Year 3, Day 155: Almond Monday and a loud tsking noise

Compared to a lot of previous 100-almond Mondays, this wasn't so bad. However, when you compare it to any other day, it was a nut disaster. There really only is one secret to overindulgence when all self-discipline fails: abstinence.

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Strawberries
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Snack
4 oz sliced turkey
65 ALmonds
1.5 oz Boston Lite Popcorn
2 Sticks Beef Jerky

Lunch: Russo's ($5.73)
Romaine, red pepper, feta
chicken, broccoli, mushrooms
balsamic vinegar, pepperocini

Dinner: Legal Seafoods
1 bite of Tuna Sashimi
mixed greens with balsamic vinaigrette
wild salmon with tomato, artichoke
asparagus

We ate at Legal Seafoods and because of my heavy snacking, I decided to bypass the traditional wave of appetizers and just order an entree. Though it originally came with a 'mushroom risotto cake', they were out of it, which is good because it was deep fried and I wouldn't have eaten it anyway. I asked to have a salad substituted- the mixed greens with goat cheese. The waitress asked me twice if I meant goat cheese and I answered in the affirmative. Amazingly, I got an appetizer salad AND a side salad (which was mysterious) but neither of them came with cheese. I realized I probably lucked out anyway, and just ate quietly.

Year 2, Day 318: I Have a Dream

A very strange coincidence meant that Ruby and I saw a movie on all three Monday holidays: Christmas, New Year's Day and now Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Today we saw "Flushed Away," which while not the most direct way to celebrate the holiday, was still nice because it was not insipid like nearly all of the other children's animated films. Still reeling from my discovery of the travesty of nutrition contained in movie popcorn, I am compelled to keep sneaking in Boston Lite Popcorn wherever I go to see a film. Today I brought a friend of Ruby's along too and they had a great time. Then after we went to a restaurant for lunch but there was an 30 minute wait so we vamoosed over to the local pizza joint. Ruby's friend wanted a cheeseburger and they didn't serve it on a soft roll but a sub roll and I felt bad because Ruby's friend had lost both of her front teeth. She was plucky, though, and got through half of it before concentrating on her juice and french fries.

Breakfast
1 Slice Balthazar Bread
2 Soft Boiled Eggs
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
1 crust of balthazar with Super Chunky Peanut Butter
Coffee

Movie Snack
~3 oz Boston Lite Popcorn
1 Clementine

Lunch: Bill's
Undressed Greek Salad with Chicken
Some Cheese off of a slice of Pizza
1/2 of a chicken nugget

Mindlessly Eaten:
2 pieces of paprikash chicken
2 pieces of hamburger

Dinner: Legal Seafoods
3 oysters
2 shrimp
(cocktail sauce)
house salad, balsamic vinegar
dover sole
broccoli with cheese

dessert
2 bites of egg nog cheesecake
decaf coffee

At night the excitement continued and I went out to eat with my brother and a friend at Legal Seafoods. As always, there were more calories consumed than should be, and according to the book I'm reading, Mindless Eating, it's apparently a common thing that you eat more when you're having a good time and you want it to last. That doesn't say much for eating with friends, does it?

Year 2, Day 288: Chanukah, Day Two

After a big night of eating and festivity the only sensible thing to do is to try and eat responsibly. However, that plan is out because we plan to celebrate Chanukah with my brother and his family and my mom by going out to a lavish dinner at Legal Seafoods in Peabody. I try to get to the gym but this is unrealistic given the laundry list of things we have to accomplish in the day. Instead, I ply myself with the usual Saturday routine of taking Ruby to gymnastics, then trying to get her to eat, then on to the next thing, and then trying to get ready for our evening out. Of course, we have to wrap and remember the gifts before we go.

Breakfast
Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean
Heritage Flakes
Blueberries
A Small Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Snack
2 oz. 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
1 oz Boston Lite Popcorn
4 oz. Cashews/Almonds
Coffee

Lunch
Chicken Thighs
Cauliflower
Hot Dog BItes

Dinner: Legal Seafoods
Shrimp Cocktail
Rainbow Trout
Broccoli
Mixed Greens with Balsamic Vinegar
a bite of: fried calamari
one mussel au gratin (no au gratin)
one fried shrimp (fried bits removed)

It has been written here before, and by many other better writers in this field. Holidays are tough, and they're tough for three reasons. One, there is pressure to eat. ("Come on, enjoy yourself! It's Christmas, Chanukah, New Year's! Live a little! We're all here together.") Two, there is opportunity to eat. (Holiday gatherings revolve around food and liquor, and yes, sometimes presents and dessert). And three, there is REASON to eat. (My relatives/friends/coworkers are driving me to this Double-Chocolate Mousse Cake!). These things get played out over and over again for about four weeks. The best thing you can do is try not take one deep dive as an excuse to spend the rest of December in the pool of bad eating decisions. Once you're in, you can get out just as easily and get back on the right track. Going to the gym makes up for a lot, but not all.