Lessons and Victories from Last Week
rpyle111
Posts: 1,060 Member
I spent the past 9 days on a business trip to Europe. We were visiting suppliers so it was a pretty travel intensive trip, with full day trips to a city in Germany and then a day trip to Paris, followed by a couple of days in Krakow. I went into this trip already deciding that i wasn't going to stress about eating, would try to get some exercise in, and see how it went.
The Positives:
I haven't felt that comfortable travelling in many years. I fit in every airline seat, even on the full economy flight where I had the aisle and there was a guy in the middle seat, i didn't inconvenience him too much at all. No more seat belt extenders! The big flights were business class, so that is luxurious already, but I fit in those little seat/pods better than I have as well.
We walked a lot. My colleague and I stayed in a nice hotel on the West side of the river in Cologne and had to walk across the Rhine every day to catch the train to wherever we were going. It was probably 3/4 of a mile each way. We also walked a lot around town. I never felt winded, but my hip was bugging me after some of the longer walks. My FitBit registered over 15000 steps on 5 of the 9 days, and only one day was less than 10k.
Got to the hotel gym twice in the first few days, but not during the rest of the week.
The Negatives:
I was going to try and not over-control my eating, but still try to make good choices. I found that the European breakfast buffet at the hotel found my weaknesses and exploited them! We were in a nice hotel with a large buffet breakfast. You can make really good choices here: two or three types of yogurt, fresh fruit, eggs, cold cuts and other meats. You can also eat quite badly: a whole table of fresh breads and rolls, multiple yummy cheeses near the cold cuts, sausage and bacon. I didn't do very well for the three breakfasts we had in the hotel.. Luckily, two of the days we left before the buffet opened, so I had a Quest bar that I brought and those days were better.
Being on expense, we were eating out most nights and I tended to look for interesting, local things on the menu, rather than healthy. We also were taken out by the suppliers we visited, and I went with the flow and ate very differently than i would have if I were 1) paying myself, and 2) logging. I will definitely need to find a strategy for eating on an expense account or being taken out by others.
Other than that, It was a little break in the routine, and I gained 5 pounds, but i expect them to come off pretty quickly as I get back to the routines and behaviors I have developed over the past few months.
Happy to be back to the MFP family, even though I kept my log in streak alive, I didn't interact here much.
Rob
The Positives:
I haven't felt that comfortable travelling in many years. I fit in every airline seat, even on the full economy flight where I had the aisle and there was a guy in the middle seat, i didn't inconvenience him too much at all. No more seat belt extenders! The big flights were business class, so that is luxurious already, but I fit in those little seat/pods better than I have as well.
We walked a lot. My colleague and I stayed in a nice hotel on the West side of the river in Cologne and had to walk across the Rhine every day to catch the train to wherever we were going. It was probably 3/4 of a mile each way. We also walked a lot around town. I never felt winded, but my hip was bugging me after some of the longer walks. My FitBit registered over 15000 steps on 5 of the 9 days, and only one day was less than 10k.
Got to the hotel gym twice in the first few days, but not during the rest of the week.
The Negatives:
I was going to try and not over-control my eating, but still try to make good choices. I found that the European breakfast buffet at the hotel found my weaknesses and exploited them! We were in a nice hotel with a large buffet breakfast. You can make really good choices here: two or three types of yogurt, fresh fruit, eggs, cold cuts and other meats. You can also eat quite badly: a whole table of fresh breads and rolls, multiple yummy cheeses near the cold cuts, sausage and bacon. I didn't do very well for the three breakfasts we had in the hotel.. Luckily, two of the days we left before the buffet opened, so I had a Quest bar that I brought and those days were better.
Being on expense, we were eating out most nights and I tended to look for interesting, local things on the menu, rather than healthy. We also were taken out by the suppliers we visited, and I went with the flow and ate very differently than i would have if I were 1) paying myself, and 2) logging. I will definitely need to find a strategy for eating on an expense account or being taken out by others.
Other than that, It was a little break in the routine, and I gained 5 pounds, but i expect them to come off pretty quickly as I get back to the routines and behaviors I have developed over the past few months.
Happy to be back to the MFP family, even though I kept my log in streak alive, I didn't interact here much.
Rob
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Replies
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It sounds like a great trip and that you learned a lot about yourself. I have a friend who travels a lot and has "expense account" dinners. He gained a lot of weight in that job! You are right that you will have to find a strategy for that, if it is a regular part of your work-life.
I bet that 5 lbs will come off quickly. Flying dehydrates you. Drink lots of water and pee out those 5 lbs!0 -
Rob,
How exciting to travel in Europe! I would have loved going on that trip. It doesn't sound like your wife was with you.
That might have made it even better.
You are doing great with your weight loss efforts! It sounds like this was a good test of your ability to keep doing what you're doing. Good for you, testing yourself, and learning first hand that VSG is the right decision for you. Having that additional conviction will take you a long way on your weight loss journey.
My doctor was able to provide me with a wallet-sized card which states that I have had gastric surgery and asks that I be allowed to order from the children's menu or be charged for eating a lesser amount. So far I have only had to use the card one time because most places allow me to order from the children's menu, or I share a plate with a friend. I don't know if any of this would work for a guy on a business trip but I though I'd share.
Keep up the good work! You're doing great! :drinker:0 -
Rob:
First of all, thanks for sharing. I know it can be discouraging however, your went and took care of business and got to try some new foods and new experiences so that to me is a payoff in itself. Knowing how you have been doing before you left, those 5lbs will be a memory in no time.
Glad to see you back and welcome home.0 -
Traveling and business meals can be so challenging, but I think you did an awesome job! You are really conscientious and being aware of what you eat and how you eat will help you so much after surgery. There is so much trial and error in this process, and working that out prior to surgery is also going to help you succeed. You have been doing such a good job, Rob!0
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My doctor was able to provide me with a wallet-sized card which states that I have had gastric surgery and asks that I be allowed to order from the children's menu or be charged for eating a lesser amount. So far I have only had to use the card one time because most places allow me to order from the children's menu, or I share a plate with a friend. I don't know if any of this would work for a guy on a business trip but I though I'd share.
Keep up the good work! You're doing great! :drinker:
I am sure I *could* have found solutions if I had tried. It was more the temptation of "expensive, free and interesting" that made me want to eat yummy and exciting rather than healthy and low carb.
Thanks!0 -
Rob:
First of all, thanks for sharing. I know it can be discouraging however, your went and took care of business and got to try some new foods and new experiences so that to me is a payoff in itself. Knowing how you have been doing before you left, those 5lbs will be a memory in no time.
Glad to see you back and welcome home.
I am also confident that getting back into my routine will work without much delay.
I think the biggest positive is that my thoughts of being able to do it without the surgery are still there, but are now muted when I saw how tempting it was (and will be forever) to slide back into old habits. The Sleeve will help me make the new changes permanent.0 -
Traveling and business meals can be so challenging, but I think you did an awesome job! You are really conscientious and being aware of what you eat and how you eat will help you so much after surgery. There is so much trial and error in this process, and working that out prior to surgery is also going to help you succeed. You have been doing such a good job, Rob!
Thanks!0 -
My doctor was able to provide me with a wallet-sized card which states that I have had gastric surgery and asks that I be allowed to order from the children's menu or be charged for eating a lesser amount. So far I have only had to use the card one time because most places allow me to order from the children's menu, or I share a plate with a friend. I don't know if any of this would work for a guy on a business trip but I though I'd share.
Keep up the good work! You're doing great! :drinker:
I am sure I *could* have found solutions if I had tried. It was more the temptation of "expensive, free and interesting" that made me want to eat yummy and exciting rather than healthy and low carb.
Thanks!
I also have one of those and have had to use a few times in the last three years. I will say that most restaurants have allowed me to order off any part of the menu without question or allowed me to share my meal anyway I wanted to. Make sure to ask for that card after surgery, it really helps when you run into one of those restaurants that don't allow for "substitutions".
Pat0 -
Ohh..I had never heard of that card! I will need to ask for one at my next appointment. I tried to order from the kids menu out the other day and they wouldn't let me. I just ordered a regular meal and made my daughter share rather than getting her own meal.
Personally, I think you did really well on your trip. You got in some exercise and you knew what you should and shouldn't have been doing and knowing is half the battle. It was a trip and not how you will continue to eat so I say live it up and experience the foods while you get the chance!0 -
Welcome home Rob.
You have been greatly missed by the forum.
It sounds like you did very well under the circumstances.
I have been to Europe and know how tempting all the authentic food is.
Great that you got some exercise in with all the walking.
I think when I came back from Italy in Grade 12 I was about 10 pounds lighter from all the walking we did on the tours.
But I am not 18 anymore and doubt that would happen at the age of 49.
It's great to have you back in the forum. 0
