What I learned while eating pasta and drinking red wine

The food in Italy was amazing and as I mentioned in my last post, I did not see any obese Italian people (a few slightly overweight elderly people but that was it when it came to weight problems). For lunch and dinner, the Italians eat three to four course meals. Antipasto which often consisted of bruschetta or caprese. (And I must digress since I thought I came from the tomato capitol (Sacramento) of the world. The tomatoes in Italy are still yummy. Here we've moved from the yummy ones available in the summer to the less flavorful.) Then came a pasta course complete with sauce (sometimes cream sauces). Then a small piece of beef or chicken and often potatoes. And don't forget the gelato ... there's no scrimping on dessert. And red wine was served at both lunch and dinner.

How do Italians eat like this and maintain their weight? I suspect they move more as part of their everyday life (walking and biking), but I've been thinking that it might have more to do with the lack of processed foods in their diet. All the food we ate was "real." Sometimes it was high-calorie, but it wasn't processed. For example, the only salad dressings used are olive oil and vinegar. Butter and cream are definitely part of their diet. Those potatoes that were often part of the secondi piatti (second course) were often fried.

As the saying goes, "when in Rome do as the Romans do." I ate the same food as the Italians. But even I couldn't keep up with their quantity and so my friend and I often shared the antipasto and then would stop at that and the primi piatti (first course). Complete with the wine, of course. And, instead of the usual vacation weight gain, I came home down a couple of pounds. And my clothes are looser (I was able to wear a skirt that wouldn't go around me before I left). I'm also wondering if the more natural, albeit higher calorie, diet helped with my water retention.

The pictures below are from Rome (inside the Vatican Museum; St. Peter's; and the Colisseum). All awesome sights to see in person.

Where I wish I was right now

The Amalfi Coast in Italy. More about vacation and vacation food and drink coming soon.

Buono Sera

I'm back from Italy. It was an AWESOME vacation, but I am glad to be home. Here are a few pictures from Venice. I loved the one of the farmer's market on a gondola. Only in Venice.

I've got a lot of catching up to do, but just want to mention that while I was gone I observed obesity truly is an American problem. I didn't see any obese Italians and I don't understand that based on how they eat! Three and four course meals for lunch and dinner complete with wine?! Although I must admit I enjoyed every bite and drink!

Now it's back to reality. Hope everyone has had a good couple of weeks! I'll look forward to visiting your blogs over the next couple of days.

Ciao

I did the 7K Bridge to Bridge Fun Run in San Francisco today (walking from the Bay Bridge to the Golden Gate). Between the fun run (which I walk per usual) and getting to and from the starting line and the car and other wanderings, I managed to get 7 miles on the pedometer today.

I'm still doing well exercise-wise, and struggle a bit with the food side of the equation. But I haven't fallen completely off the wagon. I just need to rein in my grazing tendencies, especially on weekends.

The next pictures I post will be from Italia. I can't wait! Ciao for now.

Catch up post

This has been a good week exercise-wise and an ok week food-wise. I've stepped up the exercise by adding distance/time to my morning walks. And I've been making an effort to move more during the day (a walk around the block a couple of times a day). And I'm still working out with my trainer. Tonight's workout was especially difficult (and came after I walked to the gym, rushing the last half mile or so since I was running late). My legs still feel rubbery. I feel really good about these efforts.

I had one really bad meal this week (fish 'n chips). I think my inner brat just acted especially bratty that day and ordered that meal. Despite many other choices on the menu. Choices that I would have enjoyed more. I felt really crappy after ingesting all that grease. I hope I remember how I felt afterwards next time I'm tempted. I did get right back on track the next day. I had to work really hard to not let that one meal begin a downward slide.

I remain frustrated that my weight isn't going down. I truly feel stuck but know I am still eating too much sodium.

My boss is just a little bit nuts and makes my life miserable now and then. This has been one of those weeks. After a difficult day with her today, I did find that the walk/workout tonight pushed my obsession about work to the back of my mind.

I am NOT enjoying the shorter days. It's so much nicer to walk in daylight. Altho in the evenings, it is nice that it's cooler when the sun goes down.

My good news ... I'm heading to Italy on vacation next month!

TGIF everyone!

Volunteer for California/International Coastal Cleanup Day

Tomorrow is California Coastal Cleanup Day, a part of the International Coastal Cleanup. This volunteer event focuses on cleaning up the marine environment that many of us enjoy as part of our regular exercise venues. Last year in California, more than 70,000 volunteers worked together to collect more than 1.6 MILLION pounds of trash and recyclables from our beaches, lakes, and waterways.

Sacramento has a wonderful 30-mile bike trail along the American River. This is my favorite spot for bike riding and walking and in my younger days I spent a lot of time rafting the river. So, I'm volunteering tomorrow to help clean up a part of this trail. I'm sure there are similar volunteer opportunities in your community.

Coincidentally, Hanlie posted a moving video about leaving the planet in better shape than we found it. Volunteering tomorrow to clean up the waterways can be one step toward this goal.

(On a related note ... WHY WHY WHY do people think it's appropriate to toss their litter along the roads, waterways, etc.?? I'm appalled by the litter each morning when I walk in my neighborhood.)

Mental ... or physical?

Back in the day (WAY back) after a night of partying, I would reach for greasy food the next morning as an antidote. It provided comfort ... and seemed to truly make me feel better. A greasy hamburger was the best. Back in those days, I knew all the neaby greasy spoons and their hours.

I don't overindulge anymore. Way too old. But I did find myself working all day Friday into Saturday morning (at 6:30 am). After just an hour's sleep (I had a hair appointment) I found myself in the McDonald's drive-through. I have many many bad habits to break in this healthy journey thing, but fast food isn't one of them. But on a morning when I FELT like I had partied all night (but it was all tiredness this time around), grease seemed to be the answer.

I've been wondering if the desire for a McDonald's breakfast was based on a long ago memory, a mental need for comfort or some actual physical need. Or maybe a combination of all three.

In addition to McDonald's, my eating has had a flew slips over the last week. But my exercise has been very consistent. Thankfully, I've had some flexibility in my work schedule recently so I can still get in some exercise (including meeting with my trainer) in the morning. I already miss the LONG days of summer. The darker mornings make it tougher to get an early start on a walk.

Have a good end of the week everyone!