Going away on business...AHHHHHH

InsideMe · 02-03-2012, 10:21 AM

Ok ladies, I need your help in planning for this. I just got told (no lie 2 days ago) I have to be in Ottawa next week for work....so everything is booked now airfare/hotel blah blah blah.

I just got our team building day for next week and ummmm breakfast is at A&W!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? Even the manager said "A nice greasy breakfast to get us going" EWWWWW It's at 8am! Really....then get this we all go out for lunch (I don't even know where) then there's a pool tournament at a local pub with drinks and the works.

How in the world do I plan to get away from this? I did book a hotel with a gym so I can keep up with my workouts. But the whole socializing, drinking, food thing is going to kill me if don't know how to plan for this? Tips??

ETA: I leave on Monday

Glory87 · 02-03-2012, 10:26 AM

When I travel for work, I bring my own breakfast. I pack a bowl and a spoon and pre-portioned baggies of oatmeal and dried blueberries. All I need is hot water from the coffee machine and I can eat breakfast in my room.

Greasy, fast food AW breakfast would simply not work for me. Eat your breakfast first, get a coffee at AW.

Make sure you have a couple of great snacks in your purse. A lot of business meetings I've been to start rolling in "snacks" in the afternoon and it's rarely good choices.

For lunch, do the best you can. One offplan meal a day will not derail you.

For booze, just don't. When I drink, I make bad food decisions. If anyone asks (and it's so freaking rude when people ask why you're not drinking) make up a story. Say you had a little sinus thing and you can't drink with the medication.

InsideMe · 02-03-2012, 10:35 AM

Glory Thanks!! Can I pack the food in my suitcase? Will they allow that? Great excuse for the booze! I'm going to use that one, cause I've totally cut it out now. What kind of "pub" food is acceptable? Maybe I can eat at the hotel before dinner too?

Vex · 02-03-2012, 10:37 AM

Look at A&W website. Do they offer anything like yogurt or something? If not, does the hotel have a little store in it you can swing by and buy a nutri bar or something?

Just try to do the best you can - order chicken at dinner, etc. If you feel like drinking (who doesn't really) there's a lot of beer out there under 100 calories now a glass. Wine is about 200 cal a glass.

Just have to try to think about the plan ahead of time as much as you can.

.

Eliana · 02-03-2012, 11:12 AM

Yes, you can pack food in your suitcase. It's the liquids you have to worry about and even that's ok if you are checking the bag.

I agree with Glory. I do not mess around with breakfast and she has a great idea with the oatmeal. Another thought would be a protein bar. I might pack a banana for breakfast. For snacks, again the banana and/or protein bar, or a small bag of nuts/raisins. These items pack well.

At lunch, look for a chicken item that isn't fried. Most places have this option.

thistoo · 02-03-2012, 11:21 AM

Most places, even pubs, will have at least one salad on the menu. If they have a grill they'll cook you a chicken breast instead of frying it if you ask. Just make the salad as healthy as possible with a vinaigrette dressing and get grilled chicken on top for protein.

Good luck! It's amazing in this day and age that companies are still so clueless about dietary restrictions and health.