We've all heard the saying a million times. "If you can run a marathon, you can do ANYTHING!!!" I've been wondering when the time would come when I would be able to claim that little quip. Well, this week I had one of those situations where I had to draw on my marathon experience to get through it.
In my quest to lose weight, if I had to state one weakness that I have, it's the urge to stop for fast food at the end of the day on the way home from work. At some times in the past, the urge to stop at KFC or McDonald's or Taco Bell has been overwhelming. Yesterday was one of those times.
My first chance to gorge is the McDonald's on Bissonet and the Belway. Then there's a 2-fer at the next exit off the Beltway, a KFC/Taco Bell, all-in-one. McDonald's again at Hwy 6 (I'm really fighting the urge by then). And finally, Spring-Cypress and 290 offers McDonalds, Taco Cabana, Sonic, Chick-fil-A, Whataburger, and Nestle Toll House. To be honest, in the "old" days, you could find me not being able to decide and visiting 2 or more of these fine establishments.
So, yesterday, that urge popped up the very moment I got in my car and shut the door. Afterall, I've been good this week. I've lost about 4 lbs. since the marathon. I deserve it. Right?? Right. When I talk about urge here I mean a strong, strong urge. It's so sick but I really crave that crap at that time of day. So, I'm thinking, "Vic, if you can run a marathon, you can get home without the junk food." The race was on.
Stop 1 - I'm feeling pretty good, pacing myself and getting past McDonald's on Bissonet with no problem.
Stop 2 - KFC is my favorite and Bellaire is a free exit off the tollway so I know this would be and easy, quick on/off and leave me plenty of time to down a bucket of chicken and a Big Beef Burrito and get cleaned up before I get home. Fortunately, my training kicked in here and I refused. I moved from the right lane to the far left and kicked it up a few mph, passing numerous fast food diners.
Stop 3 - The next leg of the race is the longest stretch. You really start to think between stops 2 and 3 how much you want that Fish-fil-A sandwich. The drive at this point is mostly mental. You start to think about how much weight you've lost so far and how these two or three thousand extra calories won't hurt you. You start to imagine how that Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese (add mayonnaise) would taste. This is the hardest part of the drive. But, I ran a marathon!!! If I could run a marathon, I could get through this and I did.!!!
Stop 4 - By the time you get to Spring-Cypress, the adrenaline starts pumping and you know you're almost home. The cheers of family and friends ring loud and you know a good, healthy meal awaits you when you get home. You start to think about how happy the wife will be when she checks the bank account and doesn't see a $10.00 debit to some fast food joint. The last stop was easy and I didn't even look as I drove past it and right to the finish line, uh, I mean, home.
I'm recovering now. I had a good breakfast and have a healthy lunch planned. Hopefully, my 3 o'clock snack will prepare me adequately for the next trip I have coming up this afternoon.
18 comments:
Dang, Dude, powerful post! Tell you what, it's a whole lot easier if the temptation isn't there than if it is there and you have to resist it. Baaarb and I both noticed when we got into distance running that our taste for fast food really waned. It's a whole lot easier when what you crave is the stuff that's good for you. That's not to say the occasional Ultimate Cheeseburger doesn't slide down real nice.
Steeeve
Mmmm...fast food paradise
Is this heaven? No, it's Iowa.
Homer
You did it, Vic. I'm with you on the fast food. Heck, I just had three cookies for lunch. :)
Sometimes you have to draw on whatever strength you can. You did.
My eating is no where near where it was pre-marathon. I am not eating badly, I just dont seem to be wanting to eat. Life is happening and eating is low on the priority list...
I literally have to force myself to eat something.
However, the good thing is I've definately lost weight because of it...
Right now, though I could go for some fried damn chicken.........
GREAT GOING VIC!!
The week or so after the marathon is the hardest. I mostly give in. But then I come back with a vengeance.
Keep it up dude!
Good job on resisting tempation. I am the same way with Starbucks in the morning...I stay in the left lane and drive past the exits as fast as possible. :-) When I joined WW, I saw how many points all the fast stuff was and decided what I knew all along...I don't need it!
Great post. Way to resist and power home.
Once again you've inspired me to keep on the straight and narrow! I've been struggling lately...I think maybe it's the cold, gray, rainy days??? I just want to eat constantly = ( Thanks for reminding me that I, too, can be strong!
Pony
LMBBO!!!
;)
Just think about your waist getting smaller and your bank account getting larger!
Great job of pushing past the cravings.
In today's world that is full of fast food places, I find that I am partly lucky in that I don't like fast food (the thought of it typically makes me sick to my stomach) and extra fortunate that my parents rarely let me have it when I was a kid! I got to eat McDonalds or Burger King when a friend had a birthday party or when I could talk my grandmother into sneaking it for me! Every now and then (like maybe 2 to 3 times per year) I get a craving for McDonald's fries. Other than that, I don't feel the urge to eat it or really any other fast food. My idea of a yummy fast food stop is a turkey sub from Subway! Last year I can count on one hand the number of times in 12 months that I went to a typical fast food place- McDonalds 3 times (and once was b/c I had no choice during the Hurricane Rita thing) and Taco Bell twice! No Burger King, no Wendy's, no KFC all year!
Yea Baby, that's what I'm talkin' about.
See Red Run
I'm with Christy -- Starbucks is my big downfall. This week I stopped there only *one* morning which must be some kind of new record. :)
You captured the feeling of wanting some fast food perfectly!
Nestle Toll House? Why have I not seen this? Good thing I didn't read this before I was in the area today!
Good going Vic on passing by all that.
I totally and completely get that craving you are talking about!! Way to fight it!! Great post!!!
Darn you, VIC! Now I'm hungry. Maybe I should go get a whopper from Burger King, french fries from McDonalds, a sweet-tea from Whataburger, and fried apple pie from Popeyes.
Can you tell I'm a professional eater?
Mmmm...what Bill said
Homer
Great job on by-passing the food joints. That takes a lot of will power.
Just a thought - have you ever tried having a ride home snack to help with these cravings? You never know, might be worth a shot.
Keep up the great work!!
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