Help! Conference next week
 

Hi Guys, I need you to counsel me again.

I am going to Orlando FL next week for a conference. The DAMA Metadata conference. The problem is food. I asked for low-carb meals, but am not sure it will happen. To top it off I started back on phase 1 again now that I'm on my thyroid meds.

Any advice for eating out for six days? Suggestions for Snacks? help?

thanks,

Amy

Hi, Amy!

I've gone to two conferences while on SBD. Here's what worked for me:

• Bring a ton of food with you. Get a good cooler and take it with you on the plane. When you get to the hotel (or before) ask for a fridge in your room. Even if it costs more, it's worth it! Also bring a tiny cooler or nylon lunch bag with you and a couple of ziplocs.
• Each day, bring supplementary food with you to your meal along with a ziploc filled with ice (from the hotel ice cooler). Supplement as needed.
• As you find out what will be served, feel free to ask people whether things have sugar and what the ingredients are.
• When you get to the hotel, scope out area restaurants (and the restaurants in the hotel, too) for options in case a meal is lacking in food you can eat. Then you can supplement if you have to.
• Feel free to ask for extra veggies in place of a starch if you are served a plated dinner.
• Bring SF hard candies so you can have something in your mouth during dessert buffets and the like.
• Bring a water bottle so you can always have a big thing of water with you (the ones they give out are often small, and in the conference rooms, it's usually a pitcher).

I brought the following with me: Jell-o cups, (I'd bring SF pudding cups on Phase 2), nuts, several kinds of SBD safe bread, SBD safe crackers, cheese sticks, a couple of bell peppers, a container of hummus, several pieces of fruit, and fresh veggies and dip. I also brought yogurt, which is a staple for me. In addition, I brought several packets of splenda. I hate when I get caught at a dessert function and I can't even drink coffee because all they have is sweet n' low (which gives me a headache). Do what you need to in order to make situations like that comfortable for you. :)

You can do this, girl!!! You'll have a blast! Don't forget to bring your workout clothes and take advantage of the gym...and sign up for any exercise-oriented classes or workshops. I did a yoga class one morning, a walking tour another morning, and spent half the night dancing at the big banquet. It definitely helped work off any extra fat I consumed. ;)

Enjoy!

Bumping this up for me. Looks like we're making a 3 day trip to Maryland for DF's cousin's grad party. BIL gave me the heads up that all they eat is take-out, pizza, wings, etc. Trying to plan so I don't go crazy down there.

I have a conference June 20-23rd so I hope to use this too.

Sarah, where in MD? I'm just a hop skip and jump away !

Ya know.....I really have no idea! I'll find out tonight though, because no doubt DF will want me to drive!

lol well let me know :) I can tell you what highways to avoid!

Amy, fill us in on what you do and what works for you...sounds like there are a couple people who could benefit from your experience. :)

One thing to think about is what to say when other people say "oh it's okay to be off your diet for the conference". Or something equally stupid. I have a habit of telling people that
1: it's a medical thing
2: and that's why you're over weight
3: no because dh will ask and I don't lie to him
4: excuse me, did you say something! (that's my favorite one)

Lydia

Well, the hotel has a restaurant so poached eggs and canadian bacon without the english muffin will be a good choice. I'm going to drink tons of water and avoid the continental breakfast that they always have -- muffins and danish.. They asked for dietary restrictions and I put down low carb to avoid potatoes and pasta dishes. Last couple of ones I've been too did have a large grilled chicken salad for lunch. dinners we are on our own so I have more control. I'll keep a food diary and let you know.

I travel for business all the time - here is one fairly easy way to get what you want. Blame allergies. Generally, I tell the waiter that I'm allergic to wheat - that'll clear many of the starchy/bready things off the plate. It'll also get rid of the hidden starches used to make sauces etc. You'd be surprised how much starch is in a roux based sauce or gravy. Restaurants that scoff at diets will bend for allergies.

The other piece of advice is to eat whenever there is something safe to nibble on. So if you can get a decent breakfast - eat it up. That way you aren't hungry when there's nothing appropriate available.

I've found that if I mention low carb I tend to not get as much help with meals. If I say that I need to keep track of the glucose I get a much better response. People assume I'm diabetic and don't try to force things on me.

Good luck
Sarah

Bumping this up. I am going to a 2 day conference and need to prepare! Luckily, I'm going to CT but I am going to a CASINO and boy, oh boy, am I gonna need all the help I can get.

Going to look to see if I have a fridge in my room.

I'm glad this keeps getting bumped. DD and I are meeting friends for 3 days of fun. Amusment park and visiting in Hershy PA. As in chocolate. All I can do is my best but no promises to stay op.

Lydia

LOL Lyd!

Ok, no fridge at my hotel. I think I can buy a personal soft lunch cooler thing.

Here is my plan:

eat breakfast before airport (must be there by 8:30a)

pack a cooler of peppers and hummus for my short flight.

eat lunch with my boss at conference (I am asking for a diabetic lunch or a salad). I will bring other snacks with me just in case in my luggage and cooler (in case luggage gets lost) as we may not have time to check into the hotel before lunch starts.

Dinner is on my own unless my boss invites me out. I plan to do a fish and veggie meal (I will be in Phase 2 but prefer to eat like Phase 1 while away so no temptations). I also may take a walk to try to find a grocery store but may not be able to as the place is a casino and well, I don't know if it's isolated or not.

Breakfast the next am will have to be room service and JUST an omlette maybe some real bacon.

Lunch is on my own and dinner will be at the airport so another salad it is.

Can anyone suggest some non preishable snacks I should take??? And please dont say SOYNUTS!

Jenn - Do you like raw zucchini? Try it if you haven't. I really like it. It isn't terribly perishable until it is sliced. I took several one a trip and they held up really well. They could go in your little cooler. Laughing Cow Light doesn't take up much room and isn't very perishable. If you wanted to include some phase 2 stuff then I like the Triscuit crisps.

The baby bel light cheese holds up well. I've left it in my work bag for several days. Hard boild eggs will hold up well enough until you can get more ice. Slightly steamed broccoli, same thing. I know the rules when I'm sitting at home it's just my mind goes on vacation along with my body.

Lydia

I don't really like cooked zuccini, :lol: but good ideas. We shall see once Monday gets here and I have $$ to shop again. Was thinking more perishable stuff -- the flight is only an hour+ so I should be ok. Who knows...

Oh, anything (except ice cream) will last an hour.

right and then in the bag with ice from 12 ( I land and can find some ice) until 4p (after the sessions I attend) and then ice again and through the nite.

I will figure it out...

Jenn, that's what I did on my last trip. A cooler and lots of ice. Thankfully most hotels have that for free, and as long as you have good baggies, it'll make it. How about roasted chickpeas? They don't perish very easily. Any cut veggies, and see if you can get some small cups of dressing, or if you think they'll last, get some cheap Gladware little cups and portion out dressing for dipping and/or hummus. Bell Peppers and grape tomatoes travel well and don't perish quickly. Fruit like apples, bananas, and oranges can be easy, if you eat them on your trip.

Sounds like you have great ideas. I always take Splenda packets in case they don't have it. Hate being stuck with S&L..it gives me a headache.

I don't mind Equal Laurie so I should be ok - besides, have no Splenda packets, lol. And I don't like the chick-peas (BLECK -- like SOY NUTS!)

I don't want to hit the fruit just yet. I think to start Phase 2, I am going to introduce myself to some cereal or oatmeal for a quick breakfast. I am getting sick of eggs. I will bring some cereal with me to eat for breakfast on Thursday (we have to be out the door by 7:15a!).

I am going to buy the mini-cooler lunch packet thing on Monday. I plan to bring some pre-cut veggies in it (celery, peppers) grape tomatoes and a few cheese sticks. I am sure I can find a store or make friends with someone who has a car who can drive me to one.

There is a line here on the registration form for meal restrictions. I put NO SUGAR/LOW FAT and suggested salads. I thought I was on my own for meals but I read that meals are included so we'll see. If not, I don't have to attend the buffet dinner Wed and can go out on my own.

I hope I can hold it down!

Jenn, I know you can hold it down! (you are totally cracking me up about the soy nuts! :lol3: )

Sounds like you have a great plan. I think grape tomatoes are so good! Yum! :T

Have a blast, girl!

thanks

Ok --

I leave at 8a.

I have cherry tomatoes, celery, red peppers and some nuts all cut and bagged and ready to go in the fridge.

I had a slice of the Pepperidge Farm Dark Wheat bread this AM and it set off cravings, so I am going to take one slice in the am, put some mustard cheese and pastrami on it and fold it -- my bag (that's now in the freezer) has a hard sandwich compartment I can put it in!!! I can eat that on the way to the lunch (1 hour from the airport). I don't know when I get to check in since we'll be there as lunch starts, but I think I am set.

I have sugar free candy to take with me as well. And they said they took note of my dietary needs (NO SUGAR-low fat) so we'll see.

Now it's just trying to get myself to stop thinking about the fact that I still have 2 months before I can pop the question to HB (I get the ring delivered Tuesday!). This time away from her will be hard!!!

Morning-

I am back. The conference was horrible. It was cold, it was rainy and no matter how hard I tried, food-wise -- things always went wrong.

I ate a good breakfast before I left the house on Wed and had an iced coffee and a yogurt in the airport. Had some munchies for the plane like peppers, grape tomatoes and celery. Luckily I didn't eat them then because we missed lunch!!!

So I ate that and drank water for lunch.

Dinner was at a Native American museum on the casino grounds -- luckily they had a reception before and while I did have a diet coke with Jack, I stayed clear away from all the dips and breaded fish and ate a slice of smoked salmon and some other fish, and cheese.

Dinner was a SB'ers worst nightmare. I wound up only having a few slices of BUFFALO! :fr: and lettuce. I could not eat the bean and corn succotash or the chicken (dark meat and on a bone which I DO NOT DO!). Skipped dessert as well.

Missed breakfast as we were out early off site. So, rather than opt for a donut from the ONLY place open at the casino, I skipped breakfast. No water either.

Lunch was bad -- but I made due as best I could. Chicken breast (skin on, but I took it off) with veggies (squash and carrots, shredded -- I HAD To eat it) and wild rice. I can't say I didn't eat the rice. I was hungry. I had two forkfuls.

Then I ate the carrot cake.

It didn't taste good but I was hungry. I tried to ask them to take it away but no one was around.

later around 3 I ate a salad with tuna. FF Italian dressing. I needed veggies.

At the airport I was stuck (long story but I was glad I even made it TO the airport) and had cashews, a Pria bar and some SF candy for "dinner" which spiraled into my eating a Buffalo chicken salad at 11p last night with HB when I landed. I did take off MOST of the breading (there were 5 thin strips). But still. Bead eating day.

And since I got in so late and was so unprepared, I ate yogurt, some Perdue chicken breast and 2 slices of cheese (50% lite vermont cheddar) for breakfast.

I did as best I could, I guess. I just hate that I had a plan and it went awry.