Much Needed Escape

I went away for the weekend to a bed & breakfast which I'd had a gift certificate for since Christmas. The place was quite grand and full of fine arts and antiques, a gorgeous wrap-around porch full of lounge chairs and rocking chairs, and an overall slightly too elegant feel. I felt a tiny bit out of place by the look and feel of the downstairs. If it wasn't for the owners, I might have believed the furniture indoors was not for sitting on, but admiring.

The host couple was very accommodating - very willing to work with my needs for breakfast and snacks. For instance, my gift certificate/package included a fruit tray (apparently) but the lady-owner prepared something with cheese and nuts so I could enjoy that. She also kept the mini fridge stocked with water! And while everybody else was eating what looked like amazing stuffed french toast for breakfast, I was having baked eggs with herbs. On the second day, she made spinach brownies with the tiniest amount of flour possible to keep my carbs count low. Very thoughtful, huh? BTW the spinach brownies? They were divine.

I was able to stick to my meal plan for most of the trip. In area restaurants, I ate steak & broccoli, eggplant rollatini w/sauteed spinach, and roast duck w/a green bean medley.

And then I let myself eat ice cream. :) Just once, at Coldstone Creamery, and I found out very quickly that the excitement of doing so wears off about halfway into the cup. Seriously! I was all jazzed to have it...and omg was it rich and creamy...but before I'd even finished it I felt like the flavor was just kind of there and eating it had lost its appeal.

So, I think that when/if I treat myself to something like this again, I will bear that in mind and go for a smaller portion. I thought I would destroy a medium cup that night...but I ran out of joy like my old Buick ran out of gas way before there was a sign of empty. It was a good lesson. I did like the ice cream and I'm still glad I went and had it. There were blissful moments of omg-this-is-amazing to make the decision worth it. Now I can get more with less.

I have to say the best tasting food the entire trip was that eggplant rollatini from Sal's. Out. Of. This. World. It was a mention in a list of appetizers in this sampler thing they offered and I asked if I could order it by itself. It was wonnnnnderful. :) And something I can probably produce from home when I want to make an Italian style-something again. Second, was that spinach brownie. I'm telling you, it was made of divinity.

I am totally pleased that I was able to stick to my plans this weekend. I didn't dip into a single bread basket or order any starchy sides - as tempting as they all were. I had my ice cream, as planned, and that was that. This is my pat on the back.

Group Morning.

Aside from Ivana, I was the only person to show up at group this morning. I don't know why the others were unable to make it or if they've decided to opt out of the program. I have to say that the program, by ALL appearances, seems kind of whack and burdensome. That makes sense. Like any meal plan, there are pros and cons to using this one.

If you love pasta and potatoes like I do...the very idea of eliminating them from your diet is well, daunting is too gentle a word. If you worry about heart attack and stroke as much as I do...horrific is along the lines of what this mentally feels like.

Physically, I can't really compare just yet because I'm bogged down by some kind of cold or flu or yuck feeling thing. I'll let you know when that's been kicked if I feel much physical difference aside from the reasonable amount of pep I have acquired for having shed the pounds.

But! Back to the meeting this morning!

Ivana arrived and we talked about different ideas I could use for breakfasts because I get kind of tired of eggs - even though I like them - and she was cool about giving me some tips. Just sitting there, I found myself coming up with tips of my own, too. It's amazing what a few minutes away from your world of responsibility can do for your mind. I felt clear and focused and able to think about the things I have been eating and what things I intend to try and so forth.

Thank goodness for no and low carb recipes. They are so much fun to try and make, too. I love it when I discover something as if it's new. Tonight, I am going to attempt to make cauliflower mash... and somehow it is supposed to be mashed potato goodness without the calories or the carbs. I'll let you know how that turns out. :)

If I do really well on this meal plan, I think I will start publishing recipes for other people who, like me, had no use for veggies and were unconvinced they could ever taste great. Because they do. Crazy, right? ;)