Everything's Bigger in Texas

Portions are bigger! 

Appetites are bigger! 

Food Regrets = BIGGER!

A busy three days with team meetings in Austin, I ended up eating off the buffets for most meals and even had some redonkulous Texas-style barbecue on Monday night.  It was soooo delicious!

Then came the kiss of diet death for dinner the last night:  the abbreviated, super unhealthy tex-mex menu.  My company took the liberty of choosing list of the 4 most popular (and decadent sounding) dishes for us to choose from.  While they all sounded delish, they were less than healthy for sure. Unfortunately, the only one that sounded remotely appropriate to me (meaning I wouldn't have to remove several ingredients in a group setting)  was the  Z'Tejas Diablo Chicken Pasta which was served in cream sauce that I asked be "light on the sauce."

So scary, right?  Oh, and did I forget to mention dessert?  Z'Tejas Ancho Chile Pie - - Very possibly the best pie I've ever eaten.  In my defense, I gave half of it to a co-worker before I even took a bite.  

THEN, when I was about 1/2 way done with it, I may have splashed it with tomatillo salsa so I wouldn't eat it all.  Oh, the things I do to avoid overeating...

It’s also not helpful that I was completely sedentary the entire time I was there.  Sitting in meetings all day, where the most athletic I became was clapping my hands after the speakers, walking to the beverage buffet to get another water, or maybe that one time where I started laughing so hard it felt like I was doing crunches (that was my favorite, obvi.)  The hotel had a nature trail and TONS of options for working out.  I so wish I had taken advantage of something, but time was really limited as is when you go to these meetings.  

I will pat myself on the back for staying HYDRATED, however.  When I'm in all-day meetings/trainings, I suck down the water.  It gives me something to do and helps the cause!

My company builds in a LOT of informative meetings/breakouts into our events like this, but when we can, we also try to have a team builder of some sort.  Our team builder yesterday was unbelievable!  


Our leadership team treated us to our choice of the following:  1) Eighteen holes of golf on the hotel's beautiful courses  2) A Spa Treatment of our choosing.  I’m CERTAIN you know which one I picked!

After last week’s weird massage, the masseuse actually suggested I come back in a week or so (to the wonton smelling place) to have a 2^nd massage so she could work out the “knots” in my back.  No asian fragranced pampering for this girl, we took care of the knots deep in the heart of Texas! 

One of my fave co-workers and I enjoying a glass of bubbly pre-spa :)
Note the Hannah Curlee necklace on yours truly

Good News: I had great meetings + got a great massage + got to visit with my co-workers.  
Bad News:  Wrecked the healthy living trend for the first part of the week.

I am pleased to report that tonight's dinner was JC Mesquite Chicken and my snack was the JC White Cheddar Popcorn.  Back on track, and determined to lose!