Next week at this time I will be traveling, but not to the FoodBuzz Festival that so many of you are attending. No, I will be in Sevierville, Tenn. for work from Tuesday until Friday.
As I’ve said before, I’m not a big fan of traveling. In fact, the only time I’ve traveled the past 10 years it has been for work; never for a vacation. Expenses aside, I like my routines and any disruption annoys me.
But what I usually find is that once I settle in and have my bony fingers grasping just a bit of control over the situation, things are manageable. When I travel somewhere with viable food options, I actually even enjoy eating out and trying different things.
So, minus the fact that I’m stuck in between nowhere and a tourist trap full of pulled pork and BBQ joints every 10 feet, this is a relatively low-stress venture in theory. I’ve done this show a couple times before and the fall colors are usually quite pretty, even if the restaurant options aren’t.
However, whereas a lot of people worry about gaining weight while traveling, I worry about losing weight and usually end up feeling like I got hit by a truck upon my return.
I tend to get stuck in an all-or-nothing mindset when my routine gets broken and I don’t have my staples or normal times. Even though I’m walking around for work all day, I don’t consider it exercise because it’s just “work” and not scheduled exercise.
I skip snacks or overestimate my meals and try to compensate, not because I want to lose weight, but because it feels uncomfortable to change things up. Even though I’m okay eating different things, it’s usually actually less than I would eat during a “normal” day at home. So…
Underestimated activity + Overestimated food = the fact that traveling isn’t healthy for me.
But for some reason, I’m not that stressed about this trip. I found out my room has a mini-fridge, so I’ll hit the Wal-Mart and buy a few things to have on hand—yogurt, fruit, veggies, water, etc. For everything else, I’ll play it by ear and try not to be neurotic if my meals are less than perfect or not exactly what I want.
It’s only for a couple of days and worrying about things that haven’t happened yet is the most unhealthy thing I could do.
In fact, I only get stressed out over things (work, time, family, etc.) because I feel like I have to do so many things at a certain time and a certain way. The phone rings, I have to answer it. An e-mail comes in, I have to reply that second. I ate this earlier, so I have to eat this later.
I’m so busy trying to prevent stress in the future that I end up stressing myself out in the process. Counterproductive, don’t you think?
So, this is a pep talk to myself for next week (and to anyone who might be traveling in the near future):
- Prepare for the situation, but don’t do “normal” if an adventure awaits.
- Take advantage of the change in scenery and the ambiguity of being somewhere new where no one knows you.
- Just because you’re not in your own bed doesn’t mean you aren’t in still in your own head—be responsible for your own health and make no excuses.
- since you have to do it anyway, enjoy it for what it’s worth (you’ll be back home before you know it.)
And hey, even if it stinks it will make for an entertaining blog post.
P.S. Baby goats make me happy.
(I drive by them every day on my way to and from work—no kidding. Get it?)
I get nervous about a change in routine, too, but once I et go, I usually end up having a blast. You just need to remember that you aren’t magically going to blow up or disappear, and the world is not going to end if you eat more than usual, or if things don’t go exactly as planned.
Sometimes I actually find it easier to lose control on vacation. Isn’t that vacation is for? I feel freer and not responsible for all of the things I feel pressured to do and worry about at home.
Tennessee sounds like it will be fun, but I wish you were coming to FoodBuzz!
I’m taking a road trip this week too and needed to read a post like this. I have the same issue; I tend to slip backwards very easily when I travel, being out of routine seems to invite restrictive patterns to come roaring back in for some reason. BUT it is avoidable, and it’s great that you’re conscious of the risks and ways to meet and beat the challenges. I hope your trip goes smoothly and that you are able to enjoy the time away, even the most mundane places can hold adventure and interesting experiences.
Take care!
I went on my senior trip to europe, during what probably was the deepest I was ever in my disorder. Let’s just say, I hope that I one day get the chance to go back, and enjoy it like I should have! I really do love to travel and see new parts of the world. But yes, my “habits” would get in the way now I’m sure. I really hope that you enjoy yourself and are able to just live in the moment and release some of that control!
I love traveling…I would travel more if I had the time and money. That said, my family never had a vacation for about 5-7 years because of me. During that time, I just refused to go out because I was scared shitless of change. And my family just didn’t want to deal with my freak-outs and obsessive behaviors when they really just wanted a good, fun rest.
Blah, I’m babbling again in my own thoughts. But all the best travels to you, Abby. Though, I think it’d be good to have some change…sometimes going all the way is best, instead of making compromises here and there. I like the pep talk you made for yourself, though. I hope you have a safe and happy trip!
you know how I feel about this, and I end up in the same position as you.
I don’t know if my advice is any help, because I believe your mind and routines are way stronger than any motivational advice. But remember this, safety is a false sense. Use the new surroundings to start new habits or routines. If its so bad, don’t worry, youll be back home to your old way before ya know it.
and of course, keep my number handy on speed-dial (or speed text) as I will be in the same awkward situation at foodbuzz.
I can relate very much to over- and underestimating and feeling very uncomfortable with new situations. I also don’t travel a lot, not only because of money but because it frightens me to be dependent on what’s there (or not, in the worst case) food-wise, people-wise, and comfort-wise.
Funny, but my therapist told me to buy scales again after I had moved out (and didn’t take my scales) and lost plenty of weight because I limited myself to “safety” zone of food while I wasn’t able to control things as I usually did.
I’ve found that taking a little stuffed animal with me in my pocket helps. When I put my hand in my pocket and I feel the soft and lovely cutiness under my fingers, it calms me down. Mindfulness practices have also helped a lot (I don’t know if something like that appeals to you, though). And I tell myself I’m safe, and everything is okay. M therapist (he’s clever) said it seemed to him as if I still believed I lived in constant danger, and although I wasn’t, the notion of it hadn’t arrived in my mind yet (in terms of full understanding it), so I should remind myself that everything was okay, and that, regardless what happens, I can decide what to do in the end, so I always have at least some control in a situation.
I hope you’ll be fine!
I can relate very much to over- and underestimating and feeling very uncomfortable with new situations. I also don’t travel a lot, not only because of money but because it frightens me to be dependent on what’s there (or not, in the worst case) food-wise, people-wise, and comfort-wise.
Funny, but my therapist told me to buy scales again after I had moved out (and didn’t take my scales) and lost plenty of weight because I limited myself to “safety” zone of food while I wasn’t able to control things as I usually did.
I’ve found that taking a little stuffed animal with me in my pocket helps. When I put my hand in my pocket and I feel the soft and lovely cutiness under my fingers, it calms me down. Mindfulness practices have also helped a lot (I don’t know if something like that appeals to you, though). And I tell myself I’m safe, and everything is okay. My therapist (he’s clever) said it seemed to him as if I still believed I lived in constant danger, and although I wasn’t, the notion of it hadn’t arrived in my mind yet (in terms of full understanding it), so I should remind myself that everything was okay, and that, regardless what happens, I can decide what to do in the end, so I always have at least some control in a situation.
I hope you’ll be fine!
Sorry, I clicked twice! My internet connection sucks at the moment, so I thought it didn’t take my comment properly because it was loading endlessly.
“And hey, even if it stinks it will make for an entertaining blog post.” <– So very true. Most of my 'trips' seem to end up this way.
I can relate to every single word. It's funny how my mind (and yours apparently) can so easily overestimate food and underestimate exercise, but to do the opposite is almost impossible. Going out of my comfort zone and travelling is one of my biggest challenges left to overcome. I rarely get the opportunity, and when I do I usually weasel out of it before I can even properly process the information. Self-destruction much?
I hope you do manage to enjoy yourself.. and I can't wait to hear about it no matter what happens!
I love the baby goats. How cute
Isn’t it funny how everywhere you go, there you are? Since you’ve done this show a couple of times before, I’m wondering if you know a bit about what to expect. Sometimes that helps to lessen my anxieties (that an a mini-fridge in my room).
But since you have done this before, why not take this as an opportunity to experiment and really challenge some of these ideas (walking all day for work is not exercise, for example)? What’s the worst that could happen? What’s the best? You are strong, Abby. Tap into that strength. And have some moments of joy while you are gone. You are worth it
P.S. Maybe you should plan a vacay to beautiful smoggy LA?
Great advice on staying in the present and living in the moment while travelling. I love to travel andn I feel more alive when I am out of my comfort zone and exploring new places, that’s because all my senses are experiencing new things, unlike in our daily routine, most things are pretty much on autopilot.
keep an open mind and go with the flow – traveling CAN be fun, but you gotta live in the moment! have an amazingly fun trip and try eating one thing you’ve never tried – a mini challenge of sorts
love ya!
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