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May 23, 2005
Preparing for Exhaustion
One of the advantages to doing a particular kind of work for a long time is that you know how things go well enough to plan pretty well. Or at least, to plan for the unplanned.
For example, in the last ten days of a contract campaign, I know to plan to be exhausted. From now until June 1, I know that I'll be either a) talking to nurses on the phone b) assisting with negotiations c) talking to nurses at the hospital d) meeting with nurses e) dealing with some kind of logistical problem with a meeting space. I didn't become the Mistress of Logistics for nothing, you know.
Negotiations frequently go very late or all night at this point in the game, and just because I don't sleep one night doesn't mean that I take the next day off... nope, it's those times when it's most important to be in constant contact with the membership.
So I spent a lot of time this weekend preparing for the stretch. I went to the grocery store and stocked up on all my CR staples. I cleaned out and organized my fridge so that all my easy breezy CR food would be easily accessible and look happy when I go to reach for it. I did a giant load of laundry, even though, like most organizers who have spent much time on the road, I have enough underwear to last for approximately two months. That's what happens when you're often so busy that it seems more efficient to buy more underwear than to find a laundromat.
I also caught up on my correspondence and returned all phone calls. Hung out with people I won't have time to see until the contract is won. Thanked any and all deities that I have the world's most supportive significant other, considered making a burnt offering in thanks just to be on the safe side... but then realized that burning food probably creates some kind of toxic chemical with a fancy name, and that wouldn't please MR or the gods, goddesses, or random chance that sent him to me at all.
You're probably getting worried by now that I won't have time to blog. It's possible that I might miss a day here and there if I absolutely can't get out of negotiations. But one thing that tends to happen during this stretch of time is that I spend a lot of hours driving back and forth between the office, the negotiations, and the hospital, and as we all know by now, I do my "writing" while I'm driving. So as long as I have ten minutes to sit down and spit out the text that is pre-written in my head, I should have time to keep you at least vaguely updated.
I'm planning to keep my diet pretty simple during this time. I won't really have time to cook, and I won't have much time to play with DWIDP, so I may as well stick to the tried and true. It's hard not to fall into the pattern of eating all the junk food that swirls around the negotiations room, and not overeating when we go out for meals. To ward off cravings and possible disaster, I picked up some Atkins bars (160 cals) and some low carb chocolate peanut butter protein bars (120 cals.) I normally wouldn't eat these things, but every once in awhile when the other option is eating nothing or eating bagels and potato chips, I think it will be okay.
Keeping up my new exercise routine may be a challenge. I've been either going to the gym or walking or both every day, but I doubt that I'll have time for my nice long walks. Hopefully I can keep up the morning treadmill half hour and at least a little weight training, push-ups in the office between calls if nothing else. That should be entertaining to watch.
I woke up this morning craving a grilled cheese sandwich. Chalked it up to the overly strong Cosmopolitian I drank last night when out with a friend. Perhaps I should go back to the red wine only policy... has resveratrol, never makes me crave grilled cheese.
I am not, however, going to have a grilled cheese. We've come this far by faith... and by faith we shall avoid the evil gak.
Posted by april at May 23, 2005 8:20 AM
Comments
April,
don't go into the doc's office expecting the worst! I just had a doctor's visit that showed almost exactly the type of weightloss you are describing. This office weighs with clothes and shoes on. So, even though I had fasted for bloodword and weigh 103-105, the scale showed 109. Still, this was a 20 lb. loss. I told her I was happy with my weightloss, did not want to lose more, and was working out. We discussed my exercise schedule. She did not think it was excessive and encouraged me to maintain it. She said that I may need to add a few calories. I agreed that I MAY need to, and we went on to other topics. I think that so many physicians have such a hard time getting their patients to adopt healthy lifestyles that they do not want to discourage healthy habits by overreacting. Plus -- like Liz, I look very fit! Unless you are ready to get her on board with your whole CR program, keeping it low key may be best. (Okay, I did wear my heavy shoes, drink some water, and a heavyish long pearl necklace. I think was more psychological armor than significant added weight!)
Posted by: Laura at May 23, 2005 7:55 AM
I like those Atkins bars for emergencies, too -- nice and high in fiber compared to most bars and taste pretty decent. I like the Strawberry Crunch Breakfast ones.
Posted by: Stephanie at May 23, 2005 3:16 PM
I've recently discovered the Stallone Protein Puddings as an alternative to protein bars, when I need a nice portable meal or snack that doesn't require refrigeration. They're too gacky for every day, but not bad for the occasional all-day meeting or 20 mile hike in the wilderness. I also keep a couple in my glove box in case of emergency breakdowns, they don't melt or go bad. They come in those little cans where you just peel the lid off and eat. 100 calories, 20 g protein, sweetened with sucralose so no gastric distress; not bad at all. Right now they come in chocolate or vanilla, but a few more flavors are due to come out next month.
Here's the official scoop:
"Stallone High Protein Pudding: Introducing the world's first ready-to-eat high protein pudding. Designed as a healthy snack alternative - truly delicious, satisfying and guilt free. Each serving is lactose free, contains 20 grams of high quality protein, with only 2 grams or less of carbohydrates, and 2 grams of fat.
Nutrition Facts:
Serving Size (1 can) 165g
Servings Per 1
Calories 100
Fat Calories 2
Total Fat (g) 0
Sat. Fat (g) 0
Cholesterol (mg) 5
Sodium (mg) 430
Potassium (mg) 440
Total Carbs (g) 2
Dietary Fiber (g) 1
Sugars (g) 0
Proteins (g) 20
Spec17 Undefined --
Ingredient Details:
water, calcium caseinate, soy protein isolate, cocoa, soybean oil, sodium chloride, dipotassium phosphate, carrageenan, dextrose, tricalcium phosphate, sucralose, acesulfame potassium."
Posted by: Liz at May 24, 2005 7:19 PM