I feel like I have spent the last few days rolling around rubbing my belly, unable to dress, unable to write! To explain, we go back to Saturday….
When you have committed to a new way of eating, the reality is it can be a real challenge to eat out. For me personally, it has come down to what I am and am not willing to negotiate on – and fundamentally you need to decide what you are prepared to live with. And so began my challenge of an entire weekend away at a hotel to celebrate my friends birthday.
As far as weekends go, this one was pretty spectacular. Five star hotel by the beach, perfect weather, and days spent having fun with some of my favorite people in the world.
It was also however, the first weekend I have been away without the comforts, conveniences (or in the very least the capacity to be organised with my food) of home. It had all been OK. Lunch on Friday was Mexican, choosing nachos as the only GF option and keeping my portions under control. Dinner was Thai, that is until a complete accident involving a bottle of red wine, and me in a white dress…
After a short time in the bathroom with one friend pouring soda water on me, and another pouring white wine on me (because you know, the wines cancel one another out), I fled back to the hotel in a slightly pink, very wet, and incredibly see-through white dress. After a clean up to ensure I no longer smelt like a professional alcoholic, and I wasn’t going to wake up with unplanned pink highlights, my roomie Alan ever so kindly brought some roast duck back to the hotel – which I devoured in bed watching Archer.
Brunch Saturday was a straight forward affair of bacon, eggs and avocado at local eatery Lark (highly recommended). Side note – breakfast is always an easier time to eat out. Just make all your social interactions over brunch from here on out – it is after all the best meal of the day! And then came dinner *shudders*.
For those familiar with QT on the Gold Coast, you have probably also heard of Bazaar. Bazaar is essentially an upmarket Sizzler, with no a la carte menu and an all you can eat buffet. If this wasn’t already a recipe for disaster, dinner at Bazaar will cost you $72 per person. Those who know me can tell you I am a bargain hunter. I love a sale – it makes me feel like I’m cheating a system somehow. At the other end of the spectrum, if I do have to spend good money on something – it better be the best – and I absolutely better be getting my monies worth!
So much of what I have learned this year has been about listening to my body – and really controlling my portions so it is getting what it needs, when it needs it. All this clearly forgotten on Saturday.
The above was followed by another plate of mixed goodies, a custom order of pork belly, a cheese and salami plate, and then some dessert options (not of the gluten and sugar free variety). But it seemed like a good idea at the time…everyone was doing it!
This has been a relatively long and pretty directionless story to share just this. I did something I probably knew I shouldn’t have. I felt physically sick. I still don’t feel quite right three days on, and fundamentally I regret it. We are imperfect creatures, we will live in the moment and we will make mistakes. Take the time to listen to yourself, and learn from your experiences. Or learn from mine!
A big part of the food battle is getting enough momentum in your routine that you physically feel and see the differences in your body. Trust me when I say there will be no better motivator to keep moving forward, exercise some self control, and make better decisions for yourself.
I’m a little sleep deprived and clearly lost capacity for coherent story telling somewhere there. And on that note, I’m signing off!
lazygirl 