Without sugar coating it, my weekend in Atlantic City was an eating fiasco. It all started with Kentucky Fried Chicken (and I’m talking original recipe fried chicken) and ended with a Cinnabon as the husband’s Birthday "Cake." In between there was a string of good/bad food choices…
After the crazy fried chicken lunch on Friday I decided a light dinner would be best. Actually, we skipped dinner and went for a light late night snack at the casinos noodle bar. I went with Kimchi (a light Korean cabbage dish) and a few bites of the husband’s noodles. I also consumed quite a few vodka and cranberries throughout out the evening. :)
Saturday (after a half hour at the hotel gym while the husband was sleeping) we went for a HUGE breakfast. I ordered an egg white omelet (no cheese) and it came with potatoes, and toast of course. The funny thing was I mentioned the cinnamon french toast to the waitress and she brought an order out for me to try! I didn’t even ask! So now in front of me was a HUGE omelet, an order of French toast, a fruit bowl, and fried potatoes. I ate most of it PLUS one of the husbands bacon slices. It was SO good and I haven’t had a breakfast that delicious in years (that someone else made for me anyway!) I forgot how good a breakfast out could be.
After that crazy breakfast I wasn’t hungry for hours! So the husband and I went for a light lunch. I did a little sushi but then caved in when the husband broke into his chips and chocolate bar. I didn’t gorge myself but I had a few nibbles here and there. Now that I think about it the husband was a really bad influence this weekend! LOL
Then it was time for the BIG dinner. The husband and I have a tradition of doing one night out at a different "fancy" restaurant each time we go to AC. We dress up (a little), go all out, try food outside of our comfort zones and just have an "adult" night. It’s REALLY fun. This time we had reservation at Red Square. We had NO idea what to expect. I started my meal with Tuna Tartar (SO GOOD) and I kept my tradition of trying something new by ordering a duck dish for dinner. It was really good but I don’t think I’d order it again. A little too fatty for me. :) We then split the most decadent chocolate cake, another tradition of ours. Dessert! The dinner also started me on a few more vodka drinks for the evening.
Needless to say that meal filled me for quite a while. We didn’t eat until almost noon the next day. I was planning on a nice light lunch before heading on the road. However the husband threw me a curve ball when he selected Carmine’s. It was HIS birthday after all. Carmine’s is a family style Italian place so I was at the mercy of sharing what ever the husband ordered (there was no way we were ordering 2 dishes) which was cheese ravioli and meatballs. To make it worse, on top of the heavy meal I ate more then my share of fresh bread dipped in olive oil.
The eating doesn’t stop there! On the way home we decided (well the husband decided) to stop for Cinnabons. I didn’t argue as it was his birthday "cake." I split one with the toddler. OK, that’s a lie. I offered to split mine with the toddler but he barely took a bite so of course I ate the whole thing.
Now I sit here feeling like a beached whale wondering why I made a few of the choices I did. HOWEVER, I have no regrets. It was a fun weekend. It’s OVER and tomorrow is a new day just waiting for me. I have gym plans first thing in the morning and I’m actually looking forward to my own home cooked meals!
Things I wish I didn’t do…
- Choosing the fried chicken at KFC. It wasn’t even that good.
- Eating ALL the potatoes and most of the French toast at my big breakfast. I definitely ate past the point of fullness.
- Eating too much bread at the restaurants. Just empty calories I could have saved myself.
- Finishing the Cinnabon, really, there is no need to do that. It’s too darn big.
Good choices I made…
- I removed MOST of the skin on my fried chicken
- Going with a light dish Friday night after my fried lunch
- Going to the hotel gym!
- Knowing that even though I went a bit overboard at my meals, I listen to my body in between
- Choosing the egg white omelet at breakfast
- ENJOYING myself :)
Now, I’m slightly concerned with getting right back on track with this crazy holiday week that is before us. I don’t even want to think about the baking and big family dinners that are going to be going on, YIKES! Just like this weekend, my goal is to be conscious, enjoy myself and make the best choices I can. Weekends away and holidays are going to happen. It’s called life and I’m living it the best I can!
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About Roni
Roni started this blog in '05 to journal her weight loss. 70lbs later, she's committed to living a conscious, healthy life and hopes to inspire others along the way. Read more on the about page.
This looks pretty similar to the eating days I’ve been having lately…. :)
I think you did well. You have a great attitude.
I think it’s inevitable that there will be temptations this week for everyone… I like your thoughts though: be concious, have fun and make good choices.
Merry Christmas. xx
life is short, right? gotta indulge over the holidays as we have the rest of the year to fret, errr, care :)
I lost a few people this year whom Im pretty certain NEVER THOUGHT last christmas they’d not see this one.
I hate to think they fretted at ALL about indulging…
Holidays are a distraction. Sometimes they are a welcome break and other times you wish you could erase them right off your calendar!
Vodka cranberry is my drink of choice too! Its just so good…splash of lime…fruitiness…a little of the good stuff :)
Good luck with your week this week. I had a similar weekend so I’ll be working on being on track too!!
I think that the ironic part of a weekend like this is…….that after I indulge I would have much preferred the healthier choice. ( EXCEPT FOR CINNABON) That is just WAY to good! With that said I do feel comforted… because I know that I will fall right back into track. It is okay to treat yourself and indulge. That is what makes some occasions special. We are celebrating! If you didn’t indulge you would have walked away feeling deprived! All the time knowing that tomorrow I will be on plan and my weight may fluctuate for a few days, but will be back down in the comfort zone in a couple of days. It is OKAY! You are beautiful, confident, and in control. Ready to face more challenges! :)
I’m glad you posted this, because we’ve all been there. Good intentions and all that.
I think it’s good to go through these kind of weekends once in a while — makes you remember how good eating healthy feels!
I am back to eating well for a bit until x-mas! ;-)
Ditto:
http://www.backtothefridge.com/blog/treats-day-aftermath/
But really, don’t sweat it. If you never have a few days like this, then what’s the point of living? No one seriously wants to just eat lettuce for the rest of their lives.
In the grand scheme of things, you know three things: 1) you’re never really cured of this behavior (none of us are); 2) times like this are to be expected; 3) you know you have the tools you need to get right back on track.
Remember, a one week feed fest per year makes up only 1.92% of your life. I’m sure you’re doing just fine the other 98.08% of the time.
Although personally, I hate when this happens:
Choosing the fried chicken at KFC. It wasn’t even that good.
Nothing worse than deciding to have a wonderfully evil meal and then not even enjoying it. (I experienced more of that last night. Ugh. Really makes you wish life had a Ctrl+Z.)
Roni, you know how I feel about you and your weight loss journey (if not, skip to the last paragraph, LOL). I read almost all of what you write and post very little. That might change as time goes on as well. As you know we can’t change the past and I am sure you are not feeling sorry for yourself either. You are just venting as we all do about our frustrations with food. Even if we are at a comfortable place with our weight management issues, we are still not comfortable with food. I have an abundance of good food choices here in my domicile. Last night I too felt out of control with my eating, but not my choices though. And it does in the end come down to our choices. Some how the scale has been kind to me… well, at least lately. I kind of feel like Ebenezer Scrooge, waking up Christmas day and not missing my chance and having time to mend my evil food ways. All I can do is leave you with one of my favorite quotes of the year for me. It is quite an old quote, but for me it is one of best finds this year. I am sure you have heard it before, but I am also sure it will help repeating here as well:.
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Roni. You touch us all everyday with what you think and put to words, pictures and now you animated visuals as well. You are truly a person who has touched my life and so many more. Continue to do what you do so well. I am looking forward to reading your blog as often as time permits. You are definitely one of my heroes.
Roni, you have the greatest attitude. Seriously. Thank you so much for all you do on this site; I check it daily and it’s giving me a new hope that I’m moving in the right direction. (The fact that we’re both 5’9 and have been in a similar weight range helps that connection :) ) HAPPY HOLIDAYS and please keep posting; I will be checking in to help me stay on target with my eating and exercise!! —V
I definiately agree with Louis, Roni. You have made a difference in my life. I read everything you write. I wouldn’t consider missing even one word….or picture….or video. And I know the way I feel, is felt by hundreds…maybe thousands, all over. I know that by coming to your site, I WILL be able to maintain my healthy way of life, as well as my healthy weight. And “knowing” that, is something I’ve never had before. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I ask God to bless you and your family in every way you need, as you are a blessing to us.
I really needed this too. I didn’t have a great weekend either. I didn’t do horribly but it definitely could’ve been better. We are only human! I plan on being as good as I can but still enjoy myself. It just means that I will have to work that much harder after the holidays, but I do realize this ahead of time. I don’t want to pig out and feel all fat and bloated by New Years. Thanks for being such an inspiration Roni!
Yikes Roni I know exactly how you feel!
My husband and I were in Chicago(my first time) from Thursday through Sunday and it was eat/drink-fest. We had to try authentic deep dish pizza and chicago hot dogs. But holy smokes did we have a great time!
We worked out in the hotel gym one day and we braved the elements walking around downtown chicago. We took the train everywhere instead of taking cabs. And I hope we burned some extra calories since it was freezing :)
I hope you liked Red Square! I have been wanting to try out the one in Las Vegas.
Thanks for posting this, Roni. I really appreciate how clear-headed you can be about these things. I think we all sometimes forget that food is not the enemy — it’s a really wonderful part of many of our cultures and traditions, and on special occassions there’s nothing wrong with indulging in some special treats. I don’t plan to use the holidays as an excuse to go totally off the rails and shove everything and anything into my face, but I’ll defnitely be having wine and stuffing on Christmas day, and not feeling at guilty about it! :D
Well if it makes you guys feel any better….my diet yesterday was literally homemade cupcakes and brownies. lol I had fun though with my friend so I thought it was worth it.
I had a bad eating weekend, too … but, like you, I did a few things I was proud of (a stroll in the park Sunday and ordering a fruit cup instead of fries with my pork tenderloin sandwich).
It’s tempting to beat myself up over the 1.4-pound gain I had at today’s WI, but I’m going to try to NOT do that. The weekend is over and done with, and I’m on track today. I’ve even had a workout.
But I must say, it seems that your “bad” weekend was still much better than most of my lapses! :D
Thank you for being so honest Roni. It would so easy for you to omit several of your meals of the weekend but you shared it all. You laid it all out on the table for us all to read. I can’t tell you how much I admire you for that and how much I appreciate it. To be honest, there are times when I find myself eating in a way I feel I shouldn’t be given my relationship with food and then look at others and wonder how they can do it. How can they stay on track so well? The reality came to me after reading your post. Everyone who has this type of relationship with food has these moments, days, weekends and the most important thing is to learn from it and move on. Spending time feeling guilty and beating yourself up over it is such a waste of time. I have realized that I am in a much better position this year than I was last year. I started my journey last year and had lost 15lbs by Christmas. I am now down almost 40lbs this year with about 15 more to go. I have learned so much about me and my relationship with food. Wow…now that is something to celebrate!
Happy Holidays Roni and thank you so much for giving me a safe place to share. I feel so lucky to have stumbled across your site a year ago!