crappy, calorie-laden fast food just to make myself feel better about the trip.

Okay, wish me luck!

I guess I should be happy! After this last miserable week of stress, my terrible exercise schedule, and some stupid eating mistakes (okay, mostly the beer thing), I was afraid I’d have no pounds lost or have gained.

So a 1.1 loss isn’t so bad. That’s 8 pounds in one month & so I’m 8 pounds (if not more) lighter than I would’ve been if I hadn’t worked so hard last month.

It’s a victory & I’ll take it. Although I have to be careful not to let this past week become a habit…I need to walk and/or run everyday & get in some strength training at least 2 days a week & there’s no turning back.

<>

It’s Wednesday & I’m nervous about my weigh in on Friday, so I’m going to keep a food journal for today & tomorrow. I don’t usually worry about keeping track since I do the math as I go through my day, but I thought this might help me feel like I’ve got things under control.

So, breakfast (was standard for me): 1 1/2 cup Cheerios with milk @ 210 calories
1/3 cup frozen blueberries @ 60 cals

Lunch: big salad with egg (70), 1/2 oz. bleu cheese (50), 2 tbs lite honey mustard (70), lettuce & grape tomatoes (50)…more or less about 240 cals.

Dinner: 1/2 stuffed sole (about 4 oz) @ 200 cals, 1 cup spinach @ 60, 1/2 cup couscous @ 150 cals, 2 raddishes, 5 olives @ 75 cals–dinner total 485

snacks: 100 calorie cookie pack (1095 calories before evening snack), non-everything pudding with lite cool whip 120 cals.

1215 total

Next to no exercise, but maybe I can afford to get on the treadmill after I’ve responded to just 2 more papers…and leave the rest for tomorrow early morning. Aaargh!

Okay, I feel better. Work is insane right now as we’re trying to get a proposal for a major through university governance & it’s like trying to run in molasses while wearing snowshoes…a lot of work, takes up all my “free” time, gets me stressed to the max, and it seems like we’re getting no where!

So I had meetings galore yesterday, revised like a madwoman (ignored the stacks of papers I have to grade & the more important stacks of drafts I have to respond to by Thursday), and I’m just so very stressed right now!

So I had a beer with dinner last night…was good, though & had only about 8 ounces (who knew I could pour such a small beer?). Was very proud of my resraint & glad to have this special treat for myself. Then I had another 8 ounces, and another, and another. Put away one 22 oz bottle & started in on another. Sipped it over the course of 6 hours, but that just means I wasn’t getting a buzz: I was still getting the calories! What a waste!

Normally I wouldn’t keep beer in the house when I’m dieting, but I brew my own & so have over a case of 22 oz pale ales and a couple of really good porters from a few batches back. I think I’ll bring the pale ales up to hubby’s house this weekend…I can show restraint with the porters since I’ve decided to see how they age, but the pales are a temptation that I clearly can’t handle right now.

With the exception of walking all around campus for meetings & a 30 minute walk around the dog park, I also did no exercise yeseterday…worked until 10:30 with only a break for dinner & the park! I’m going to make sure today is different.