It is just as I knew it would be. Time is moving fast and as I look back over the past week, it feels so much better to have stayed on track and even maintained than to have sped out of control and gained. I was actually down three pounds a couple days ago. I will weigh tomorrow and see if that is still the case. I have stayed on track, but we have been eating out more than we normally would with the holidays approaching.
I found it really interesting last night to look around as I ate. We made the choice to go to a Chinese Buffet that we love because a) the price is amazing and b) we have more options than anywhere else for healthy choices with me being gluten free. There is a Sushi Bar with some of the best veggie Sushi I have ever had, there is a nice salad and fruit bar, there is steamed rice... and of course a large number of veggies that have sauces and such on them, but I will take that over meat, cheeses, and fried foods any day. What was really incredible was watching people. We asked for a table way in the back corner away from the buffet and hordes of people. It was nice and quiet and we had a view of the entire restaurant while we ate as well as a VERY long walk to get more food.
I started with a few pieces of Sushi, a dab of Wasabi Paste and hot tea. I looked around me, ate slowly and observed. The ratio was about 10 to 1... obese to thin people. (that might even be generous to the thin people) The plates around me... stacked often about 4 " high with food. Some people carried two entirely full plates. I couldn't really figure out if they were just wanting to walk back and forth to the buffet less or if they were afraid the food they enjoyed was not going to be there the next trip up. I went back once for some steamed rice and veggies. I watched more. It was incredible how much people ate. Even more incredible was how fast people gulped food down. They didn't even look up. I was able to really watch people without them even noticing. Many had 3 or 4 soda refills, 4 or 5 plates of food (heaping), and then desserts... often going back for seconds and thirds. There were times when it appeared to me almost like a feeding trough with people rushing to get their fill. There were even small children eating more amounts of food than I have ever seen children eat. I was saddened by how their lives will probably be affected by starting to eat so much, so unhealthy at such a young age. One little boy (about two years old) was laughing and playing with me for almost a half hour and NO one at his table even noticed because they were so busy gulping down copious amounts of food. I couldn't believe that I could interact with the child so long without either of his parents taking notice. It was rather shocking to me. But... their focus was on their food not their child.
I knew, just a short time ago, I was one of those people and I found myself being so grateful ~ that is no longer the case. I could have eaten much more, but instead I stopped after my serving of rice and veggies and just sat enjoying my hot tea and ice water while my husband ate. I left feeling great!
I didn't even revisit the buffet to have some fresh fruit for dessert. It felt good to be in control.