So after making it the entire month of September on a fairly strict anti-inflammatory diet (no dairy, no gluten, no corn, no beef…and only an occasional glass of red wine), I fell off the wagon in a big way this past week.
The culprit? Travel.
I seem to be fine when I’m at home, but the minute I step on a plane and head out of town for work or to meet up with friends, my diet is shot. This past week I’ve downed beer, Mexican food (plenty of flour tortillas, corn chips and cheese), Indian food—which included a helping of nan, a slice of pizza and lots of sandwich bread during lunches while working at a school. I even ordered a steak and baked potato one night and loaded the potato with butter. And without a juicer in my hotel room, my entire vegetable intake for the five days I was away came down to a BBQ chicken salad and a garden omelet.
Beyond the diet disaster, I didn’t do my eye exercises or acupressure, didn’t get in a cardio workout, didn’t do my daily micro-current stimulation. I just couldn’t bring myself to do any of it — even though I KNOW how important it all is.
Now I’m back in Seattle and making a vow to get back on track. I think I’m beginning to understand what an alcoholic must feel like: it’s one day at a time, with occasional slip-ups along the way. All I can do is stand back up, brush myself off and get back on the wagon.
I kicked off today with a green juice , stir-fried broccoli and a morning off eye exercises and acupressure. I also hit the gym for a cardio workout during lunch and have salmon on the dinner menu. Rather than beating myself up over this, I’m reminding myself that all any of us can do is the best we can do on any given day. And if we screw up one day (or even five days), the key is to start over the next.
Here’s to all of us who are doing our best to save our eyesight — and to hitting the ‘reset’ button when we occasionally mess up.
Ingrid,
You just described what happens to me on every trip I take (and I’m traveling about 4 months total this year), so it makes a huge impact on me and my diet as well. On each trip this year, I keep advancing a little bit more. Less alcohol than the previous trip, find a juice bar and get a couple more juices, cook a meal or two on my own, better meals when I eat out, or even eat less. The one area where I fall flat is exercise. Maybe I’ll get better there on my next trip!
Jared -Glad to hear I’m not the only one struggling with this Okay….I’m following your lead. Just going to try to do a little better my next trip out. BTW..any Seattle trips in your future? Would be fun to catch up over a juice or two…
Thank you for being honest and sharing!
Thanks, Erin. I figure putting it in writing will help me be more accountable to myself. Hope all is going well with you….we just have to keep pushing forward, one day at a time.
My daughter has been diagnosed with Usher and in response to the “nothing anyone can do” approach of the doctor she decided to take matters into her own hands. The household has become a follower of Dr. Weil’s anti inflammatory diet and her first appointment with Andy Rosenfarb is in November. As a family we are in this together. We find that no one much misses the meat and with few exceptions the milk is also easy to get around. Bit more difficult with wheat. What is the green juice that you make? Could be a nice addition.
And congratulations on your tenacity with the diet. Traveling is always a disaster for me as far as healthy eating goes so this time we will look up Vegan restaurants in advance of the trip so temptation can be thwarted before it shows its ugly head.
I’m sure this is the right way to go and hopefully we will all be somewhat healthier for it.
All the best,
Kathryn
How cool that you are all in this together. It makes such a huge difference when everyone is supporting each other. I agree..wheat is tough. I love bread, pizza, etc. And I love cheese…though at least the diet allows for sheep and goat cheese. Ae you going to be in NJ with your daughter? Because I’ll be there that second week and would love to meet you.
Fingers crossed. Best – Ingrid
Hi Ingrid!
Olivia and I, together with my younger daughter will be in NJ from Nov. 9-14 and then we move to NYC and Olivia will commute to Westfield for the second week of her treatment, Nov. 17-21. We would love to get together with you either in NJ or NY. Let me know when you are coming in and maybe leave a message for us at the Rosenfarb office. Let me know how I can reach you. We are very
much looking forward to meeting you.
BTW, I read Hippie Boy. Would you like me to bring you anything from Graz? We live here. And I loved the book.
You can write me on my e.mail if you like.
Best,
Kathryn
I think it’s hard for human beings to stick to a routine or diet all the time. It might even have been a good thing that you “fell off the wagon” for a few days – it seems like it’s motivated you to get back on track with renewed energy and purpose. Bravo for continuing to take care of yourself and not taking a setback as a readon to give up. Best wishes to you, as always.
Alysa… You Rock. I so appreciate your energy and support. Think of you all the time. Hope motherhood and life are both going great…and that you are finding time for yourself. xo – Ingrid