Battle of the Bulge

Much has happened in the past week (which I will share in my next blog entry),  but I first want to report on how amazingly well my food plan worked for the retreat.   I brought my Freshology salad with me for the first day, just as I’d planned, as I was able to keep it cool with an ice pack.  It was delicious, and really helped me set the frame of mind for how I would eat during the rest of the retreat.  Outing myself in my previous blog was the BEST thing I could have done, because it really did help keep me stay accountable.  I’d already lost 7 pounds before the weekend and was determined to NOT screw that up.

I treated each meal as if it were by Freshology.  My breakfasts completely mimicked FreshLite’s.  If they served pancakes, I only had one.  Waffles, same thing, and with only enough syrup to taste (no butter).  And always always I would add some eggs, or one slice of bacon.  I ate green vegetables with lunch & dinner, and small portions of lean protein, too.  I avoided the breads altogether and if I had a starch like rice or potato, took only a sampling.  I ate slowly.  I also paid attention to when I was feeling satisfied and stopped eating.  When dessert was served, I cut mine in half, and immediately threw half away.  I know myself so well, and had I kept it on my plate, that second half would have made its way into my mouth eventually.   So I nipped that in the bud.  I also drank TONS of water.

I was in charge of selling water & soda during the retreat.  My area was directly across from the hospitality table, which served FOOD NON-STOP.  But I’d made up my mind ahead of time, I would not let myself graze and for the most part, I followed that pretty rigidly.  My shift didn’t end until midnight though, and by that time , I was getting a little hungry (as I’d been up since 7 a.m.), so had apple slices with a small amt of peanut butter - a great hunger-curbing trick I learned from Freshology last year - and/or a handful of small crackers with peanut butter, and also fresh broccoli and carrots (no dressing).

I made a little deal with myself, too - that if I stayed away from the candy altogether (which I did), I’d reward myself with a Mocha Frap Light from Starbucks on the way home.  I know, I know, it’s 130 extra calories that I didn’t need.  But I figured it saved me from potentially hundreds (if not thousands) more calories in candy, so it was completely worthwhile.

I came home from the retreat feeling lighter - both emotionally & physically - than I had when I arrived on Friday morning.  And that was exactly what I had planned.

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