Will someone approve my Strategy Please?

[anniet]

I have to go away for Monday and Tuesday nights on business. I won't be back until Wednesday evening and the minute my car hits the town line I'm going straight to a Weight Watchers Meeting!!!

I'm going to keep that in the back of my mind while I'm away, but here's my strategy and I was hoping some of you will let me know if you think it's a good one or not. I'm allowed 18-23points per day.

Thankfully the coworker I am going with called, and found out there is a fridge in the room!! And I'll be transporting this stuff out in a small cooler.

For breakfast- I'm going to cook 3 hard boiled eggs and put them in a plastic bag and have one each morning, with a piece of fruit (3 points)

Lunch- Mixing 1 container of snack size yogurt with 1 container of snack size cottage cheese- I'll make 3 batches of these and put them in a ziploc containter and have them each day for lunch (3 points)

Snacks- bringing some bagged cuke slices, some extra fruit and some pria bars (0-2 points)


So that will be about 8-10 points tops during the day!

Dinner This is where I don't really have much of a strategy. I was thinking fast food because at least I can be sure of the points. McDonald's I could get a cheeseburger (8) and a side salad (1 point for balsamic dressing)

or Wendy's grilled chicken (6 points) with a side salad (1 point for balsamic dressing)

I could go to a restaurant for dinner out there and order grilled chicken or a salad, but I'm afraid of not knowing what they use to cook it with (added oil?) or that I'll be tempted by side dishes I don't want, or eating more than I plan to so I'd rather stick to things I know.

I don't know what do you all think?

 

[Spirit Feather]

Annie:

The only thing that concerned me was the yogurt. Yogurt usually gets kinda gross after it has been opened and then resealed. At least I think it does. You may want to test it out at home and see if it really lasts for three days this way. You would not want to get stuck without your lunch.

Regina

 

[anniet]

You know Regina, I did think of that....after I posted I figured I can bring them sealed and then mix them when I'm ready to eat them!

 

[froglady]

I guess the bigger question to ask is, are you going to avoid restaurants for the rest of your life?

It sounds like you're still looking at healthy eating as a tool to a goal, rather than as a permanent change. I'm still in the same points category as you, and have gone out to dinner several times this month. I've continued to lose weight at a 1-2 pound rate.

My best advice would be to ask if your meat/fish/poultry could be grilled without any sauces, lowfat salad dressing on the side, skip any appetizers and mixed drinks (count wine as a double serving, or don't drink all of it), ignore the bread, go heavy on the water, and as soon as your meal arrives, ask for a take away box and divide it before you start eating! (It goes without saying that dessert is a no-no. ) You might want to avoid dishes where the ingredients are "mixed" (casseroles, etc) with a sauce...there really is no way to make them "lighter." Most importantly, don't say "I can't have that. " Instead, say, "I CHOOSE not to eat that!"

You can do this, and not gain weight!!! And even if you do, it's not the end of the world... just consider it another area in your life that needs more adapting to your new lifestyle. You didn't gain this weight overnight; it's going to take a while to lose and KEEP IT OFF. You're going to have good weeks and bad, but as long as you keep trying, you will succeed. As the old saying goes, you haven't failed until you stop trying.

 

[TigH]

Sounds like a great strategy! You are thinking ahead and planning instead of just eating willy-nilly while you'll be out of town. Good for you!

Froglady has a point too. I think you could consider it a personal challenge to take yourself to a restaurant, speak with the server about your concerns about how the food is prepared, and order a meal that is healthy and within the WW plan. So maybe try fast food one night and then pick a place to go for a healthy meal another night!

Good luck! No matter what happens, just stay positive!!!

 

[KathyTX]

Annie- you've got a plan, and that's the biggest part of the battle!

Froglady makes some good points about eating out... it's really not that scary, we just have to learn to behave a little differently at restaurants.

It sounds like you have figured out how to control the fast food, and you have good options outlined there. Taking your snacks and breakfast is a great idea that gived you lots of control. I will say that you'll probably find more healthy and controllable options at real restaurants than you might expect.

As far as not knowing how they cook the food: if you look for "grilled" or "broiled" you'll usually find the dishes cooked pretty simply. Look for plain steamed veggies whenever possible. Push away the bread basket. Stick your "Complete Food Companion" book in your purse, and take it into the restaurant with you. That way you can look up values as you study the menu.

Use your hand to estimate serving sizes when you're out (fist=1 cup, thumb=1 ounce, thumb tip=1 tbsp, fingertip=1 tsp, palm{minus fingers}=3 oz of meat fish or poultry.)

Don't fear the restaurants- you can learn to enjoy them and make good choices. You have a really good understanding of yourself and how you need to eat, and I know you won't have much trouble eating anywhere you find yourself at dinnertime!

 

[nativetxn]

anniet, you little cutie pie with the infectious smile. I don't know anything about points, so I'm going to just stay out of that discussion.

I'm very nosy, though, and I love reading your posts, so I had to peek at this one (isn't it terrible that I'm so nosy?)

I just had to jump in and tell you how much I admire your motivation and determination. You sound like you are 100% in control of your new healthy lifestyle and intend to stay that way.

I've just got to butt in and tell you how very proud of you I am right now (oh, I know that I'm always proud of you but I'm really, <b>really</b> feeling proud of you right now).

You are just absolutely amazing!

So, will you be taking a laptop so that you can visit us here on WISH? I hope, I hope, I hope

And just one more teeny little thing, you said:

I'm going straight to a Weight Watchers Meeting!!!

I sure hope that right after WW you plan to come straight here to WISH. You have no idea how much we miss our WISH friends when they don't visit, it's just so sad

Katholyn

 

[WebmasterAlex]

I agree with everyone here! Great planning..and go to a resteraunt!!
I think that if you use your head.. and try really hard you should have no problem staying within your points.
Even if you are a little off, and you miss by a point or two it's not the end of the world. It's a trip, enjoy it!

 

[anniet]

Okay, everyone you twisted my arm...I'll go to a restaurant, but I'll go Monday night. That way if I do any damage, I'll have time to work it off. Thank you all for your help! I don't know what I would do without my Wish friends.

And I'm so happy some of my Atkins friends showed up! You know usually if I go over on points I try to do it on proteins!!

Sorry Kath, my laptop is company owned and they are cracking down on improper internet use

so they wouldn't like it much if I dialed in to their server to visit my wish friends and then charged the connection fee from the hotel to the company (We're a nonprofit HMO and they figure using the money on things like our members health care is more important-go figure).

I will however check in the moment I get home. Look for me sometime Wednesday night.

 

[nativetxn]

Good annie, you do that but do it <i>after</i> the WW meeting

 

[anniet]

Originally posted by nativetxn
Good annie, you do that but do it <i>after</i> the WW meeting

Kath, I'm going on my way home, and I ain't a comin' home 'til I do!!!!

 

[PartyofSix]

I have a suggestion on the eggs don't peel them until you eat them. They turn that yucky grey if you do. Have you thought about wow chips as and option? I don't know your points but a bag is ff. You could go by your local subway and get a bag for the road. Also when dining out don't be afraid to tell them what you want and how you'd like it prepared. Don't gross on me but my favorite is liver and onions from shoneys. But they were cooking it in oil and butter! So after i changed my eating habits i requested that there be NO butter or oil used and they happily do this for me. It takes them longer to cook but i don't mind waiting a few extra minutes! So tell them please no oil or butter in the cooking of my food. I even dined at the japense steak house and the chef at our table was happy to do this with my food the whole table (with us of course) accepted this and the food was awesome and i bet he did'nt use 2 tbs of butter for everyones food! It was so impowering. Try it girl they'll do it.

 

[geetey]

Annie,
You have done your planning and that is GREAT!!! Now you know how many points you have to 'play' with.

If you do go to McDonald's, consider one of their new Premium Salads. The lettuce variety is great, and the grilled chicken breast is quite tasty. Only 5 points too! Wendys also has a variety of salads you can try. Dotti's web site has the points for those selections. Sometimes, when traveling alone, it is easier to just grab some faster food.

I do agree with the others though. Don't be afraid of a restaurant. You can have a great meal there too!! Be upfront. Tell the waiter No Thanks to the bread. I am sure you will find a great meal choice wherever you go, with a little planning.

You are doing GREAT!!!! Thinking ahead is the most important part! Have a good trip!