Well, I hope if you’re able to read this, it means you’re in electricity and you didn’t lose internet. If not, so so sorry.
As usual, I evacuated. No internet and no electricity is not my idea of a good time. Usually, I would take this opportunity to learn new flavors of the place to which I evacuated, but this time, I’m in week 7 of Body for Life and I’d rather not bust what I’ve done for almost two months now in a handful of meals.
BFL is a system which has worked for me in the past. It’s about proper workouts to best maximize your time, energy and muscles, while building strength and enjoying amazing food at an appropriate protein to carb radio (1:3). I’m not in any way denying myself anything. I get 6 small meals a day, lots of chocolate and a free day from exercise and meal plans. It’s a great deal … and I lose the weight that 10 years of eating out and not enough exercise has done to my poor frame.
That being said, there’s always a compromise when you aren’t in your own home or kitchen. I got to Austin late Monday night, early Tuesday. 1:15am, to be exact. After a grueling day of driving, I was comforted by the fact that I ate well on the trip. Normally, road trips are reserved for funyuns and skittles (yes, I know), but this time I was prepared for the trip with protein bars, shakes and a bag of pretzels, just in case. At about 10pm, I needed real food, so I stopped at an HEB and got a tomato mozzarella pesto sandwich. Not the best choice, but better than the other options. Now, you know me to love my food. All of it. But I have to say, it’s so much more satisfying to have good food than to eat junk. Junk hits you just right in the brain for a few minutes, but this lifestyle change is about LONG term effects, not short.
But, I knew that I would be tempted to fall off the wagon on both food and exercise, so I rented a cottage from BringFido.com. Close to downtown Austin and complete with kitchen, it was perfect. I bought groceries at Whole Foods, made arrangement to work out at the YMCA Austin at Townelake, and just overall, did what I do best …. create a routine, follow it and let my little crab self make a space that worked. I did stray just a tiny bit, because it was my nephew’s birthday, and we all found ourselves at Perry’s Downtown Austin. I had a fabulous time. One glass of wine, grilled salmon, with sauteed spinach, and a baby taste of each of the other sides and meals meant I was fuller than I prefer, but it was oh, so good. For lunch, I cooked my new favorite, chicken artichoke mushroom whole wheat pasta. Enough leftovers for two meals, and I was set. I’m really proud of myself.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay in the cottage past Thursday, so now I was in search of another place to stay. Full kitchens that allow dogs are surprisingly hard to find here in Houston. I’m not sure what that’s about, but here I am, at the Aloft Houston, and healthy food is even harder to come by in a hotel. I ordered in last night, not wanting fight with traffic, from a place down the street, Capital Grille. I got the tenderloin sliders (3) and a chicken citrus Mediterranean salad. Half of each works out about right with protein to carb and the tenderloin sliders were amazing. It’s not NOLA food, but it was good enough.
Now, I’ve had my morning shake and worked out, and I’m debating leaving the hotel to go to Whole Foods to eat lunch. It’s a bandaid, I know, but you can still make good choices while out and about. It just takes practice.
Isaac has passed and now I’m just waiting on electricity. Some of my most favorite NOLA restaurants are open: Rio Mar, a Mano, Ruby Slipper, Taceaux Loceaux, Tartine, Domenica, Rouses and more. I’m jealous, but you should go show them your love and tell them thanks for me.
Stay safe, and dry. 😀
~ NOLAfoodie
HumidFoodie 