Monday, October 12, 2009

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

10 comments:

  1. It sounds like you did really, really well. Finishing your smaller helpings while other people had second and thirds shows how little you ate and how much they did! Congratulations all the way around.

    It's interesting to me that you felt ill after that much food. The same thing happens to me when I eat either too much food, or too much rich food. I love how our bodies react positively to healthier food and let us know when we have given it something less than ideal!

    I hope you feel better today. Take care.

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  2. It sounds to me like you have a good strategy there, and you actually managed to follow it as well! I usually have lots of ideas of ways to control my eating on holidays or special events, but rarely manage to remember them once I see the food.
    As a Brit I don't celebrate Thanksgiving, but the way the meal made you feel afterwards reminds me of last Christmas. I followed the meal with a brisk walk lasting maybe an hour and a half, and by the time I got back everything had settled right down againl, leaving me feeling much better than the other guests, who were sitting around groaning! Walking may not be as energetic as a lot of forms of exercise, but its the only one I think I could do after rich food that wouldn't make me lose my lunch!
    I hope you're feeling better soon - and your successful efforts at restraint should give you a big boost for the next one!

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  3. Sounds like you did a really great job! You were conscious of your eating, you paced yourself plus you got to enjoy the meal.

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  4. I think your day was a flaming success. I recall how nervous you were about it and your resolve sounded a little tentative at times. I like your getting up for water to kill a little time. Great tip. When I go to someone's house, I enjoy whatever she's serving. I might not take a huge portion but I take some. I've been the hostess too many times when someone (reportedly on a diet) passes up something I made special. It burns me up because I know they go home and eat Ritz Crackers or something because they're still hungry. Anyway, good for you.

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  5. Holiday meals are always tough but it sounds like you did great. Congrats!

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  6. Holiday meals are always so very hard -- and it sounds like you did so well! I'm proud of your willpower!

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  7. Holiday meals are tough to navigate through, but it appears you sailed through with minimal damage. Just run away from the leftovers!

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  8. I think you handled that dinner very well. Mine is today and you've inspired me to stay on plan.

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  9. What a fantastic job girl!!! Very proud of that portion control....I could eat 5 c of chocolate trifle, lol. 1 down, 1 to go! You're doing great. :)

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  10. Thanks, everyone! I feel all pumped up now! You are all helping to set me up for another successful day!

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