Last year I sat the family down for a board meeting and proposed that we take a sabbatical in Europe for three months. My proposal was received with mixed reactions – Mr 11 thought it was the worst idea he had ever heard, Miss 9 was disappointed that we couldn’t leave that afternoon and my husband, although mildly interested, thought I was a little bit crazy (duh-YES!).
I had my own worries like what if I gained weight? My body and I like routine. We have a deal – I eat fresh fruit and veg, good quality protein, minimum gluten and dairy only 80% of the time. I also go to the gym, do yoga once a week, walk the dog most days, take care of myself spiritually and go to sleep at 9.30pm every night. My body responds to this by giving me enough energy to enjoy my beautiful life, keeping me at a comfortable weight – not size 4, but a healthy weight for me.
Travel presents many challenges to healthy eating and living. Being away from your kitchen leaves you an overwhelming choice of restaurants and makes it harder to know what you are actually eating. I love experiencing the joys of different cuisines, that’s the whole point of travelling isn’t it?
So I needed a game plan and to be prepared for some collateral damage. Three months is a long time – that’s 270 meals, but who’s counting?!
I allowed myself:
- a gelato once a week and I would thoroughly enjoy every mouthful
- Go easy on the B and B breakfasts
- Enjoy pasta only if it is freshly made as it’s easier to digest
- I don’t need to keep up with my husband who is 6’5. In fact, I mustn’t
Here’s what I learned:
- Sitting in the bustling piazza in Amalfi, sipping on a limonatta can be a spiritual experience
- Coffee tastes so much better when you are not in a rush
- Italians make delicious ‘contorni’ or side dishes which are usually vegetables – a couple of these make for a beautiful, light dinner
- There is not an eggplant dish on the planet that I have not loved
- Travel can be unsettling, peppermint tea is a great way to soothe your stomach at bedtime
Yes, I gained a few kilos in Europe. How many, I don’t know? I don’t believe in scales. But my clothes fit differently so I knew. The weight gain was bound to happen, but that was just the beginning. I still had the ultimate eating challenge….a stopover in America visiting family.
You don’t need the gory details but by the time I got on the plane to come back to Oz, my jeans were barely zipping! There was no doubt I had put on at least a couple of extra kilos.
Perhaps the universe was providing me with an opportunity to understand exactly how my clients feel before they come to see me. I needed to deal with this weight and use the experience to make myself a better, more empathetic nutritionist.
Time for me to go back to basics. The good news was that after three months on the road, I was thrilled to have a kitchen again. I started roasting veggies, lots of them. And then some more – with pesto, or quinoa, a sprinkle of feta.
Yes, the weight did come off. Not immediately. It took time.
I believe in bio-individuality and that there is no one right way of eating for everyone. This is what worked for me to lose the kilos I’d put on since Italy – no fancy diets, no shortcuts, just slow and steady weight loss. No 5 and 2 or cabbage soup diet, my body was craving home cooked food and that’s exactly what I gave it.
The most important thing that I got out of this whole experience was hearing those voices inside my head again. The ‘you are not good enough’ voices, the feeling of waking up and judging myself on what I had eaten the day before. Even in my 40’s, with the wisdom I have acquired in my life, I could still hear those harmful voices.
It was a test for me to remain true to what I believe in – simple eating that makes you feel good. When the call to lose weight was loud and clear I was even tempted to do a juice cleanse, and whilst it might work for others, it doesn’t even begin to work for me – I’m way too afraid to miss a meal!
I realise how powerful and destructive those voices can be. It’s why I have devoted my life to helping those who have those negative voices too and are still engaging in destructive eating patterns. My mission is to inspire nourishing eating and a healthy lifestyle for your best mind, body and spirit.
How did the family fare? Mr 11 has almost forgiven me for taking him away from his sporting commitments and school, Miss 9 wants to be a fashion model and live in Paris, or NYC and Mr. Vitamin L wants to take credit that the sabbatical was his idea!
Me? It was a nutritional challenge and it’s interesting that I would even think twice about such an amazing opportunity because of the potential weight gain. It gave me insightful thinking and a powerful reminder that I hope to put to use when working through similar issues for my clients.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Having just returned from a 6 day, 3 x 2 course meals a day and daily alcohol I’m feeling the same. Funnily enough, theres on weight gain yet but my clothes are feeling snug. That’s the thing about indulgence, we think it will appear the very moment we eat but it actually takes at least a week for mine to appear on the scales. No sooner do you think, I did better than I thought then whammo! those kilos suddenly appear.
Is it worth it? >> Definitely!
Mine appears the moment I eat, maybe even just by looking at it! We are all so individual. Glad you enjoyed regardless and yes its always worth it!
Fabulous blog, Marla! So well written and focused. And for me who just returned from six weeks Italy and didn’t deny myself yet didn’t gain weight, the key was to keep moving. I walked miles andi miles everyday. It provided some balance. I have a lot of blogging to do to catch up! Loved reading this!
It’s a beautiful place Meryl. So glad you enjoyed it, not that there was much doubt! Walking is a magical way to see a place, and to stay fit. Where to next?