I was so excited to go down and help out my grandmother organizing her pictures. She was recently in the hospital and finally released to go home. I was eager to go see her and help out. The kids were more than excited to play in their adventurous yard. We also expected to have snow!!I love, once in a while, going on trips with the kids by myself. I feel so independent.
Well, I learned a lot this weekend. I learned to specifically plan meals and to take control for myself.
Thank goodness for dried fruit, nuts, dried seaweed and protein bars/shakes. These are all things you can have in your car (that won't melt). So when you are out longer than you plan you ALWAYS have the stuff you need to eat right. This will keep you from getting munchy and grabbing those conveniently placed "snacks" called candy bars, at a check out.
While on vacation ALWAYS pack snacks for yourself. Thankfully, I had brought some snack items for snacks & as back ups. Next time I travel, I will bring more items then protein shake, nuts, dried fruit & dehydrated peas. (mistake #1)
We arrived Friday evening in time for dinner. The options we were given were: KFC, Taco Bell or Pizza Factory (the joys of small towns). As I figured, Pizza Factory had salads. They also had great pizzas. We got to watch them spin the dough in the air! Cool. The salad bar was very fresh and tasty. I did have blue cheese dressing (mistake #2) though I did dip my fork in the dressing instead of pouring it on. I allowed myself Trey's crust which he had removed all the cheese from. It was a very light & fresh crust, unlike so many greasy pizza breads are.
When we got back to the house, I noticed, Gma bought 2 dozen mini cupcakes & a dozen chocolate chip cookies for the kids. Great. :o/ They may be for the kids but they sure were tempting me. I figured I could have just one and be fine. (mistake #3) I should have known. I got that taste in my mouth so even though they were nasty store bought cupcakes my body started craving them. I couldn't control the feelings my body was having to it. I felt so outta control. I knew I couldn't have them but I wanted them so bad. It was almost like an addiction. Scary to think of it as a drug. I think, I knew I couldn't have them so it made me want them more.I ended up eating probably 4 more. I didn't know what to do. I needed HELP!!!! What could I do? I posted on Facebook. "Cupcakes are calling me. Fear I'm only so strong. Can't throw them out without offending the buyer but they need to be gone. Feeding them all to my kids is not a smart idea either. Any ideas?" -Many comments were to bring them over to the other person's house. :o) Thankfully, Danny commented saying pretend to take some to eat but flush them down the toilet. Brilliant!!! The next morning I started with 5 of them. I felt so much better! I was strong once again. Threw 2 more out the next morning. Then when we were sent home with the last of them, they went right into the gas station's trash can the moment we stopped.
Saturday morning, I had some fruit & nuts to (mistake #4) tide me over until breakfast at 10. I should have fixed myself something, even when others don't.
I was looking forward to breakfast, at Rick Roadside Cafe. Emily had those large delicious strawberry waffles before, that I have never forgotten about. I knew I wouldn't order them but was in hopes one of the kids would so that I could eat some... for my carb of course (mistake #5).I was good and ordered an egg white (figured there would be enough fat in the skillet to cook it) veggie omlete with no cheese and instead of potatoes I got tomatoes. Unfortunally, it comes with another side of carb stuff. Trey wanted the biscuts and gravy, so I ordered that (mistake #6) (I need to learn that it's okay to tell them I don't want it. You don't have to order ALL the items that come with your meal.) Trey ordered the strawberry pancakes, yea!, however when they came he said he wouldn't share... (sarcasm) so what was I going to have? I had to have a carb. The biscuits only had some fat and milk right? I would only have a few bites and be good, right?! (mistake #7)
Of course, he couldn't finish his pancakes so who had bites? You guessed it. ME! I was so stuffed and sick. I can't believe I use to eat ALL that! I still could have finished it but I can now know what a difference it makes in how my body feels.
Of course I wasn't hungry for lunch. I had some snack things to tide me over until dinner. Dinner was going to be good. ;oD My uncle was grilling chicken, Gma had salad, baked potatoes & green beans. Yea! However, I learned that old dogs have a hard time learning new tricks (I say hard because I do believe it is possible). As I watched preparation for dinner, I noticed Crisco being rubbed onto the potatoes before being covered in tin foil. Really? I'm sure it made them taste great but, I couldn't have them. I wasn't eating them for dinner so I didn't worry too much. Unfortunately, the chicken was spoiled so we would have to pick some up. "If we get KFC, can you have the grilled chicken breast?" Sure, I thought. Umm...Discovery.... KFC grilled is NO DIFFERENT than the crispy!!! I should have known better. It's been too many years since we've been there. It was almost as if the chicken was soaked in grease before hand. That's probably how they make it so juicy. There was actually more grease in the bottom of the grilled bucket than the crispy. Why does something that tastes good have to be soo gross? (mistake #8)
My salad was great! I loved the new dressing I tried. I will have to find it again. Since the chicken was not the best I figured I would load up on salad and green beans. As I went to scoop my beans out... lo-and-behold they were cooked in butter as well as the water! I should have known. (mistake #9) Old dogs.
At this point I texted Danny in desparation. "This is a disaster of a weekend for food. I don't know what to do. String beans cooked in butter. KFC grilled chicken is NOT any healthier than fried (the chicken we were going to cook was spoiled? baked potatoes smeared with Crisco, really? I made a couple bad choices but nothing horrendous. But meal timing is horrible! her breakfast wasn't until 10am! I brought somthings but guess I just need to take over tomorrow? What do I do? Gma is cooking the healthiest she knows how but it still sucks. Old dogs & new tricks. -Ps. I'm serious. No 6 Krispy Kremes here... :o)" Her response didn't come until about midnight (she was out on a hot date :oP) "Do what you can... Eat any fruits or veggies offered."
Mark called to check on me and see if I was doing what I was suppose too. He told me I had to take control. "[I was] there to help take care of her so [I] should have been doing all the cooking anyway. So after the kids go to bed go to the store and get the foods [I] need. Take over tomorrow." How was I going to do this without making her feel bad, like her food wasn't good enough? It was easier than I feared. I simply asked what the plan was for the next day. Since the chicken was spoiled I said I could run to the store and pick some more up. That way I picked up some fruit, deli turkey for my sandwich for lunch, more salad and chicken. Easy as pie.... I mean, celery. :oD
FB: "I'M TAKING OVER. You have been warned." Sunday, was so much better. I made sure I got my snacks in and had healthier meals. I ate more fruit (nectarines) than I should have but I felt it was better than before. Come dinner time I was happily making dinner (spaghetti for them & grilled chicken for me) when my uncle came in asking if we had eaten yet. He had picked up dinner for everyone. Not wanting him to feel bad I told him to bring it on in; we could put what I was fixing in the frig. This is what he brought in......
THE BIGGEST PIZZA I HAVE EVER SEEN!!!!
I was in awe as well as my kids!!
I couldn't believe it. 25 inches across.... come to find out a friend once had 30inches.. she wins :oP
Crap! I had it all worked out and here's another thing. Oh well, I still ate my yummy chicken & salad. Unfortunately, I did have a fair amount of parmesan pizza bread. (mistake #10) Oh I did learn too that if you slice the chicken thin and put a touch of olive oil in the pan (your fat for dinner) the chicken is soo juicy!
Well, we were leaving the next day. A bitter sweet. We went to Rick's again. I was smart and had some fruit, nuts & protein shake when I got up because I knew it would be a late breakfast. This time I was good. I order the omelet, tomatoes and oatmeal instead of the biscuits or toast. I also only had one bite of the waffles & 1 of Emily's omlete. I felt munchy but satisfied.
Amazing the changes that occur over time. After I finished, I sat appalled as I watched others finishing their "lumber-jack" breakfasts. I thought, "there is no way that will be finished" but sure enough.... I wanted to gag and throw up. I was shocked. I am happy with my changes. Thanks so much Danny for everything!!!
Well, I was happy to be on my way home. I was ready to be into my own routine again. As soon as we pulled into our garage what was the first thing I do? Change and go to the gym. Crazy I know. But it felt so good. 1hr on the stairs. It was actually fairly easy, I was pleasantly surprised. LOVED IT!!! <3
I don't ever want to be out of control of my situation again.
By Jasmin Ford aka Transcendtoo on March 08, 2011 9:32am
I've been there... its a tough road, but if you really want it you can get it... We all believe in you and glad you are doing this for yourself!
By Katie Sutherlin on March 08, 2011 5:53am
Bless your heart, you had a rough weekend but you were aware of the food that was thrown your way. Hang in there.
By Christina B. on March 08, 2011 5:01am
It's tough when you don't actually prepare your foods for yourself. Even when you think you're making a good food choice, you just never know (like the fact that so many places like to slather butter on a perfectly good healthy steak, just my pet peeve!!). Good job being aware of all these things. That's a great step towards your healthy future!!!
By DrDiva on March 07, 2011 10:20pm
Isn't it unbelievable the social and emotional pressures to eat foods that make us sick and unhealthy? Not just as an occasional treat, but as a way of life. I have been "rude" a lot in the past 6 months, but if people really want the best for you, they will understand. I've totally don the trash it, flush, it get rid of it however you can thing. Much better than ANYONE in the house eating it. None of us need it, and I think of it as an act of love.
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