I’ve mentioned it a few times before – on Saturday I’m headed to New Orleans for a week for a conference for work. I’m really looking forward to the trip, as I’ve never been to New Orleans before, and I should have at least some time each night to explore around a bit.
One thing I am definitely not looking forward to though is the plethora of junk food made readily available at this conference. I’ve been to this same conference twice in the past, so at least I know what to expect so I can mentally prepare myself. The conference is put on by Microsoft, so they know fully well that at least the stereotypical geek lives on junk food. There is so much junk food at this conference – and all for free – that’s it’s hard to even describe. At the end of each session, you’re greeted with tables like this out in the hallway:
There’s cookies, candy, brownies, and all sorts of pre-packaged stuff like you see above. In the mornings there are Krispy Kreme donuts. Most evenings, there is a vendor-sponsored “reception” where there’s more free food and alcohol. Luckily, it seems like there were at least a few token pieces of fruit put out as well – usually apples, bananas, and oranges.
Scattered throughout the hallways, you’ll also find plenty of these:
At least there are bottles of water at the bottom – something I would have previously completely ignored. I’ll be sticking to those this year 
As I mentioned, I’ve been to this conference twice in the past, and back then, the junk food was one of the highlights for me. I would gorge myself on all sorts of sugary goodness during the breaks in between sessions, then even grab some more, and a few sodas, to take with me to the next session. Then at lunch, there are always great desserts that I would help myself to at least 1 or 2 servings of. And at the nightly vendor receptions, I would just continue to gorge on all the free food and alcohol. Throughout the day, I would also be packing my bag full of junk food and sodas to bring back to my hotel room, so that I could continue to gorge later. I never really felt guilty or ashamed of what I was doing, because: 1) the food was free, and 2) I always saw plenty of other people eating the same way. Somehow that justified it to me. I never did a before/after weighing (because at the time I didn’t care), but I wouldn’t be surprised if I gained 10 pounds during those weeks.
So what’s a newly-healthy geek to do in a situation like this? As I mentioned above, I’m going to do my best to just stick to the fruit from the snack tables, and water from the drink coolers. And I think the best thing is to just completely skip the vendor receptions this year. The only reasons to go to those receptions are 1) listen to boring vendor presentations, and 2) the free food and alcohol – neither of which interest me this year. I’m also going to pack some of my own healthy snacks (like some almonds and raisins) to take along with me, just in case there isn’t anything healthy on the snack tables.
The other thing that worries about this trip are just the usual difficulties with eating healthy while on a trip. I’m basically going to be eating out 3 meals a day for a week. There’s usually some sort of a healthy option when you go out to eat, but even that’s not a guarantee. I’m going to this conference with one of my coworkers, so I’m also not going to have complete control over where I eat.
My goals for myself for the week are to continue to eat as well as I can, avoid the junk food at the snack tables, and come back from my trip weighing the same, or maybe even less, than I did when I left. Mac managed to lose almost 3 pounds during his recent 10 day trip to Alaska, so I should be able to at least maintain my weight during a 6 day trip to New Orleans, right?
How do you keep yourself eating healthy on a business trip or vacation?
{ 7 comments }
Dude, Brandon, I know you can knock this out. In the past, though, I would have gained way more than 10 pounds! Not the soda (water and coffee for me), but those damned fruit pies and donuts. Yum. I love Hostess!
It seems like you have a great plan of attack, and I know you’ll be able to find healthy things at restaraunts–just be prepared to be sick of salads with dressing on the side, right?!
**Sorry for the double comment, but I had the wrong url in my website line…**
Dude, Brandon, I know you can knock this out. In the past, though, I would have gained way more than 10 pounds! Not the soda (water and coffee for me), but those damned fruit pies and donuts. Yum. I love Hostess!
It seems like you have a great plan of attack, and I know you’ll be able to find healthy things at restaraunts–just be prepared to be sick of salads with dressing on the side, right?!
.-= beej´s last blog… Chiltepe =-.
Sounds like your well prepared, you have a plan, you will do fine!
.-= Ron´s last blog… Since I put my nuts in the freezer =-.
Seems like you and Tara are facing similar issues: travel. As I told Tara, I will tell you: You have been training for this since you started this journey. You have prepared yourself as well as you can. All you have to do now is show up and keep doing what you know you need to do.
You can do it.
.-= Rinn´s last blog… IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIiittttt’s Picture time! =-.
I travel a good bit for work. Our meetings are the same and it kills. In April they wheeled in 10 carts packed full on Ben and Jerrys into the hall between sessions. It’s a little bothersome to be honest. We have the added issue of free booze the whole time. It takes a great deal of self control.
I use it as an opportunity to run in new locations. It’s a really cool way to see new cities and if I have to get up at 6 am to run I will stay away from crap food and too much wine.
I know you like golf. If you can try and play TPC Louisiana. It’s just outside N.O. and is an incredible course, complete with crocodiles.
Safe travels.
.-= Joe´s last blog… Running Gear Product Review: Endurox R4 =-.
While you may not be able to control where you eat, you can control what you eat. Be assertive when at restaurants. They may charge a little more but it’s well within your right as a customer to ask for changes.
And for sh*ts and giggles, stock up on those tasty fruit cups. Grab like 6 of them in front of everyone and then look at the other people when they grab 6 fruitpies.
Let’s see who feels guilty after that!!! Tweet the hell out of us during your conference.
.-= Tara´s last blog… Weekend Warrior Challenge =-.
The way you described your previous trips sounds like me to a T!
This is definitely a good test of what you’ve learned in your journey so far. I think you can be like Mac if you set your mind to it!
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