Yesterday I completed the final day of the 7000 step/day challenge, so I decided I could take a break from obsessing about walking. The local yoga studio offered a 90 minute Yoga Basics class this afternoon, so I hit that up after work. I feel like I had turned into one of those people who had all of the yoga "stuff" (the clothes, the mat, the bag for the mat, etc), but rarely practiced outside of the DVDs in my living room and the occasional free class at Lululemon. So, the basics seemed like an excellent place to get started. And, of course, it was! The instructor was informative, but not overbearing, offered lots of options, and reminded us that we need to make the poses work for us and not try to achieve someone else's version of what is right and wrong. Lessons I will need to remember next time I am overwhelmed in a large class!
I knew before the class that this instructor offers private lessons, so I wanted to try her out before signing up. We spoke about the private lessons and we decided that I would email her with what I want to work on so she can come up with a plan. I think this will work out great with my crazy schedule!
The best part of the class was how incredibly relaxed I felt at the end of class. This is exactly what I need to work on my goal of reducing anxiety and unnecessary stress!!!
Monday, March 26, 2012
Sunday, March 25, 2012
One Week In...
One of the rules for this healthy hotel living plan is to stay within my allotted per diem. While it's pretty easy to grocery shop on a budget (the closest Whole Foods is over an hour away, so I'm not sucked in by their pricey goodness), going out to eat adds up. On previous trips, I normally toss my credit card receipts and don't pay much attention to what I spend on meals, and then when the per diem check comes in, it feels like "free" money - how quickly I forget those discarded receipts! This trip I've been keeping those receipts and noting how much I left as a tip so that I can accurately tally my food and activity expenses.
The activities so far have been free - the first class at the local yoga studio is complimentary, I have 24 hour access to the hotel gym, and obviously walking doesn't require my wallet.
Therefore, my only expense has been food. One week in and I've spent $346.43. Total per diem for the week is $411.75, so I am a net positive! My friends did pay for my meal in Annapolis, so the numbers don't cover all that I consumed, but I haven't done too bad. (They insisted that I paid when they were in LA. I don't remember that, but either way, I appreciate them treating me.)
Keeping track highlights just how expensive it is to eat out often. I still have a well stocked supply from my first grocery visit, and the total cost of that trip was only $64. The remainder has been spent in restaurants. Even small meals out are significantly more expensive than a similar sized meal in my hotel room.
I am not trying to make money off of per diem - I am already saving money versus what I would have spent on meals at home. But I set a goal up front to stay within per diem, so today was a good check of my progress. For this upcoming week, I'd like to see the restaurant trips go down a bit and spend more of the money on exercise classes.
I'm looking forward to week two!
The activities so far have been free - the first class at the local yoga studio is complimentary, I have 24 hour access to the hotel gym, and obviously walking doesn't require my wallet.
Therefore, my only expense has been food. One week in and I've spent $346.43. Total per diem for the week is $411.75, so I am a net positive! My friends did pay for my meal in Annapolis, so the numbers don't cover all that I consumed, but I haven't done too bad. (They insisted that I paid when they were in LA. I don't remember that, but either way, I appreciate them treating me.)
Keeping track highlights just how expensive it is to eat out often. I still have a well stocked supply from my first grocery visit, and the total cost of that trip was only $64. The remainder has been spent in restaurants. Even small meals out are significantly more expensive than a similar sized meal in my hotel room.
I am not trying to make money off of per diem - I am already saving money versus what I would have spent on meals at home. But I set a goal up front to stay within per diem, so today was a good check of my progress. For this upcoming week, I'd like to see the restaurant trips go down a bit and spend more of the money on exercise classes.
I'm looking forward to week two!
BBQ, DC, and More...
The BBQ on Thursday night was a success - good food, lots of fun. I made the portobello mushroom burgers (where the mushroom is the burger) and they were delicious! Not everyone had one, but those who did raved about how good they were. For me personally, I was glad to have a healthier alternative to the sausages and steaks most folks ate. I did have a few other not-quite-as-healthy items (two cookies, several beers), but after we got back to our hotel, I hit the treadmill to make sure I had my 7000 steps in for the day.
Friday night I met up with a close high school friend and her husband in Annapolis, MD, at a tapas restaurant. We split a half a dozen or so small plates and each one of them was more delicious than the next. It was great to have a few tastes of everything without having to order giant portions. We went on a short walking tour of the city after dinner, and, to my surprise, I hit my 7000 steps for the day before I headed home that night. I knew I would get back to the hotel late and I wasn't too excited about walking on the treadmill for 30 mins after the drive, so the walk around the city really made the difference. It feels like no effort when you are walking with good company.
On Saturday, seven coworkers and I went to Washington, DC, for the day. The weather was far from ideal (rain on and off all day, very humid, I couldn't tell if I was sweating or freezing, but I did know my socks were soaked), but we walked around The Mall and saw all of the major monuments - Washington, World War II, Vietnam, Lincoln, Korea, MLK, Jefferson...I am sure I am missing a few more. Spending the day walking around these amazing monuments is awe inspiring, and I hardly noticed how far we'd trekked. I was able to meet up with some college friends at the end of the day (and well into the night!), and when I plugged in my pedometer at the end of the night, I was shocked to see I had over 21,000 steps! It was a new record for 2012 (even more steps than when my boyfriend and I toured London)!
I went back up to DC this morning for brunch with old friends. Of course, after such a successful day yesterday, I FORGOT my pedometer today!!! One of my friends and I did a fair bit of walking after brunch, but now that I am back to the hotel, I need to get in my 7000 steps for the day. My plan is to walk the boardwalk on Solomons Island later on this afternoon.
It wouldn't be fair to write about all of this walking and success without also including some pretty major shortcomings. I've already mentioned the cookies and beer on Thursday night. While my mornings have all been pretty on-plan (still going through the food I purchased when I arrived), and most meals are balanced (salad on the side of my lunch yesterday), I still struggle at restaurants. When a colleague and I met our customer and his wife for lunch on Friday, I intentionally ordered the broccoli salad on the side of my meal instead of fries. My customer ordered the same meal, but with a modification to his sandwich and fries on the side. When the meals came out, my sandwich had the fries, while his modified sandwich came without. They brought him another basket of fries, but didn't take my plate (with fries!) away. What is a girl to do?! While I would have loved to be able to write that I was good and didn't touch them or only had a couple, that isn't what went down. To be clear, I did not eat ALL of the fries, but I'd estimate there were at least 50% fewer that were cleared from the table than were originally put in front of me. Definitely more than I needed or even wanted. Next time, when my order is incorrect, I will ask that they take the unwanted sides away. (To be fair, they did bring my the broccoli salad with my order, it was just in addition to the fries.)
But even worse than the fry incident was the tortilla chip debacle. Last night at the DC bar, my coworkers noticed something that I'd already known to be true - I am a stress eater. I was waiting for college friends to arrive at the bar, and in front of me (well, within reach), was a basket of tortilla chips. I can't tell you how many I had, but it was enough that a coworker had to take them away - he noticed just how much I was eating while I was staring at the entrance. Talk about having a problem!!! The incident highlighted one of my greatest issues - I eat (mostly carbs) when I am anxious and I don't realize I am doing it until it is too late. I felt horrible after, embarrassed it was so bad that a corner of my table noticed it and was talking about it before they took the basket away. Avoiding restaurants with chips is not the solution. Therefore, this week I will focus on being mindful of my feelings when I eat. Am I anxious? Stressed? Bored? Upset? What are some alternatives to the mindless snacking, and what are ways that I can ask my coworkers (who these days are really friends more than anything) to help me along the way?
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Not Too Bad...
A quick recap of the past two days: I made it to 12,000 steps yesterday, Pilates class today, the treadmill tonight, and ate breakfast, lunch, and snacks each day from my Monday grocery store trip or leftovers!
The 12,000 steps weren't easy - I required both the elliptical and the treadmill to make it (I was bored of the elliptical after about 30 mins), but I did it! A good pair of noise canceling headphones that stay in place while working out REALLY make a difference. As much as I love my iPhone, those Apple earbuds do not fit in my ears at all, especially while moving.
To make it to Pilates, I really needed to carve out the time myself. I purposely scheduled meetings earlier in the day, and when asked to support a late afternoon phone call, I let everyone know that I had a conflict at 4pm and we needed to finish the 30 minute meeting at 3:30 on time. And we did! Amazing!
The studio was a bit farther than I had planned. I made it in plenty of time, but it will be difficult to make midday classes. The ladies in the class had some suggestions for other local gyms and studios, so I will definitely check them out!
Dinners the past two nights haven't been stellar. Tonight I went to a delicious cafe with two friends, so two glasses of wine, soup, scallops, and a peanut butter pie slice (not the whole slice, I promise!) had me feeling guilty. AND I was short on my 7000 steps for the day. So after dinner I went down to the hotel treadmill and walked off that wine! Last night was a grilled chicken sandwich with broccoli salad on the side...and a beer. I had half of the sandwich as my lunch today.
It's not surprising that I made the best choices when I planned ahead. Healthy snacks, the 12,000 steps, Pilates class - those all required preparation to make them happen. Glasses of wine, beer, chicken sandwiches - those happen when I don't focus on my goals. There is nothing wrong with a glass of wine or a beer, but I'd really like to limit alcohol to less than 2-3 days per week, not nightly. I'm invited to a BBQ tomorrow (friends staying in another hotel found the hotel grill!), so my goal for tomorrow is to make it to another Pilates class then purchase some healthy grill friendly foods. I think I see a grilled portobello in my future... :)
The 12,000 steps weren't easy - I required both the elliptical and the treadmill to make it (I was bored of the elliptical after about 30 mins), but I did it! A good pair of noise canceling headphones that stay in place while working out REALLY make a difference. As much as I love my iPhone, those Apple earbuds do not fit in my ears at all, especially while moving.
To make it to Pilates, I really needed to carve out the time myself. I purposely scheduled meetings earlier in the day, and when asked to support a late afternoon phone call, I let everyone know that I had a conflict at 4pm and we needed to finish the 30 minute meeting at 3:30 on time. And we did! Amazing!
The studio was a bit farther than I had planned. I made it in plenty of time, but it will be difficult to make midday classes. The ladies in the class had some suggestions for other local gyms and studios, so I will definitely check them out!
Dinners the past two nights haven't been stellar. Tonight I went to a delicious cafe with two friends, so two glasses of wine, soup, scallops, and a peanut butter pie slice (not the whole slice, I promise!) had me feeling guilty. AND I was short on my 7000 steps for the day. So after dinner I went down to the hotel treadmill and walked off that wine! Last night was a grilled chicken sandwich with broccoli salad on the side...and a beer. I had half of the sandwich as my lunch today.
It's not surprising that I made the best choices when I planned ahead. Healthy snacks, the 12,000 steps, Pilates class - those all required preparation to make them happen. Glasses of wine, beer, chicken sandwiches - those happen when I don't focus on my goals. There is nothing wrong with a glass of wine or a beer, but I'd really like to limit alcohol to less than 2-3 days per week, not nightly. I'm invited to a BBQ tomorrow (friends staying in another hotel found the hotel grill!), so my goal for tomorrow is to make it to another Pilates class then purchase some healthy grill friendly foods. I think I see a grilled portobello in my future... :)
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Hotel Sweet Hotel
I flew into Washington, DC, yesterday and headed straight down to Southern Maryland. I knew after a long day of flying that once I checked into the hotel, I wasn't leaving. So before I even went to the hotel, I went to the grocery store to prepare for the week.
The last time I was out here, I was very disappointed with the grocery store down the street from the hotel, so I went to a different one a few miles away. It was a MUCH better experience. Definitely more selection, especially for the healthier items.
Here's a photo of the stocked mini-fridge:
The last time I was out here, I was very disappointed with the grocery store down the street from the hotel, so I went to a different one a few miles away. It was a MUCH better experience. Definitely more selection, especially for the healthier items.
Here's a photo of the stocked mini-fridge:
I purchased mostly breakfast, lunch, and snack foods. I'll go back to the store again tonight for some dinner-type meals (and veggies!!!), but I am pleased with the start.
Sitting on a plane all day plus a two hour car ride to the hotel really limits the amount of physical activity one can do in a day. I've been religiously wearing my work-sponsored "Virgin Healthmiles" pedometer and am midway through a 7000 step a day challenge. (Between March 12 and March 25: 7000 steps/day for 10 days is 100 bonus miles; 13 days is 200 miles!) I made it to my room with 4300 steps, and by the time I purposefully unpacked inefficiently to maximize steps, I was at 5800. It was already past my bedtime (if I don't get 7-8 hrs per night, I really notice a difference in my ability to be productive the next day), so I wasn't thrilled with the idea of going to the hotel gym. Instead, I ran back and forth in my hotel room and did jumping jacks until I reached 7000. While it wasn't a great workout, at least I reached my 7000 step goal and it got me moving. Today's goal is 12000 - I'll post again with today's results!
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
The Rules
I plan on continuing to stay in the same hotel in Southern Maryland. Therefore, there are a few constraints for this Healthy Hotel Living Plan:
- My "kitchen" consists of a mini-fridge with no freezer, a microwave, and a coffee pot. Since I don't drink coffee, the coffee pot is really a just means to boil water.
- The hotel gym has an elliptical trainer, treadmill, and medicine balls.
- I purchased a yoga mat during my first trip out, so I can take that to yoga classes (I found a studio with pretty poor hours) or back to my hotel room.
- I subscribe to Netflix streaming. Why does that matter? Because I have found Netflix has a pretty decent selection of exercise videos with varying workout times. I can get a 10 to 60 minute workout in depending on my time constraints.
- There is a Pilates studio in town where I can sign up for private or semi-private lessons. I already have a coworker willing to join me (yay!).
- My per diem is $61/day. I'd prefer my total food and exercise expenses to stay within the total per diem for the trip.
I think my first task is to create a grocery list. Breakfast, lunch, mid-afternoon snacks, and dinner. I'll post my plan soon. Happy Hotel Living!
Getting Started
Over the past two and a half years, my job has required me to spend a considerable amount of time away from home. I was fortunate enough to meet my current boyfriend, NP, through this job early on in my travels. As an added bonus, for a significant period of time (about a year and a half) I was able to avoid staying in hotels by staying with NP at his apartment.
However, between August of 2009 and March of 2010, I spent approximately two weeks out of each month working in the California desert and staying in a hotel. And when NP left our company in September, 2011, it was back to hotel living for me.
With these two extended stretches of hotel stays, I've noticed significant changes in my body and mind. Prior to the start of my travels to the desert, I was working with a nutritionist near my home in Orange County, Ca, and I never felt better. I was fit, happy, and healthy. Once the work began in the desert, I began working long hours, eating out for every meal, and put on 25 lbs. While the hours didn't improve, staying in NP's apartment in the desert allowed me to cook balanced meals. I lost 14 lbs without much effort. I never made it back down to my pre-desert weight, but it was an improvement.
Since September, I have had to readjust to the hotel life. While it is wonderful that NP has a great new job (and we live together in Orange County now), staying it hotels again means more eating out. This is fine every once in a while, but it is not sustainable for me. Since September, about 4 lbs have creeped back on. So if you are keeping track, I am approximately 15 lbs up from my pre-travel days.
My job now requires me to travel to Southern Maryland. I will be traveling back and forth from California to Maryland on a bi-weekly basis. With 50% of my time spent living in hotels, I need to have a better plan going forward.
So this is where the blog comes in. The purpose of this blog is to track ideas on how to adapt to hotel living and to keep myself accountable. This means having plans for how to cope with long hours, packing meals in advance to take to work so I am not tempted by the McD's drive thru, and going to bed at night comfortable with the choices I made that day. Ideally, I'd get back to that pre-travel weight.
I know that weight loss isn't just about diet alone. I would call myself a moderate exerciser. I love taking workout classes (Pilates, Barre, Dance). I struggle with cardio (I pretty much just stick with the elliptical trainer), and I have a dog that loves going for long walks. It is a goal to one day run a half marathon, but I would be happy just to complete a 5K without walking.
I welcome any ideas, suggestions, and tips for healthier hotel living. I hope you enjoy reading about my journey!
Love,
D
However, between August of 2009 and March of 2010, I spent approximately two weeks out of each month working in the California desert and staying in a hotel. And when NP left our company in September, 2011, it was back to hotel living for me.
With these two extended stretches of hotel stays, I've noticed significant changes in my body and mind. Prior to the start of my travels to the desert, I was working with a nutritionist near my home in Orange County, Ca, and I never felt better. I was fit, happy, and healthy. Once the work began in the desert, I began working long hours, eating out for every meal, and put on 25 lbs. While the hours didn't improve, staying in NP's apartment in the desert allowed me to cook balanced meals. I lost 14 lbs without much effort. I never made it back down to my pre-desert weight, but it was an improvement.
Since September, I have had to readjust to the hotel life. While it is wonderful that NP has a great new job (and we live together in Orange County now), staying it hotels again means more eating out. This is fine every once in a while, but it is not sustainable for me. Since September, about 4 lbs have creeped back on. So if you are keeping track, I am approximately 15 lbs up from my pre-travel days.
My job now requires me to travel to Southern Maryland. I will be traveling back and forth from California to Maryland on a bi-weekly basis. With 50% of my time spent living in hotels, I need to have a better plan going forward.
So this is where the blog comes in. The purpose of this blog is to track ideas on how to adapt to hotel living and to keep myself accountable. This means having plans for how to cope with long hours, packing meals in advance to take to work so I am not tempted by the McD's drive thru, and going to bed at night comfortable with the choices I made that day. Ideally, I'd get back to that pre-travel weight.
I know that weight loss isn't just about diet alone. I would call myself a moderate exerciser. I love taking workout classes (Pilates, Barre, Dance). I struggle with cardio (I pretty much just stick with the elliptical trainer), and I have a dog that loves going for long walks. It is a goal to one day run a half marathon, but I would be happy just to complete a 5K without walking.
I welcome any ideas, suggestions, and tips for healthier hotel living. I hope you enjoy reading about my journey!
Love,
D
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