A softer mantle blankets all,
The earth a virgin white.
One of nature’s wonders,
The crystal snowflake’s flight.
A winter’s day, so dull & grey,
By magic, made so bright!
Despite the gentle words I use,
To praise this wonderous sight.
I’m really not a fan of snow,
In fact I think it’s shite!
Paul Walsh ©2020
TheWryEye.com
Last week was our annual visit to the IPC APEX Expo, in San Diego. Those who attend this event regularly, particularly those of us from the winter-ridden northern part of the continent, will be chuckling at the idea of “dieting” in San Diego. Along with a much needed infusion of vitamin D from the Californian sun, we get to eat a little differently too. The huge influence of Mexico on the cuisine of San Diego, one of America’s most beautiful cities, is hard to ignore. And I didn’t!
I went down to this year’s show with every intention of thoroughly enjoying stuffing my face with every delicious morsel, or bucket, of food that came my way. And I did!
My activity level is usually up during show week. What with setting up & tearing down the booth, & all that running between booths for meetings. No consecutive two of which are ever at the same end of the show hall. For me, it’s a fair bit of additional movement for a normally car-bound keyboard jockey. I know I can’t exercise the weight off. But I was curious to see if this extra movement could mitigate the damage that might occur over the course of a week or so of misbehaviour. It’s a lame excuse, I know, but it was the best I could come up with to justify cutting loose. And that’s what I wanted to do.
Modern Mexican food, in America, might be the perfect combination of carb, protein & fat overload for adding weight. Fast! Toss in beer & margaritas, & it gets even better. And how can you not do that? Though I’ll admit, I really shouldn’t have given in to the crème brûlée, the deep fried ice cream & those cream cheese filled pastries. It was so unnecessary! 😜
The damage?
Only 3 pounds. Just returning to a lower carb regimen should see that resolve pretty quickly, as the retained water is shed. Is there a little extra fat on board too? Probably. But still, it’s nice to know that additional movement, & I’m not talking huge activity here, can increase the tolerance for cutting loose every now & again. Some walks on the beach & a little dancing, for example, might allow for some pretty liberal eating whilst on holiday. Now that’s a pretty liberating thought to carry forward, as I prepare to engage in the battle again.
Though I’ll probably just start tomorrow. What with having returned a day late because of a cancelled flight, & tomorrow being Monday & all! 😜😁
Phew! This was a very messy month but that’s not a bad result, all things considered. And I was considering all things, good & bad, as being diet-worthy this month! Holy smoke, did I eat some stuff that really makes me cringe as I look back.
What saved me? Fasting!
I alternated fasting with bingeing & I can now confirm that I can outbinge a one day fast. Pity that, but it is what it is. I could have exercised a little more control. But I didn’t. And what gave me the result for the month were a couple of two-day fasts. And some vaguely vegetarian days.
This is a new departure for me. I have a lifelong bias towards being a carnivore. Over the past couple or so months, I’ve caught myself making veggie-heavy meals. Worse, I found myself choosing fish over real meat in restaurants. At times, I’ve ignored my need to avoid starch, & I’ve had potatoes AND rice at the same meal. What is going on here!?!
I’m a little worried now. I can almost see myself turning into a tree-hugging, green-loving, vaguely vegetarian kind of guy who takes reusable bags to the grocery store!
Now if all that makes losing weight a little easier, I might be okay with that. But one thing for certain … I think, maybe, perhaps … is that fat, animal or vegetable, will be a part of whatever dietary aberrations I find myself following next.
Any other vaguely vegetarian folk out there with any advice?
Roll on spring, have a great February & Happy St. Brigid’s Day!
I doubt it’s really true that the 3rd Monday in January is the most depressing day of the year for everyone. But it sure felt like it when I went outside for my predawn coffee & saw the ridge of icebergs that the snowplough left at the end of my driveway!
I was aching from the shovelling activities of the previous day & I made the mistake of “treating” myself to some starch selections for dinner last night. Followed by sugary choices for dessert! I love cramming that junk into my face but there is always a price attached to it. Indigestion, poor sleep &, for me, some sugars & starches are mind altering substances. They bring my weight up & my mood down.
Since that terrible week of eating on the road at the beginning of the year, I’ve been doing reasonably well. I wouldn’t pretend that my head has been 100% in the game, but I’ve probably been around the 80% mark. I’m not checking in with my scale, that thing is heartless, merciless, so I’m going to leave that ’til the first of the month to come.
A little later, I went for predawn coffee number two. Taking my cigarettes with me, not even a sliver of guilt attached to it, I went out to soak up some additional angst. I was trying to perk myself up with the thought of those lucky folk living in the southern hemisphere at this time of year. I bet they are enjoying the January temperatures at that end of the planet.
Imagine my elation at seeing the end of driveway clear! Good neighbours can be mind-altering too. Thank you, kind neighbour.
Bring it on Blue Monday, there are people that have my back. And I’m betting that’s true for you too.
Happy Blue Monday!
Blipped up 1.6 lbs over the holidays. Not bad really, though the holidays aren’t quite done yet!
The year in review doesn’t look very good, however, & I’m up 6 lbs since this day last year. That major derailment in the summer, one that I let escape for far too long, wiped out all my progress & then some.
I pushed the upper limits of tolerance with all those foods, & those food-like products, that I know I just can’t tolerate. Once the addictive impulses kicked in, I didn’t pay enough attention to reining them back in. Were I at a healthier weight, I wouldn’t be too bothered by a small gain like this. But at my current weight, this is not how I ought to behave.
Okay, a little self-chastisement is due but the new year is a great time to hit reset. I’d like to have a more favourable report to make this time next year.
Time to treat the challenge like a work project again. I know what I should be doing, here’s hoping I can do a little better in 2020.
Wish me luck!
The Wry Eye 