Thursday, January 17, 2008

Planning Ahead....


I have been doing so well this past week that it scares me. It often seems when I get overconfident that I allow myself to indulge. I'm determined not to do that this time!


This weekend will be a real test. My two daughters and I are travelling to Massachusetts to visit the youngest daughter. Which means there will be a pit stop en route to grab dinner. And the only pit stops on the NYS Thruway are fast food places! I've already decided what I'm going to do. Ordering a salad is a no-brainer. But I'm bringing along my own dressing. What Micky D's considers lite is not so lite! I'm not too worried about eating with the girls once we get there. Somehow the younger two have adopted very healthy eating styles and they are an inspiration to me. The oldest is a bit like her mommy. (She's the only one I didn't breastfeed.... hmmm...could there be a connection here?) But she's on this roll with me too - trying to eat better and move more. She's young. That's a real point in her favor.


So I'm kind of excited about this trip that isn't really focusing on food at all! We plan to shop and sight see and rent videos and giggle into the night. Used to be a trip for me always revolved around the food. Where we'd eat... what snacks to bring for the car ride.... baking cookies to eat mindlessly all weekend.... I'm not saying this will be totally easy. Old habits die hard. The difference is I'm thinking about it now instead of winging it - like I'm prone to do - which always leaves me making the wrong choices.


I won't deny myself this weekend. But I won' overindulge either and I'll try to make the wisest choices I can. Because face it - weekend get-aways are gonna' happen. I have to learn now how to handle them. And that means focusing on the great time I'm going to spend with those girls. And leaving the food in the shadows - where it belongs.

12 comments:

Teale said...

I think bringing your own dressing is a fantastic idea! What a great way to still stay on plan & adapt to what the trip will throw at you!

Hanlie said...

There's a wonderful South African tradition called padkos, literally "road food" (not to be confused with roadkill!). It means "traveling food" and it means packing a cooler bag or box with the food that you'd like to eat on the road. Traditionally it would be sandwiches, boiled eggs, sausage, meatballs, chicken drumsticks, fruit and dried fruit, a flask with coffee and even some rusks). Some of my older relatives would pack a tablecloth, plates, cutlery, the works. Sadly it's a tradition that's dying out a bit, now that the rest stops all have fast food restaurants.

I'm not suggesting that you pack a banquet, but you may want to consider a few delicious finger sandwiches and some fruit. That way you won't be starving when you get to the fast food place. Let's face it, not even your own dressing is going to make their limp salad appetizing. These places are in the business of selling fat, and salads and the like are just an afterthought, which they don't mind taking your money for.

That's what I'd do in this situation. While the girls are having their burgers, you can have a nice relaxing cup of coffee, knowing that you've eaten well and healthily.

Lora said...

Hanlie~ Your idea sounds great! I'll bet the girls would be for it too! Maybe then we could just make a potty stop instead of a food stop and get there even quicker! BTW- what's a rusk?

Felicia said...

I think your "plan" sounds great! Planning a ahead gives you that extra boost to succeed! YOU CAN DO IT and STILL have a good time!!

*huggles*
=0)

Honi said...

bringing your own dressing is a great idea.. why not pack some snacks too.. fresh fruit or a really good cheese and crackers and some water or diet pop.. u could make some yummy finger sandwiches on light bread too.. cucumber and light cream cheese.. little cheese sandwiches.. stuff like that.. simpiliar to what Hanlie said... have a wonderful time

pointing the weigh said...

I hope you have a great time!

Rusks over here are chunky hardish biscuits that are mushed up with warm baby milk and fed to babies, actually they are lovely and a lot of adults eat them and I don't think they are very high in WWers points.

Lovely family picture.

Hugs xx

Lidian said...

Ah, the NYS Thruway food, I know it well! I like to stop where there is a TCBY, you can get a large sugar free fat free frozen yogurt which is very filling and I think it is less than 200 calories, let me check - Dottie's Weight Loss Zone has all the calories for restaurants and on there it says 1/2 c of Sf ff TCBY is 90 cals.

And bringing your own dressing is brilliant! I will have to do that next time. Hope you have a wonderful trip!

Chubby Chick said...

You and your daughters are lovely! What a great pic! :)

I hope you all have a great time together! I'm sure that your planning ahead is really going to help you to stay focused. Good luck! But most importantly... enjoy the time with your daughters! :)

Heather said...

I think the very fact that you are planning will help you find success! bringing your dressing..plannning your meals...allowing for indulgences...sounds like a good plan! have a great time!

Lauren said...

You can do it!!! you are doing so great. Say hi to massachusetts for me.

Anonymous said...

Have a great time on your trip, Lora! I know you'll do great since you'll have your beautiful daughters there to help you keep motivated. :)

Anonymous said...

Yeah its a trip going out to eat. I really avoided it the first 3 months cuz I couldnt get a handle on it. I remember ordering the same Arbys you did and crying when I got home and looked it up. TGI Fridays purposely does not list their nuttrional info online. their lite menu says under 500 calories and max 10g of fat. thats still 10 points!!!! not knowiing the fiber content

I got in the habit of preplanning when I went out. Wendys salads are great but u have to ask for the fat free or light dressing, I used to order the mandaring chicken salad. Still 7 points if you use all the toppings and dressings. If u go to Wendys webstie u can customize ur meal's nutritional info by picking and choosing the extras.

Subway is ok too. turkey sub w no cheese and all the veggies (and mustard not mayo) is pretty filling. These 2 are the best takeouts Ive found so far....

Im liking Smart Balance butter (light) its very tolerable for a margarine. Got that hint from you, you know - and ur dr. oz! I also will stop buying that fat free salad dressing wegmans brand. cuz of the hydrogenated oils thing... I reading those labels better now...

Also, try Fiber Essentials for cereal. Its Wegmans brand, it tastes better than Fiber One, and very filling for a small porttion. and crunchy. I dont get the fiber side effects from this like some other cereals... if ya know what i mean....