Party Smarty

I feel better having written those down…writing things down sure does make us more committed.  And I definitely need to commit to some behavior changes.  I’ve been just giving in to the whim of eating what I want.  These will help me slow down and get back on track!  : )

Summer is here!  Luckily, the weather in Ulsan, South Korea is quite pleasant compared to what’s happening back in Atlanta. J 

Summer used to mean lots of parties and more tempting foods, but that’s not going to be the case here (doesn’t seem like part of the foreigners culture over here).  But, going out to drink with Koreans is like a party…so much food!  In many Korean bars, you have to order food with drinks, which can be a bit problematic if you’ve already had dinner or visited another bar beforehand.  I need some strategies to help face the tempting foods.  Here are some old stand-by’s with a slight tweak:

• Make some healthier choices. My Korean friend Ryan ordered tomato slices with cheese last night because he knows I like salads.  That was a much better option than some of the fried choices on the menu.  And, it was delicious!
• Do a mental rehearsal.  This is more powerful than it seems.  If I mentally prep myself before going out, I find I am better at resisting the urge to over indulge.  I need to decide what I want and actually picture myself doing it.  (This is a particularly great strategy when facing a night of drinking.)
• Utilize the plate.  This used to mean choosing a smaller plate or filling the plate with fresh fruits and veggies.  The problem with this strategy in Korea is that plates aren’t always used.  The Korean culture is all about sharing food, so people just dig in and take from the main dishes and don’t necessarily serve themselves on a plate (they even do this with soup, which was a little unsettling at first).  If I could find a way to get a small plate and then put servings on my plate, it might help me control my portions.  When you’re eating from the main dish, mindless eating can lead to lots of calories.  The trick is to use a small plate without offending the Koreans I’m with.

Party Smarty

A good ol' American summer party!

Summer picnics

What a blast!

All the good parties

How long they do last!

So many goodies

All kinds of choices

They’re calling my name

I can hear their voices!

But I have to be strong.

I have to be smart

I know some good tips

Time to take them to heart!

My tempting choices at a Korean bar!

I deserve lots of fun

I will got to the party

I will take on the food

Because I’m a real smarty!

Maintaining Despite the BLTs

Please forgive me for my three-week hiatus!  My dad and sister were visiting the last two weekends, and I was busy preparing for the visit the weekend before.  But I am back!  And…I’m happy to report that I did my monthly “weigh-in,” and I am back to within two pounds of my goal weight…yeah!!!

Typical spread at a Korean dinner.

One thing that makes weight maintenance challenging here in Korea is the amount of food served combined with the lingering over dinner that often leads to BLTs even when I’m no longer hungry.  I mentioned in a previous blog that Koreans are all about side dishes.  They are also all about sharing meals and lingering over dinner to enjoy the good company.  As a result, the table is filled with food that’s free for the taking.  Oh…did I mention you can get any side dish refilled for free?  Yes, there have been many a meal when I kept stealing a bite of something here, a lick of something there, and just a taste of this…the dreaded BLTs.  As we all know, those can add up quickly.

To be perfectly honest and truthful…I’m not sure I’ll ever have the willpower to deal with this dilemma.  It’s all so good…it’s all right there…and it’s bottomless.  Since we share the food, the old tricks don’t work: can’t put my napkin over it, can’t pour water on it to ruin it, can’t ask for  a doggie bag to get half of it out of view.  The only strategies I’ve used so far have been to have light meals when eating by myself and make sure I get exercise in.

If you have any other tips for me, I’d love to hear them!  : )

Now for the poem…I don’t know why, but Shel Silverstein came to mind this week.  So here is a weightloss version of one of my favorite poems of his, “If You Have to Dry the Dishes.”

“If You Need that BLT”

If you need that BLT,

Such a hard thing to ignore.

If you need that BLT,

Instead of points of which you’re sure.

If you need that BLT,

And make a trip to the store…

Maybe healthy snacks will take its place

And you won’t be hungry anymore!

If You Have to Dry the Dishes

Shel Silverstein

If you have to dry the dishes,

Such an awful boring chore.

If you have to dry the dishes,

Instead of going to the store.

If you have to dry the dishes,

And you drop one on the floor…

Maybe they won’t let you

dry the dishes anymore!