Adapting to a change in routine.

I like routine. It’s easier to plan out my food for the day and my exercise routine. But now my in-laws are arriving today for a two week visit. Routine, meet window. I know that the next two weeks are going to involve meals out, junk food in the house, a birthday and anniversary celebration, lots of shopping and very little support when it comes to me being on “that chicken farmers diet”, as my mum-in-law calls it. Did I mention that my in-laws raise cattle and eat red meat almost every day? I’m not willing to put on loads of weight over the next two weeks, so here is what I’ve come up with as a plan.

Let’s look at the food side…

• I’ve stocked my pantry and fridge with fruit and vegetables.


• I did buy the food that my in-laws prefer, but have placed it up high and out of sight.


• I have extra meal replacements on hand.


• I’ve looked ahead at some of the meals that I know my in-laws want and have planned substitutions for myself (i.e. Meat and cheese lasagna with garlic bread for them, HMR Lasagna with Meat Sauce mixed with mushrooms and spinach for me. Roast beef for them, HMR Beef Pot Roast for me, with “skinny” mashed potatoes for us all – by the way if you’ve never made skinny mashed potatoes, it’s really easy. Simply cook your potatoes in fat-free chicken broth until the liquid is mostly evaporated, then mash with a little low-fat sour cream. Delicious!) Oh and did you notice? Red meat - on the "chicken farmer's diet" so I'll score some points there :).


• I have planned on making some bulk meals for myself so I have a few meals already made, and don’t have to try and cook two different meals at once. I’m also much more likely to eat the lower-calorie options if they are already made up (I’m talking out of the box, into bowl already mixed with vegetables and seasonings).


• One trick I learned while on vacation this summer was to make several shakes up at once, and place some of them in the fridge in a blender bottle. This way I don’t have to feel like I’m bothering anyone by running the blender at all hours of the day, and by putting the shake in the blender bottle it’s easier to whip it back up to a good consistency.


• I’m going to freeze a couple of double shakes in blender bottles also – just grab one in the morning as we head out the door to go shopping, and it’ll be defrosted in a few hours, just in time for a mid-morning snack.


• I do plan on having some meals when I’m eating the same thing as everyone else. On those occasions I’m going to load up my plate with healthfully prepared veggies and drink an HMR shake on the side to help fill me up.


• I plan on bringing packets of fat-free salad dressing and low-fat sour cream with me when we go out to eat at restaurants (I keep the sour cream in a cooler pack in the car, and then transfer it to my purse just before going inside the restaurant – works like a charm!)


• I know that nuts and chips are going to be around, so I’ve prepared my favorite roasted chick peas, and have popcorn to snack on.
  

  For the roasted chick peas, all you have to do is lightly spray a cookie sheet with olive-oil flavored cooking spray, then drain two cans of chick peas and spread them out evenly on the cookie sheet. Lightly dust the chick peas with the same cooking spray and sprinkle 4 tsp of seasoning over the top (my favorite is the Hidden Valley® Fiesta Ranch Dip Mix and 4 tsp is half of a packet). Bake in a preheated 425 degree oven for 50-60 minutes, stirring halfway through. My super special secret is to place the cooled chick peas in a covered bowl, along with 5 pumps of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!® Spray and a sprinkling of seasoned salt. Shake well and enjoy. This recipe counts as 7 servings of vegetables, and I usually eat it in two sittings.
  
  For the popcorn I use the lowest calorie microwave popcorn I can find (it comes in at 15 calories a cup) and I cook it according to package directions. Then I sprinkle 3-4 capfuls of white vinegar over the top and salt to taste. I give the popcorn a good toss and voila! I have my version of salt and vinegar chips.



• I have enlisted the help of my husband or, partner in crime as I like to call him. I’ve asked him to stay in the kitchen after supper as leftovers are being put away (and ideally to help of course) because I’m much less likely to munch on leftovers being put away if I have a “witness”. He’ll also either come with, or go for me when I need to go the kitchen during the evening hours – which is typically the time of day that I tend to reach for higher calories treats or leftovers.

Okay, now for the exercise side.

• Luckily the dog still needs to be walked, so that will stay in place.


• I can get to work 10-15 minutes early and walk around before going in and/or stay 10-15 minutes later to walk around before going home.


• For some strange reason I don’t believe I’m going to feel super comfortable doing crunches and weights in front of the in-laws in the living room (which is where I usually work out at home), but what I can do is move my exercise ball and weights into my bedroom and do a few minutes of exercise before going to bed.


• We will be walking around while shopping, but a good way for me to get a teeny bit extra in is to drop everyone off at the store entrance, and then park far away and sprint to get back to them.

Alrighty then, that’s the plan. I’m curious to see what happens over the next two weeks. Wish me luck!

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I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! is a brand of margarine produced by Becel/Flora/Promise, which is a subsidiary of Unilever