The Man in seat 2a

I have to write about this because it really caused an emotional reaction for me.

My flight from Memphis to Cleveland was a tough one.  It was a small plane, only two seats on each side.  I was in the window seat and the man next to me was in his seat and half of mine.  He smelled awful and for those who know me - you know I have a hypersensitive nose.... At first I was irritated by this man and then I started to just feel sorry for him.  Sitting in his seat doing nothing I could hear his labored breathing.  He went to put down the tray and it stopped right at the top of his belly.  The flight attendant came around and he ordered a diet coke and then she gave him two bags of cookies.  I declined a drink or snack (I have water in my bag as well as a clean snack).  As I am pushed up against the window trying to claim a little personal space I start to think about how sad the state of this mans health and quality of life are.  He can’t fit in the seat of an airplane, his tray won’ t go down because his body is in the way and he has trouble breathing just sitting down.  I really want to turn and say to him “Why have you given up on yourself?  You don’t have to live like this”  there is a better way- You could be so much healthier, live longer, better and happier.

These are the moments I think to myself I could make a difference here.  I found a deep passion for health, fitness and beautiful amazing clean food and cooking.  If only I could wave a magic wand and give the world a little of this passion and energy we would all get a little healthier, happier, stronger and maybe even live a little longer....

Once you really take control of your own health and body it’s almost painful to see people who have ignored themselves and are living in a body they can barely get around in.  There really is a better way - it is a choice.  

Sadly when you take up a seat and a half on an airplane your obesity is now not just your problem but it is an inconvenience to me.  

I’m not trying to hard on this man or insensitive - I actually feel really sensitive and want to reach out and help- I realize in this moment it is not the time or my place.

...and then there is the pushy flight attendant- and when I think about it, we all have a pushy flight attendant in our lives.  

The overweight flight attendant offers the woman in front of me cookies.  The woman declines “no thank you.”  The flight attendant says “oh but they are so good, are you sure”  Lady is seat 1b says again “no thanks”  Flight attendant.... “but they are so good, my favorite, just try them!”  Are you “f-ing kidding me!  She said no thanks twice-

Stop pushing her to eat something she doesn’t want.  

Then I realized we all have a pushy flight attendant in our life- 

The ones who keep pushing even after we say no.  No - is a complete sentence! No is no- No is I don’t want any - thanks for asking now go away with your damn cookies!

So, when we are trying to stick to a weight loss plan and you are at a party and you are doing the right thing and friends say “Oh- just have a little - it won’t hurt. You have to enjoy yourself a little... What do we do with that?

It’s really hard to make a health stand in this country today.  Suddenly we are the outsiders.  Overeating and overweight is the norm and those of us who try to keep it all in check are the weirdos! 

The lobby of the hotel had a huge candy store front and center.  Ice cream, apples covered in everything, chocolate covered everything up the wah-zoo.  I passed it multiple times a day.  I won’t lie- it smelled amazing, there were happy bouncy children waiting in line.... I was stressed and I wanted to indulge.  I stopped multiple times... almost bought something - but I had to make a choice.  I knew indulging would temporarily make me feel good- (for about 2 minutes) and then I would feel like crap.  In the long run - it would not help me achieve my personal health and fitness goals.  I was already feeling physically yucky from the gross food at the resort and I knew shoving chocolate covered something in my mouth was not going to help.  I walked away and half way down the hall did a fist pump knowing I made the right choice for me in that moment!  There would have been no sense of pride or fist pump after indulging.

Sometimes making the right food choice is a moment by moment struggle.  Meal by meal- day by day sometimes minute by minute.

I have to say I miss the gym- I can wait to get back there first thing tomorrow morning.  It’s a one hour mental vacation, it’s doing something to strengthen my body as well as my mind.... A couple of days without the gym, well I start to get a little cranky!

Thanks for reading- 

Ciao-

Michele

I’ll be cooking something tomorrow.... I wonder what new recipe I will post-

Eating on the Road-

Staying on track with a clean diet is work- it takes time, planning and a big commitment.  It's pretty easy to do while I am home but traveling makes clean eating extremely difficult.  Some airports offer fairly clean options (Denver is great) but they are not alway easy to find.  Other airports are a eating disaster.  (Memphis)

This trip was really interesting for me.  

I did pack snacks and things to eat in case of emergency- (seen in earlier post) Problem is that only goes so far.  

On my layover in Memphis I was looking for a good clean lunch.... Wow- that was a task- 1. I was in the land a BBQ and Elvis.

2. I'm not a fan of BBQ.

So, I finally find a burger place that has a few salads sitting on ice and grilled chicken upon request.  I'm pretty sure that chicken had taken a 24 hour salt bath. (When you get used to no salt in you food- any salt at all seems like a lot) Then I asked for a light dressing and she handed me a balsamic vinegar pre-packaged dressing.  The label read 170 calories for the one serving with 150 of those calories coming from fat.  Needless to say I ate my salty dried out chicken over a bunch of iceberg lettuce dry. 

The food situation for me continued to decline upon arrival at the hotel.  Being without a car, at a resort and facing the computer problems the only real option for me was the restaurants at the resort.  The resort/convention center is a indoor/outdoor water park for kids and families. 

Needless to say the food choices were no where near clean.

Let me tell you about my first night dinner.  

I head to the restaurant for a table for one- there was a buffet available but from my experience I know finding something clean at a buffet is unlikely so I decide on ordering from the menu.

The only thing that looks remotely clean is the “pan seared” Walleye fish. The description reads: Lightly seasoned pan seared Walleye served with lemon, assorted veggies and jasmine rice.

So, I ask my server do you have brown rice or sweet potatoes? No I’m sorry we don’t. “Okay then, how the veggies are prepared? Are they prepared in butter?” She replies “yes they are”.  I say “can I have them prepared without butter?” - No, other wise they will just burn in the pan without butter.” Now, I’m thinking are you serious?  Then I say, “how about steamed, can they be steamed?” Well, I’ll have to check with the kitchen-

I’m already irritated.  Next my pan seared Walleye comes out battered and fried. Yes, I am serious- battered and fried.  I had steamed veggies but deep fried fish.  Completely, irritated I pick off the batter and eat the fish.  

It’s not easy going out to eat and having special requests for my order - but I can’t be shy about asking for what I need.  I definitely learned to do this training for the first show.  Actually, I prefer cooking at home.  I know what I’m getting and how everything is prepared - eating out is getting to be a bit of a stressor for me know unless I know the restaurant and that they will cater to my “special food needs”  

A great by product of training for a show is developing a clear food voice.  I don’t have to eat only what is presented me, I can ask for special requests and not feel bad about it.

Here are some fun images of the options in Memphis and the salad I ultimately ended up with at the airport.

Getting reconnected...

Man- did my weekend go sideways.   Here I am in the Cleveland airport with 5 hours to spare and thankfully I have a working laptop.  When I left Phoenix on Friday my laptop was working just fine.  I did a little work on the flight to Memphis.  During my layover I went to start up the laptop and nothing was happening.  Dead! My laptop was DEAD!

With a presentation to give on Sunday for the Professional Photographers of Ohio I was in a bit of a panic.
After spending some time on the phone with Apple Care Saturday morning it was clear I was going to have to make a trip to the Apple store about 40 miles from my hotel.  Thanks to the awesome people here in Ohio (Aaron and Megan) I was able to borrow a car and head down to Apple.  From the car I called the store to let them know what my problem was and that I was on my way.  The soonest appointment they had for me was 7:15 pm (it was about 2:30). I gladly took the appointment with the hopes that when I arrived around 3:30 they would be able to squeeze me in.  With the release of the iPad 2 the store was crazy busy but the amazing staff at Apple to me in right away.
Within a few minutes it was clear that my hard drive was fried- totally FRIED- nothing was recoverable.
The tech let me know that a hard drive replacement would take 3-5 days..... Well, I didn't have that kind of time.  The next thing I know my MacBook Pro was being carried away to the "back room" and I was asked to come back in an hour!  Holy!!! Apple totally came through and although I did lose some un-backed up work I had all the elements I needed to recreate a program on my external hard drive.
With all of that behind me... It was time to get to work on the program.  Instead of the studying my ACE materials, seeing some of the other programs and  heading to the gym to work out - I was recreating a 3 hour program and 2 slide shows for Ohio-

I had a blast presenting to the group (luckily you all have a sense of humor) Thanks to all of you who stayed for the program.
I'll be home for 2 days and then on my way to Austin, Texas for a 3 day workshop and from there I head to New Hampshire.