Days 109 - 114 aka On The Road Again....

Well, I am back in TN - this time for a work conference.  There are about 50 of us from Louisiana here.  I flew with a group that left out of NOLA.  I couldn't sleep the night before because I was so afraid the seat belt in the airplane wouldn't fit.  I didn't want to have to be sitting next to a colleague and have to ask for an extension.  The one time I had to ask, I was sitting next to my mum and I pretty much cried the entire flight.  It was awful - I actually stole the extender so I would have one to travel with.  It made me miserable.  And before that there were times that I would try to hide the seat belt under my shirt so the flight attendants couldn't see....Or I would stand up just enough so I could get it fastened and then sit down and be in misery the whole time...On what flight I actually had cuts in my skin by the time I got home because my seat belt was so tight.

Just looking back on it now makes me feel so embarrassed.  It is always at those moments where I would wonder when did this happen?  How did I let myself get this way?

I kept on telling my mum how scared I was to fly to TN and she repeatedly told me not to worry...the seat belt would fit.  I thought she was just doing the mom thing and telling me what I wanted to hear... but she was right!!  It fit!  Seriously...it has been a long time since I felt comfortable on the airplane! 

So the opening dinner was a little tough.  It was banquet/buffet style and when we sat down the desserts were already on the table - chocolate cake, lemon meringue pie, etc...pretty much whatever you wanted.

When I got to the buffet, I pretty much broke out in a cold sweat.  I had been travelling all day and was starving.  The options were: salad with caesar dressing, grilled veggies, veggie lasagna, sausage and penne, garlic bread (which, pre paleo, was my all time favorite food).  I did the best I could and had a big salad with a little bit of dressing, the grilled veggies, and the sausage out of the pasta.  I know people probably thought I was crazy...I am at a crowded buffet, people waiting in line, and I stand there and carefully pick out a pile of sausage to eat.  A few months ago, if I saw someone do that, I would have thought they were being CRAZY!  hah 

I offered my dessert up to my non-dieting colleagues and got it away from as soon as possible.  Considering the situation, I am proud of my eating for that meal.

When I got up this morning, I met my colleague and friend for a WOD outside on the campus where we are staying.  She had never done Crossfit and I was excited to show her what a WOD could be...we did:

Travel WOD!

For 2 minutes each (30 second rest in between)
jump rope
sit ups
squats
push ups

2 minute rest

do it again!

It was great - we both enjoyed it....it helped me feel energized, and then I was done with my WOD for the day!  I think my exercise partner underestimated the WOD because it is only 16 minutes of actual exercise.  But we just got out of a meeting and she was saying that her legs STILL hurt from the exercise!  I just texted her the information about the CrossFit NOLA...we will see if I converted her!

Breakfast was great - big buffet with eggs and lots of meat options.  Lunch, on the other hand, was a disaster.  It was box lunches with a delicious looking sandwich, potato chips and a cookie. I knew the sandwich was mostly bread and eating the meat inside would not fill me up.  I also knew that if I got the box it would be very had to resist the chips and cookie.

thank you Quiznos!

So I left the conference and ate by myself at a Quiznos.  It was a bummer to have to eat alone but the salad was super delicious and filling.

Dinner took a little more will power....the meal started with some unbelievable looking bread that I think was more like fried dough then rolls.  From what I understand (I did not sample, just made everyone tell me every detail..hahah) they were great and came with a honey butter...  :(  There were two left in the basket that I know were meant for me!  The main course was easier - I had a small steak and some steamed broccoli and carrots.  I wouldn't say I was full afterwards - when you aren't eating the bread or dessert you have to eat more of the veggies/meat to be full!  But I couldn't really ask for a second meal....I'm glad I packed some raw nuts!

Thank You Robb Wolf!!

I did have one alcoholic drink - I stuck with one I read about in Robb Wolf''s book.  He calls it the NorCal margarita.  It is low in calories and very, very delicious!

The dessert was either cheesecake or key lime pie..I LOVE key lime pie.... but I didn't do it...not even one bite!

One thing that motivated me today was the pants I was wearing.  They were 3 sizes smaller than when I started and I bought them about 2 weeks ago specifically for this trip.  They were actually a little tight when I bought them but was sick of wearing baggie things.  Well, I seriously spend the ENTIRE day pulling them up!  They are almost too big to stay on me at all! 

So, I am here for 2 more days.  So far, I am VERY proud of myself.  My eating/exercise was VERY different when I went to a similar conference just about a year ago!!