Misc. ramblings -

Let's see - two things on my mind today.  First, is that I've really been enjoying hot tea lately.  Sometimes I just want something warm and satisfying, and hot tea seems to fit the bill these days.  I've been experimenting with new flavors -- current kicks include French Vanilla and Ginger Peach.  I started drinking hot tea when one of my co-workers who's doing Weigh****chers mentioned that drinking hot beverages satisfied her when she was having head hunger.  So I tried it and it's been working really well for me too in terms of addressing head hunger.  Almost like my body thinks it getting some real food, when in reality it's flavored ho****er with a packet or two of Splenda.  Hey, if it doesn't know any better, I'm not telling!!!! Second thing is that I leave for a week's vacation Wednesday.  My girlfriend and I are going to Wiscon, which is a feminist science fiction convention in Madison, WI.  We've been for the past two years and had a blast; am sure we'll have a great time this year as well.   Only downside for me is that I tend to eat a lot more when we're traveling.  Last year, I gained 8-10 pounds during the week we were gone!  So I've got a slightly different plan for this year:  we're packing food for breakfast, lunch, and snacks, and our only meal at restaurants will be dinner.  We may vary from that a little the two days that we're driving and we'll probably have one hot breakfast at the hotel restaurant.  Otherwise, I'm hoping to have more control over my food this way, but still be able to enjoy one nice meal out each day.   Anyway, those are the things that are on my mind.  I'm curious how others do when they travel; do you stick to your regular food plan plan?  Eat differently, knowing that you'll go back to your regular routine when you get home?  Take food with you?  If you're willing to share, I'm interested in how others cope -  Kellie

I love tea.  Hot tea, cold tea, any flavor tea.  When I was a kid I'd order iced tea with my Happy Meal.  Fortunately there are a lot of yummy caffeine free teas out there, as I try to limit the caffeine to either 8oz coffee or 8oz green tea per day.  As for travel - I've got a week in Boston coming up and I am not completely sure how I'm going to approach it.  We'll be walking a bunch, so I'm not going to be completely psycho about restricting food, but I'm not going to let loose either.  We do plan to go to Blue Ginger one night, that's our food splurge, and I do plan to eat as much as I want or can handle.  Other than that, I'll probably have milk in the morning, or Starbucks, some kind of soup or salad for lunch or steal hubby's food, and dinner will be whatever I want, within reason.  Often there are snacks around at a conference, I will try to ignore them.  At the ballgame I will probably have something sinful, like nachos, but I don't want to get sick so I won't eat much. I am not planning on packing a lot of food, but I will probably throw a few protein bars in my carry-on just to have around all week.  Honestly, I plan to pretty much stick with my current eating patterns and not stress too much if something naughty comes my way, but traveling is definitely not an excuse to let loose, IMO. 

Hey Kellie,  I drink Bigelow "I Love Lemon" Tea it also helps when I have cravings.  As for travel it sounds like you have a great plan in place. But I think when your on vacation its ok to indulge a little. Just don't blow it totally and get back on track when you return.  Have a great time on vacation. 

Well, I haven't exactly been vigilant about my eating at all lately, which already has me a bit worried.  We leave for South Dakota next week and I don't want to spend the whole time eating or thinking about eating.  It's totally a head thing that I need to work through. Have fun on your trip! Kix

Hi Kellie Happy Monday to ya!  OMG for a week a month I could kill someone for a cookie lol  I wish tea would do it for me..Maybe I will give it a try...Cinnamon always did seem to comfort....so maybe a cin tea?  ....I seem to have more isssues with the PMS thing since WLS..part of me thinks its because I pay more attention to what i'm feeling?...... maybe before if I wanted a pb cup I just ate one..now I still want it I just won't let myself eat it? I duno...but one thing is for sure I certainly pms for a week or more...UGH.... As far as traveling? i'm terrible,  I went camping this weekend with my 10 year old cubscout and ate like crap for a full 24 hours....It's like giving myself permission to be bad just because i'm not at home or work... I didn't drink enough I ate chips and 1/2 a hot dog, some of a burger with bun! ....see what I mean?  I hope you get some good replys from this I could use the traveling or just changing your routine advice.... I hope you have alot of fun on your trip! See ya when you get back :) Estelle

I never had PMS pre-op but I definitely have it now.  Bloaty and grumpy and hungry - I want to gnaw my arm off for a couple of days, and chocolate is my holy grail. 

Yeah, tea doesn't always cut it when I've got PMS munchies, but it is helpful the other three weeks out of the month!  Not much helps my PMS these days, although I do seem to be slightly less evil when I stick to my exercise routine when the PMS comes around.  But my appetite really increases about a week before my period starts and I usually just wind up eating more than usual.  I try to stick to my regular foods, but sometimes the Dove Dark chocolate promises cause me to lose the battle.   I think for me the key to traveling is adjusting my thinking.  My "normal" response to being on vacation is that it's the time to over-indulge and eat whatever I want; that's what I did for 38 years and we all know how well that turned out, eh?  For this trip, I'm going to try to limit my "indulgences" to one meal per day, and even then to still make some good healthy choices to go with my indulgence.  I'll be interested to see whether I can exercise this kind of self-restraint - will provide an update when I get home! Kellie

greetings kellie i do a lot of traveling for my job, so this food thing is an issue with me. i do always take some protein bars and some of the shakes that i like with me, but i also do relax my standards and indulge in the occasional cookie while on the road! i spend way too much time in the detroit airport  (I'm writing from the det airport right now) -- and there's a mrs. field's store here! i don't go overboard, and i don't ever have cookies at home! so far, my mrs. field's indulgences haven't caused any significant issues. have a great time on your vacation! deb

I usually drink decaf herbal teas, but the French Vanilla I've been enjoying is a caffeinated black tea.  Think I'll look for decaf the next time.   I was better early out about not overindulging when I travel.  I've definitely gotten worse about it over time, treating vacation as a sort of free-for-all when it comes to food.  Granted, it's nothing like what I would or could have done as a pre-op, but definitely more self-indulgent than I generally allow myself to be at home.  But I always hate stepping on the scale when I get home and learning that I've up 5-10 pounds in a short period of time.  And I think I've gotten to a point where I hate that enough that I'm willing to be less self-indulgent while I'm away.   Luckily, we're driving to Madison, so I can pack a medium cooler with things I'd normally eat.  We're getting a small fridge for our room, so I'll be able to keep deli meat, cottage cheese, yogurt, string cheese, etc. on hand.  I'm also taking protein bars for times when I can't get back to my room at snack time.  I think that by sticking with my regular food plan during the daytime, that I'll be able to splurge a little at dinner and not feel left out.  Plus, the hotel where we're staying has a great pool and a nice fitness center, so I will exercise while I'm there. 

Enjoy your trip to Boston - I've never been there, but I understand it's great.  Also, enjoy dinner at Blue Ginger - I'm jealous about that one!!! 

Kellie

Tea is my very favorite drink, hot or cold, yummy! I travel alot and what I've found is that if I carry something with me at all times that I know is good for me, it makes me snack on something bad for me less. Some of my travel foods are -  Jerky Kay's Naturals Crystal light to go packs Protein bars Bumble Bee Fat free tuna kits Peanut Butter Crackers If hubby is along we tend to share meals which is always good for both of us. I also try to have a bottle of water in my hand as often as possible. Hope you have a great trip!