Business Travel

ahrengirl

I just got home from 6 days on the road. My company sponsors a PGA Senior Tour tournament. I was fortunate to go this week and host customers. It was great... played in my first proam, met some pro golfers and watched great golf. The problem was the eating. All our events were not very vegan friendly. I'd find myself eating potato chips because it was the only thing available. Plus did I mention the open bar all week? I am disappointed to have not lost any weight this week but still happy to have not gained. This week I am home until Saturday then it's a run of 3 more weeks of business travel. I think this week will preparing food to pack into my suitcase. My best bet will be to eat before our planned dinners.

kdavid1987

In my opinion most of the world is not vegan friendly, LOL. I often find myself eating French fries under very similar circumstances that you describe here. I have always found it helpful to eat a full meal right before an event so I am not hungry during times when there is nothing vegan available. I do think you're right that bringing along some healthy snacks and doing a bit of planning will help you lose this upcoming week. I am glad to hear that you see maintaining as a success!!! You need to give yourself credit for doing your best under difficult circumstances. May I ask what you do for a living? It seems like you have a very interesting job

ahrengirl

I work for Mitsubishi Electric as a Senior Marketing Manager in the Cooling & Heating division. We sell ductless units both residential and commercial.

kdavid1987

Very cool. My dad is an airline pilot and basically has the same issue you do -- it's so hard to "eat clean" when you're living out of a bag. however, he has been having a lot of success maintaining significant weight loss by packing healthy dried snacks on his trips

5n00py

Well done Heather!

I applaud the prep and bring with mindset, but it is a shame that vegan is such a hard thing for mainstream catering to address.

Apart from virtually all country areas in Australia being non-vegan-friendly, we also have quarantine areas which mean you can't transport various foods in/out without them being fumigated and certified. All additional levels of difficulty to just eat clean and healthy! (And I certainly am not keen on eating any Methyl Bromide fumigated foods! )

2busy4health

I think you guys have hit the nail on the head with the planning mind set. I've been to some events that have had the token 'vegetarian option' but it ends up being full of cheese or the like which isn't much help for a vegan Plus only 1-2 options when everyone else gets a million is totally not fair. If you eat beforehand or bring food you're looking forward to eating it might help strengthen your resolve to not reach for the fries.

It can be disappointing if you have been doing a great job with your weight loss journey, and then you have a few days of higher energy eating/drinking- just remember that's all it is. It isn't a reflection on you, and as long as it doesn't become your 'most of the time' eating pattern then it's fine. You just ate more energy, it happened, now you'll focus on eating well and it might even re-ignite that weight loss ambition.

Side note: sometimes I'll justify eating fries because I actually want them, but say it's because I have no choice like: "Well there's no vegan option so I guess I HAVE to eat them". Hahahahaha. I've found that for me it works to shut down the temptation in advance.

Good luck with your trips. Let us know how you go

ahrengirl

Thank you all. I just got home today from a national meeting that stretched over 3 days. One dinner had iceberg wedge salads with blue cheese and bacon, corn on the cob swimming in oil and butter plus an assortment of BBQ meats. No a thing to eat so I went in the bar and order a heaping plate of steamed vegetables. The conversation went back and forth... only vegetables and nothing on them? Yes, that is all I want. Turned out delicious. The next day was a taco bar with no vegetables. I ate a meal of rice. At least that night we had a plated dinner with a real vegan meal served.

Thankfully I have only have the next two weeks on the road then I issued a self-imposed travel ban for the next month.

I've been vegan now for 4 months and I struggled with the decision because I knew how challenging it would be with my job. Between all the entertaining, events and travel it didn't feel possible. But I am very happy with my decision and I realized I needed to put myself first. IT CAN BE DONE!

Last night was a turning point for me when two of my coworkers asked me more about being vegan. They see how it changed me for the better and watched me eat on the road. They feel they can do it and it would help their health issues. I was shocked but felt very rewarded to know I am inspiring those around me.

kdavid1987

I've been vegan for a little shy of 10 years. There are some things that never get easier (dealing with jerks tormenting you about how much they love to kill animals) and some things that do stop troubling you pretty quickly. After the first year I stopped "missing" things I used to eat, and honestly, a lot of animal products don't even seem edible to me any more. And yes, just doing your own vegan thing really can inspire others. It's so cool that you've had the opportunity to influence so many people from your work.