Ugh, Cheryl, your weather is not my favorite. But the last time I was out at this client (I work with the Mayo Lab), it was February, -28, and snowing. I didn't even know temperatures got that low. So some wind and rain I can handle.

You know what I never would have done before? Gone to the grocery store and purchased fixings for a healthy, microwaveable meal...an organic, medium-sized potato, organic broccoli, chicken chili from a deli, and a little reduced fat cheese...enough to make this dinner tonight, and on Wednesday when I have lots of meetings going late. Mega baked potato, in my hotel room, ready for me when I'm ready to go. And healthy, given the chicken chili stats that I looked up online. The expense report people at my work hate me because I can never equate my receipts with my meals (how does one expense grocery shopping at Target??). But it's oh so good for my body.

Yah - sorry about the horrible weather. I had no idea it was going to get so yucky!!

As for the grocery store, when I'm in your neck of the woods (HQ in Silicon Valley), I always stay by the Safeway & grocery shopping is one of the FIRST things I do! It make it so easy to plan & since I'm working in our office (vs. a client), I can bring my lunch in every day, just like everyone else.

My account dpt LOVES me because my expenses are so much lower now that I rarely ever eat at restaurants!

Good choice. Enjoy the rest of your time here & I hope you get upgraded on the way home, too. Even though you no longer NEED the extra room, it is still nice to have. I always feel so small when I'm sitting in that extra big seat!!

Does your suite/room come with plates to cook in or do you use some other method of heating? We get suites/rooms with microwaves but sometimes there are dishes and sometimes there aren't.

Karen - that meal was 100% microwave. Bought a cheap disposable tupperware container (hate to waste it, but hey, desperate times) with lid, along with my head of broccoli, block of cheese, and potato. Got silverware and a plate from the breakfast area downstairs (I asked first...you can also call and ask them to bring up to your room), cooked potato in microwave, then reheated the chili and steamed the broccoli in my container with a little bit of water. Mooshed my potato, put on my broccoli, chicken chili, and cheese, and heated until the cheese was melted.

LOL - the things we do to eat healthy in hotel rooms! Although I have to say, lunches are a LOT easier at this client. They are very health-oriented (they have "walking clubs" with designated markers around the office, indicating appropriate paths and how many laps equal a mile, for example), and their central cafeteria has a daily hot "wellness option" at lunchtime - today they had a grilled pork tenderloin with a scoop of mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli. For mass-produced food, it was actually pretty darned good, and the calorie count was right there above the serving area - 280, with 7g of fat and 24 of protein. Added a cheese stick so I wouldn't be too hungry later. They also have soups (nutrition info listed), salad bar, and a sandwich bar with whole wheat bread and lean meats (those they charge by the ounce). The best part is that the healthy meal is partially subsidized (my pork today, for example, cost me 4.55) AND they have a "frequent buyer" card for the wellness options only, to give incentives for people to pick the healthy choice. They also stock granola bars and fresh fruit, all relatively inexpensively.

Not gonna lie - getting up at 5:30 this morning for cardio was brutal. BUT I do this because it gets me so much goodness! A man I worked with from the start of the project walked by me twice today, and didn't recognize me, even though he knows I'm in their offices this week. I had intended to make use of the lifting equipment tonight, but I am HURTING (lowest barometric pressure EVER RECORDED = horribly painful knees and shoulder joint, so there is literally only one arm I could work...and abs, will do some abs in the hotel room). Hopefully Thursday the pressure will have settled and I'll be able to make use of the Cable Crossover machine and medicine balls, both items I LOVE but do not have much access to at home.

This thread is helping me to stay accountable, for sure. I'll hit 3 years maintenance on Thursday!

That's awesome. Congratulations in advance. You are an inspiration to us all.

Just been counting up, and by year end i will have spent 26 weeks away from home this year - so 6 months. All of it in hotels or motels or mining camps around the world!

I'm not as strict as you Amanda, but i just can't do the 'default' behaviour of my colleagues, i.e. cooked breakfast, plenty of lunch, sedentary day, full evening meal, a few alcoholic drinks, late night, repeat til end.

The thing i really enjoy and plan for with my travelling is going for a run in every new place. I check it out on google maps and print out possible options before i leave home, and that is generally how i get my exercise.

I get great pleasure from knowing a bit about the area that i'm staying in and seeing some of the local life that i wouldn't otherwise notice.

Foodwise i just have to pick sensibly and i try to avoid evening meals altogether if i can and take a stash of cup-a-soup with me instead, and buy up fruit locally if i can.

To others it seems like i'm making sacrifices or undesirable choices, but as you Chicks know, actually it makes me happier and it's what i prefer.

(p.s. sorry for gate-crashing a 'maintainers' thread - i'm not really 'maintaining' yet - or rather i am, but i'm not supposed to be!)

Amanda, is your client my company?? We have a site in Chaska, MN and we have a wellness initiative and I know they're offering healthy lunch options in the cafeteria and have a frequent buyer card for them...

Amanda you rock, way to cook something warm, filling & healthy in your hotel room, albeit you made the hallway of the hotel smell wonderful!
There is always a way to get your healthy eat on no matter what, bravo chicky, bravo! Happy anniversary too!

You are my hero! Thank you for posting. I will be copying this for later, like on Saturday, referral. I have learned so much good information here. I remember you helping me out when I have been on the road, asking for calorie counts for different foods. I would also find this meal to be a treat, as I usually do not eat potatoes. So I would feel indulgent. Imagine, a small potato feeling sumputous. I remember back in the day, when much more caloric and less good for me foods were a treat. Times, they have a changed. Happy, Happy anniversary on your 3 yrs. You richly deserve it!

Three years???!!!!

How I love hearing from maintainers who say things like that.

Especially someone whom I consider a "foodie" maintainer, who cares passionately about the quality of ingredients & creativity in the kitchen, & who keeps making it work.

And someone who's dedicated to exercising, even in the face of injuries & limitations. (I had no idea about that fact about barometric pressure ...)

And someone who also manages this while holding down a challenging job.

AND a relationship. And a "special needs" dog, too.

You'd better post about this anniversary somewhere tomorrow, babe, or one of us is going to do it for you & expose you to all kinds of congratulations & warm wishes for another three years & heartfelt words of thanks for how much you inspire us all.