CorkyB13-
Hi and job well done so far!
The trick for me when traveling is what goes on in my head....It's not what happens at the table...(well it is...but what is in my head takes control of what happens at the table). You have done so well..your commitment to not blowing it should be more important to you than feeling you deserve a "treat". Over the last two months, I've had to travel a lot for some family health issues and recently a family wedding. Budget allowing...eating out is NOT a problem, and actually gives you more control. Egg white omlettes, salads with grilled chicken/shrimp or tuna and a small steak or grilled fish for dinner ain't bad livin'... And you can control portions pretty easily. It's more of a challenge, I find, if you are going to a catered affair or meals at someone's home. It's not impossible though.
Be specific about restaurant preparation...tell them up front, with a big smile,
you are high maintenance (!!) and need some TLC... absolutely no sauces, rubs, no SALT or sugar in your preparation. I sent 2 salads back this past weekend at a Ruth's Chis steak house at the hotel we stayed at because they came with croutons and I had specified ..."no croutons". I wasn't going to pay their price for a salad (..and a wimpy one at that) and then need to pick out the darn things after ordering it plain. (The croutons were chopped REAL small...And it would have been quite upsetting for me to have actually ended up eating them accidentally) Don't compromise yourself for someone else's mistake. It can be done politely... Hint: If places don't have white or cider vinegar...and most of the better places don't...ask for olive oil and fresh lemon. Season with lemon, salt and pepper at your plate rather than letting the kitchen do it. I have started to send things back for being over salted ...when I specified no salt. Restaurants way over-salt most of what they serve...hoping to sell drinks.
Be obsessive about drinking your water --- and then some...esp if you are traveling by air. As some have shared, dehydration can make you retain H2O and not be happy with the scale on your return. We actually returned from a long distance plane trip to a wedding over the weekend and I managed to lose 2.5 lbs from Thursday through Monday AM..then showed another 1/2 lb drop this AM...!!! Convinced it was because I planned and ate ahead of time in the restaurant on site...or had my shakes...and did NOT eat any of the food served at any of the events. Also stuck to water and club soda for my beverages...and am a happy camper now as I did not go off the rails. Actually losing a few pounds was an added bonus! My goal was just to stay
ON plan.
in early June we will be on a family vacation renting a house on Captiva island in Florida...and I know I might be tempted by the cheese, crackers, wine and margharitas......but I think being able to wear great new clothes on this vacation and being comfortable in a swim suit for the first time in years is going to keep my head where it belongs...Instead I'm going to enjoy the company of everyone and collecting gorgeous shells with my 4 granddaughters. That doesn't sound like deprivation to me.