Adios Amigos

Tomorrow I will meet Rachael at the airport for our trip to Spain.  

In the chaos of packing, I give Matt his reminders:  Don’t forget to water the house plants.  Please put up the hammocks.  Remember to check the labels on your knits before you put them in the washer.

And Matt gives me his:  Remember to call when you get there.  (He made sure my cell was hooked up to an international calling plan.)  Watch out for pickpockets.  Be careful where you go after dark.  I’m waiting to see if he’ll tell me not to talk to strangers.  (Just kidding, Matt.)

In truth I’ll miss him.  This will be the longest we’ve been apart since getting married.  On the other hand, Rachael is highly self disciplined with food, with everything really, and will most likely be a good influence in that regard.

This morning the scale said 164.5 lbs.  This was in spite of a relatively restrained binge which began Friday night and lasted through Saturday.  The lesson here might be that I can’t hurt myself too badly with Breyers Light ice cream and Trader Joe’s High Fiber Cereal (as opposed to Ghiradelli’s  chocolate chips . . . yes Matt, I did indeed wipe them out in a previous binge).  My hope and my intention is to return to the U.S. weighing under 170 pounds, the less weight the better.  I’m packing my own airplane snacks to give myself a good start.  Also the soy jerky I mentioned in my last post. I’ll be remembering what Kim A. said about portion sizes and Don Q. about picking my indulgences.  I’ll effectively use my affirmation “I, Arlene, easily maintain self control in the food choices I make.”  And, if I am very very well behaved in Spain, I’ll reward myself with a German Baby or Apple Puff Pancake at a restaurant near the airport when I return.  I haven’t had one of these amazing wonders in at least two decades.

So, I’m off.  I intend to return having successfully faced the challenges which are about to confront me and having thoroughly enjoyed the weeks ahead.  Thank you to all who’ve been helping me by their support.  You know who you are.

Help!!!

Old habits are not easily changed. I’ve got much to do and am hereby suspending my commitment to walk every day – even for just 20 minutes. I’m busy with a number of sewing projects for my travels with Rachael. After a sewing hiatus of close to 30 years, I’m discovering that the instructions for the patterns I’m using are causing me time-consuming difficulties. I’m convinced that they were originally written in Chinese and translated into English by someone in India who speaks neither language. With no malice towards the people of either China or India, I believe that some things just shouldn’t be outsourced! Errrrrrrrrg and Grrrrrrrrr!

In the non-Erggggg and Grrrrrrr category, the scale read 166.5 this morning. I’ve been ebbing and flowing to and from this weight for about a week now. This is how it was the last time around, as if I need to “test” a weight before dropping lower. I’m satisfied with this. I’ve been on target with my eating and I know that the numbers on the scale will take care of themselves as long as I stay at or under my daily allotment of 25 points. That said, I hope to see 165 on the scale before my trip to Spain.

I’m somewhat concerned about how I’ll deal with the dietary aspects of that trip At this point my affirmation is: “I, Arlene, easily maintain self control in the food choices I make.” I‘m bringing along with me my water bottle, travel coffee cup, and about 30 bags of Jerquee, a soy product with approx. 160 calories and 13 grams of protein for a 1.5 oz. bag. My intention is to allow myself some leeway on this trip. I’d like to enjoy food that I don’t usually get a chance to experience. I use the word “experience” intentionally. Eating foods that are not a part of one’s usual routine is a pleasurable part of the travel experience. I don’t want to deprive myself of it. Can I give myself permission to indulge without losing self control? I know it’s up to me, but I also know how easily my resolve breaks apart once I loosen the restraints. I don’t expect to be getting rid of the lbs. when I’m gone; in fact, I’m okay with a small regain. I just don’t yet have enough of the answer to feel that I’m up to this challenge. I’d really really really appreciate any suggestions.