Day 24

How can being "good" feel so bad?
Today I skipped town with my mama, my g-ma and my daughter. We went to my nephew's hs graduation 3 hours away. I got up, ate my "good" breakfast (Kashi Go Lean oatmeal & protein smoothie) and went to the gym for a HARD hour-long core work out. (after that I had my protien bar for snack). Then the "trouble" began. We went to Olive Garden for lunch. I was worried I wouldn't be able to find anything to eat...but thankfully (i guess!-the food was awful) they had a couple of light options on their menu. I ended up ordering the Apricot Citrus Chicken. It was a SMALL chicken breast with citrus-apricot sauce over it with steamed broccoli and asparagus. It was actually very little food. I made up for it by eating a big bowl of salad. I didn't have any breadsticks and no pasta and no cheese. I did eat my mint and I don't care if that was bad or not because I was feeling really deprived and that little tiny mint at least made me feel a teensy bit better.
Anyhow, tonight, after the graduation ceremony at 9 pm we went to Buffalo Wild Wings for the graduation party. My brother ordered chips and salsa and queso for the whole group so they put a bowl of it in front of each one of us. I didn't touch it. Not even a taste. YAY! Then, while everyone else was eating wings and BBQ ribs and chicken tenders and french fries, I ordered a honey BBQ chicken salad. It was just salad greens with marinated chicken on top and cilantro. The dressing was on the side and I didn't even use it. I think I did really good. Then they brought out the cake! AUGH!! It looked SO good...but I resisted even a taste and just stuck a stick of sugarless gum in my mouth. I thought I was going to start drooling on the table watching everyone else shovel that light fluffy cake surrounded in rich sweet icing into their mouths...but I knew if I took even one taste...I'd just want it that much more...so NONE for me. This day was a TRUE test of my willpower seeing as how Olive Garden is one of my favorite restaurants (I usually get zuppa tuscana soup) and chips and queso and cake are some of my biggest weaknesses. But I conquered it tonight! I do admit to taking a couple of bites of a cookie the hotel we are staying at gave Brooklyn this afternoon. It wasn't good though...so I easily put it down and walked away.
I brought my P90X videos with me in case I can find a place and a DVD player to do them. If not, our hotel does have a small fitness room with a treadmill, bike and weight bench...so I might go hang out in there in the morning for a bit and try to do a little something. Today was supposed to be Stretch X. I think tomorrow is supposed to be yoga...but if I get a chance, I'll probably just do the cardio instead.
Anyway, so far, so good as far as having internet access. I will keep posting as long as I can get a connection. Wish me luck. I have 3 more days of this torture (the food part). Being with my family is WONDERFUL though and totally worth it. Plus, I am proving to myself (and anyone else paying attention) that I CAN and WILL do this thing. I am IN IT for REAL...this ain't no game.