Tuesday, September 28, 2010

What happens at the buffet . . .

As I previous blogged about, last week we spent five days in Tunica, Mississippi at the Horseshoe Resort. All our meals were comped which meant we'd be eating at a lot of buffets. Before we left, I challenged myself to a couple of things. First was to use the workout facilities that the hotel had available and the other was to eat responsibly. If I passed those two tests, hopefully I could come back from this vacation without a gain. So I guess my dream was to forget about coming home a winner, I wanted to come home a loser ... a little different from most trips to a casino.

While I didn't like what the scales had to say as I weighed when I returned home, I knew I had a couple of days before my official weigh-in. I was hoping because of spending a lot of time in the car driving home, it was just water weight I was seeing. I didn't throw in the towel and kept working throughout the weekend to see a change on the scale.

When I came downstairs yesterday after getting ready for work and making a detour through the dining room (where the scales are positioned under a cabinet) Gary said ... well? My reply was "I'm pretty sure I'm down". I have a tendency to forget numbers when I not weighing every day. Before I headed out the door for work, we were talking and Gary said he thought I did well on vacation for the surroundings and the temptations. Then he said, "I gained a couple of pounds too". "TOO" ... was he not listening.

I continued to do my water ritual and have a glass of water on my desk at all times. I know my body works like one of those old water pumps that has to be primed. You know ... water in before any comes out. I weighed on the scales at work before I headed to my TOPS meeting and I was positive I had a loss. I wondered if it would be at least 2# to keep me on schedule of a pound a week. It didn't matter, I just wanted to have a loss to prove to myself that even eating at ten ... yes, that's right 10 buffets in the span of 5 days that I could choose wisely, enjoy what I was eating and still win at the machine ... no, not the slot machine but what I used to call the metal monster. I knew I fulfilled the dare to myself of hitting the gym everyday and at all but one iffy meal, I felt good about what I had eaten.

It was time for the unveiling ... did I or didn't I. Yep, I did. I was down 2 1/2#. Wow, everything turned out like I had planned. Was that because I had a plan? It could be done. WHAT HAPPENS AT THE BUFFET ... lots of veggies with a little protein and a spoonful of something starchy every once in awhile worked ... all the fried stuff and desserts STAYS AT THE BUFFET. I'm almost beginning to think that buffets are the way to go because there is usually multiple veggies to fill your plate but I know that I'll always have choices to make and I hope I make them as wisely.

9 comments:

Unknown said...

I'm so proud of you. Way to show those buffets who's boss!

Karyn said...

Yee hah!!!! Big congrats on a job SERIOUSLY well-done!!

You should be so stinkin' proud of yourself! I know I am!

Tammy said...

FANTASTIC JOB GIRL!!!! Oh you rock....how incredibly awesome!! I could learn a thing or two from you....I lost 15 lbs before my beach trip in May....and put every single one of them back on during that 9 day vacation. You, on the other hand, are a ROCKSTAR. :)

Bernice said...

Wow! Way to go Sheilah!!! That was a real blessing to a great week!! I knew you could do it! It's so awesome when we have the control and not the food! I know you must be feeling so confident this time around. You had a wonderful accomplishment to go to 10 buffets and still be a winner! Unbelievable! I'm proud and inspired!

NAN said...

Three big cheers for ya! I just don't do buffets- they rule over me- and to be truthful in the last 5 weeks since I started low-carbing, I haven't eaten out once unless you count Labor Day at my daughter's and a church potluck. I really don't enjoy paying $$ for veggies and salads. The older I get the more I resemble my mother; she hated eating out in restaurants and we would have to cajole her into it. Mom didn't cook like I do though; she was more a drive through gal.

Jess(ica) said...

WTG Sheilah!! You worked your plan hard, and the plan worked for you! Facing 10 buffets and still coming out a loser? You rock.

TinaM said...

Wow! I am so impressed!
You did awesome!!!
If you can get through 10 buffets and loose 2 1/2 pounds, you can get through anything!

Absolutely, Positively Josie said...

did you go to the paula deen buffet at tunica? it's my favorite "restaurant" on this earth. tons of fried food and desserts, but also tons of veggies and fresh steamed, baked foods! it can be good or bad- it's up to you! that's why i love your comment about how buffets can be your best bet when it comes to losing weight. you're totally in control!

and congrats on the loss!

mensa said...

Thanks for all your wonderful comments. I'm starting to believe in myself. Like I told someone recently a key component to weight loss is support and I find it in all of you. Thanks for being there.