One Down, One To Go

I think the first official holiday dinner since starting this journey went pretty well. I wouldn’t say I did perfectly, but then I was never hoping for perfection - just control. I actually did great when it came to avoiding the pre-supper chips and nuts. I even turned down the offers of soda and liquor. The meal itself did, indeed, have the limited choices that I had feared, but I made do rather nicely.

I only took about half the sized portions of what I normally would have served myself in the past. Plus, I never went back for seconds, which I most assuredly would have done at any prior occasions such as today’s. I ate slowly and thoughtfully. I put my fork down many, many times. I even got up once to refill my water so that I was able to pause from the eating for a brief moment. I managed to end my meal so that I was finished at the same time as everyone else – although nearly everybody had already had second or third helpings – and I set about helping to clear the dishes right away so that I wouldn’t be tempted to pick at the food left on the table. Overall, I think that it went really well and I am really pleased that I was able to implement so many techniques to help me get through a potentially difficult holiday dinner.

And then dessert was served.

I returned from the kitchen, where I had been putting some things away in the fridge, to discover that the hostess was in the process of serving up bowls of chocolate trifle. Yikes! I immediately requested just a small helping, but inevitably found an average sized serving staring back at me. So, I very slowly - while taking tiny bites - set about consuming the delicious, creamy dessert. I genuinely did not want to be rude by turning it down or leaving some of it uneaten, but fortunately a couple of people were happy to have me share with them the portion I was reluctant to finish.

I think that this is the first time since beginning this blog that I felt completely full after a meal. This is not to necessarily say that I overate. I honestly think that I did well considering the concerns that I had going into this. But because I now eat many smaller portions throughout the day, having one large chunk of food in one go was a little overwhelming.

Something scary that I have to admit though is that, were I not keeping myself in check and remaining conscious of my eating, I probably still could have easily succumbed to old habits and shoveled three times the amount of food in my mouth as I actually did. Considering I was totally full tonight, it really makes me aware of just how much I must have been overdoing it in the past.

The one downside to eating all of that wonderful food is how I am feeling now. I am sick. My stomach is turning and I just feel ill. I had to take a couple of antacids which I haven’t done in – hmmm, let’s see now – two months. I may have eaten the first normal sized holiday dinner I have had in a long, long time, but it was still a lot of food compared to the portions I have been doling out to myself lately. The unfortunate result is that I am feeling gross and unable to do very much on the exercise front. Hopefully tomorrow will find me with more energy and the ability to carry out some activity before I partake in my final feast of Thanksgiving.

FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 10 glasses of water throughout the day
- 1 pear
- 2 cups of red pepper with fat free rancher’s choice dressing
- 1/2 glass of white wine
- 2 gherkin pickles
- 1 cup of dark turkey with cranberry sauce and gravy
- 1/2 cup of stuffing
- 1/2 cup of corn
- 1/2 cup of mashed potatoes
- 1 white bun with butter
- 3/4 cup of chocolate trifle
- 1 mug of tea with milk
- 2 cup of celery with 2 Tb. light peanut butter

EXERCISE:
- 3 sets of 2 minutes of weight lifting with 5 lbs per arm
- 3 sets of 15 lunges for each leg
- 3 sets of 15 squats