Weddings and Funerals . . .

I recently have attended a couple events that as expected, would involve food.

An over abundance of food.

As is the social norm for such events.

And of course, lots of high caloric drink in the full blown alcohol version or in the sweet fruity non-alcohol variety.

These events came in the form of a wedding one week, and then as a funeral the next week. 

I’m walking proof that you can attend these types of events, and you can stay on plan.  You just have to want to do so. 

Let me tell you about it.

The wedding was a one night event.  It even had a theme . . . Prom . . . Prom dress encouraged, but not required.  Sigh.  No dress.

No date either.   Husband and daughter would be attending another function.  Figures; Here it is 32 years later and I’m still dateless for the Prom.

So that turned out to be pretty much a no brainer as far as staying on the Nutrisystem plan goes.  I just made sure I ate my dinner before I headed out the door. When I went to the bar it was to get some water or a diet soda.  I just passed by the food table and the cake table completely.

It was okay.  I really would rather melt off some more weight than to eat a piece of cake. 

 If you have to eat, when you get there, fill up on the raw veggies.  I’ve noted that at just about every event where there is food, there is normally a tray of raw veggies.

Plus this one was easier because I was “just a guest”.  Not one of the main stars where I would be required to eat dinner with the crowd.

But the funeral.  . . .   Well, that’s another story.  That was going to be a camped out at the funeral home event.

Not such a “no brainer” on how to stay on plan few days. 

The first night viewing was from 5 pm to 8 pm.  I had been home all day and had a very late lunch and figured I’d be okay until I got home.  I really hadn’t put much plan in it.  A small mistake on my part.  But luckily, my SIL co-workers who sent over trays of subs also sent along a couple trays of sides.  One with raw veggies and dip, one with apple slices and caramel dip.  I just had some of each, minus the dips.  I was very thankful to see those two types of foods on the table.  Especially when it dawned on me I had not had my afternoon fruit and dairy/protein.   My bad.

Then next day we were to be there from 2 PM until 8 PM.  I actually would be heading home myself around 6 PM.  As much as I adore my in-laws, I knew I wouldn’t last the whole afternoon and evening at the funeral home.  

I knew now I needed a game plan.

So I packed a survival bag. 

In this bag I put a NS lunch bar, a yogurt, and some fruit.  I also threw in a couple pre-made crystal light water bottles.  Before I left home I made sure that I had a big salad with protein for lunch.  

I ate the Lunch bar on the way over . . . LOL. . . needed a wee chocolate fix.

There was a box of water in the basement.

 Husband had also had a big cooler in the back of his explorer with ice and water bottles.

Along with some barley pop.

(This is their 4^th funeral in 20 months.  They’ve even figured out how to tailgate at the funeral home).

I avoided the barley pop like the plague.  Not just for diet reasons.  I’ve learned alcohol makes me want to smoke.  Plus, experience has taught me well, it will only make me weepier. 

I never did make it to my afternoon snack.  I headed home around 6 PM and made some dinner.  I’d not overate which was my biggest fear.

I’d under-ate.  Which can be just as bad.

I need to lose 110 more pounds.  This means I need to have 2 extra carbs and an extra fruit in my day.  I made a bag of 100 calorie popcorn for the carbs as a late night snack, but still was behind 2 fruits for the day.

I was unable to make up the food I missed.

Next day I was determined I would do much better.  I packed a bag with Fruit, Yogurt, NS lunch bar, and a couple Crystal Light water bottles.  Water is always in abundance.

After the funeral we headed to the church for lunch. 

As you can imagine, there was going to be temptation galore.  Nobody cooks as well as a group of ladies from church.  Any church.  There is always the good time tested pot luck dishes spread out in a glorious bounty.  God always smiles down on such affairs and makes our tastes buds extra appreciative of the good food.

Or perhaps it all tastes better because of the good fellowship too?  Which ever, it’s all just plain good!

But I was looking for that one special dish that would make it okay to leave my packed bag in the car. 

I did a scan of the food table.

And there it was.  At the end of the table, and I swear, I heard music and a beam of light shined down on it . . .   at the very end of the large table filled with so much tempting homemade goodness . . . . . there stood a  beautiful bowl of tossed salad with a variety of salad dressing bottles dancing around it.

God bless the Church Lady who brought that dish! 

So I left my bag in the car.  I waiting and talked and laughed in the line.  I walked to the table and grabbed my plate.  I keep my eye on the prize.  I walked passed the dish of cheesy potatoes. I chatted past the dishes filled with slivered ham and beef. Right by baskets of warm rolls.  I accepted condolences over the bowls filled with every kind of savory goodness.  But I did not lift a spoon.  Not until at the very end of the table when I reached my prize.  There I filled my plate with the glorious tossed salad.  There may have been a small glitch, which really wasn’t a problem, just had to have less of it, and that would be there was no FF dressing. 

The point of this story? 

Besides that I’ve now learned that from this point forward, when it’s my turn to donate a dish, I’m making a large tossed salad with dancing dressing bottles.  And the lead dancer will be a FF dressing.

The point dear reader is that if you truly want to stay on course with your diet, you can.  You just need to take the time to make a plan.  Pack a bag if need be.  Stick a bag of raw carrots in your coat pocket for the movie or ball game.  Switch lunch and dinner around so you can throw a NS lunch bar in your pocket.  Heck, those bars are like having candy anyway.  Or take your package of NS snack and have it earlier in the day, or later in the day, depending upon your normal time for dessert.

If there is a will, there is a way! 

Dancing Dressing Bottle Hugs,

Ja-who-dee