Ed Levine's Serious Diet, Week 83: Bad Road Food Habits in Chicago
"There was more delicious Chicago food to be had, and I had it."
Pizza from Great Lake. Read all about my visit here »
I thought I had licked my road food problem—the one that gives me license to eat insane amounts of food when traveling. I convince myself I may never pass through that town again. Then I went to Chicago and the Windy City got the best of me.
The first day, Robyn and I had barbecue at Honey1 BBQ, hot dogs and duck fat fries at Hot Doug's, frozen custard and Boston Shakes at Scooter's, pizza at Great Lake, and an espresso malt nightcap at Bobtail, a well-regarded Chicago ice cream shop. I tried to eat everything in moderation, but it was hard, because even in moderation, that's a lot of food.
So Friday was a complete serious diet disaster. And we still had two more days in Chicago. Do other serious eaters have the same problem on the road?
Saturday was goat and pie day, and even though I canceled a dinner reservation that night and saw a bad movie instead, I still ate too much.
Sunday was no better.
There was more delicious Chicago food to be had, and I had it. Black truffle hash browns, thick slices of maple-cured bacon, chicken sausage corn dogs, hot chocolate, soft pretzels. It was a lost weekend.
The Weigh-In
Starting the week off with three days of Chicago deliciousness was not exactly an auspicious beginning to my serious diet regimen. I think I did regain control as the week wore on, but it's going to be tough recovering from my gustatory tour of the Windy City.
Here we go. 216. Up two pounds from last week, but four pounds less than when I got on the scale in Chicago on Sunday (yes, I really do bring Thinner everywhere). No more trips to Chicago planned for the immediate future. Thank God for that. But Chicago was no excuse. I should have exerted more self-control. Bad habits die hard.
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21 Comments:
I know these things can be hard, Ed, but what's done is done. You know what happened and how, so try not to sulk too long. Instead, think of all the great food you had!
pastry262 at 9:35AM on 09/04/09
You're right, pastry262. I am more determined than ever to lose those 2 pounds this week. No more sulking. And man was that food good.
Ed Levine at 9:47AM on 09/04/09
think of it this way - you would've kicked yourself hard if you were in Chicago and didn't experience all these local, specialty food. Now that you're back in NYC, just get back on track. Eat light and move more. 2 pounds isn't really a lot considering the amount you've just described. :) Don't be too hard on yourself.
gargupie at 9:48AM on 09/04/09
For me, it goes back and forth, largely because of my dietary restrictions. Either I'm eating tons of food because, hey, it's vacation, or I'm forced onto an all-raw diet because there's nothing for me to eat but whatever fruit I manage to buy.
KarynMC at 9:51AM on 09/04/09
Honestly Ed, if you didn't gain a pound or two while in Chicago, I would say something went terribly wrong.
missvenuz at 10:02AM on 09/04/09
Ed, don't beat yourself up! If I was in Chicago I would have had a food frenzy as well! When I take a trip I am always amazed at how much food I can consume and not think one bit about eating right. Then I get back into the groove again by portion control. My eating habits have changed radically in the past year. But when I am out of town, I don't think one bit about salads, veggies or anything healthy! Life isn't about not having a good time. Enjoy what you love, but again, moderate.
queenbleu at 10:40AM on 09/04/09
Hey, be glad you don't live here. Most of the best options here are fat-fat-fatty (not that there isn't good veggie and lighter fare); imagine having to choose on a weekly basis! It's a wonder I'm not 200 pounds myself (and I'm a 5'6" female).
Additionally, as others have said, you ate well. It's not like you threw those calories away on McDonalds or some such place.
And what "well-regarded Chicago ice cream shop"? Honey 1 is good, but next time, go to Smoque if you haven't been.
anysuchname at 10:50AM on 09/04/09
Bobtail. I didn't love the ice cream, but that espresso malt was awesome.
Ed Levine at 11:02AM on 09/04/09
I GAINED LIKE 5 POUNDS LAST FRIDAY ALONE.
2 pounds...not so bad considering how much fooding went down. Haha.
Robyn Lee at 11:03AM on 09/04/09
Road eating is tough for me. I have to stop anywhere and everywhere that sounds interesting to me (like you, I'm paranoid that I may not pass through again). I've found that just because I buy it, doesn't mean I have to eat it all.
I look at it this way:
I'm going to stop at Rutt's Hut while I'm in New Jersey next week. I want to sample the four different levels of done-ness of the hot dogs they serve there. If I cut the four hot dogs in half that makes two whole hot dogs. If you're with a friend give the other half to him or her. If you're alone, pitch them. Most people would probably say you just threw away four bucks worth of hot dogs. I, however, look at it like I just bought a pound of fat that I won't have to lose for four bucks, rather than needing to diet or exercise it off.
If you could buy a pound of lost fat from your frame, what you'd you pay? $5, $10, $20? Nothing says that you have to eat the whole thing, but Hot Doug's does give me pause for thought.
dineomite at 11:50AM on 09/04/09
ed, that's why god invented salad..... it's a play and pay system....
who can resist all of that good food.... certainly not a a mere mortal!
pooch at 11:59AM on 09/04/09
Well, I have a tough time eating heavily on the road since I'm a vegetarian. But, every time we visit my husband's family in Chicago, it's tough to have any kind of self-control. From deep dish pizzas to my husband's favorite sandwich shop, there's a fattening vegetarian version for me to eat that I will NOT find at home.
So, any weight I gain, I chalk up to the vacation and just get back on track once I'm home. Since I live in San Diego, it's much easier to ease back into a healthier lifestyle (and I'm having a fruit-filled smoothie for breakfast simply because it's too hot -- 90+ degrees!).
Just eat a little lighter this coming week and walk around more, play squash or go for a bike ride, and the weight will come off. Promise. ;-)
Lorena at 12:05PM on 09/04/09
I went to Atlanta about a year ago to visit a friend -- it was my first (and probably only) time visiting that city, and so I wanted to eat as much good stuff as I could. I was there for less than one week, and I gained ten pounds.
So yes, I too have the same problem. I don't think I've ever gone on a trip without gaining at least a little weight.
MichaelN at 4:22PM on 09/04/09
I'm happy to break even when in a new city. Sure, we tend to eat a lot because we love food and want to try new things, but we tend to walk around a lot exploring too, so hopefully it balances out.
It's good that you take Thinner with you when you travel. I should do that, but it's not like weighing-in is going to really change my behavior while traveling much. Chicago's a tough city to lose weight in. I put on about 50 pounds within a year after moving here, and it took me six months of struggle to take off that much.
You're doing good, Ed. Don't let one bad traveling weekend get you down.
jough at 4:23PM on 09/04/09
Next time you're in Chicago, if you're looking for ice cream, you HAVE to check out Ruth & Phil's Gourmet Ice Cream. I just had a scoop of their Pear Apple Cider Champagne Sorbet, and oh my lord, it's a little scoop of heaven!
happyscrappy at 4:56PM on 09/04/09
I totally get excited about all the unique food options when I go out of town, and I try to partake when I can. I definitely make a concerted effort to maximize my exercise time when I'm out though, which can range from lots of walking to going to the hotel gym to running around to take in the city.
runnereater at 5:44PM on 09/04/09
"Do other serious eaters have the same problem on the road?"
Occasionally, but often in balance with lots of extra walking.
On the other hand-- Chicago would be a really tough town for do "lite".
Way too much and too many excellent and speciallty food choices. (If I could pack them in my suitcase and take them home.....)
p.s. Don't beat yourself up over this. Enjoy the indulgences completely. Then get back on the food wagon next week. Everything in balance baby.
CJ McD at 6:05PM on 09/04/09
Whenever I travel, most of my diet restrictions go out the window. Being vegan, not being able to cook, and affected by my travel itinerary, I certainly don't eat as well. Ed, I'm glad you carry around the scale. Way to face your weight rather than ignoring it (which I tend to do). Don't get discouraged! Live in the moment, not in the past! Also, what helps me is deciding to do juice cleanses or raw foods cleanses!
vicvicvictoria at 12:17AM on 09/05/09
Chicago is a food bounty and fairly easy to get around compared to NYC! I am sad I missed the SE Blackbird event that sounded awesome. Chicago is full of all sorts of food options and I am headed off to the Green City Market today to feed my addiction to arugula... You have made so much progress and to eat healthy without getting compulsive and obsessive weight loss is going to be an up and down street!!!!!!! Glad you enjoyed yourself in Chi-town!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jbout at 10:19AM on 09/05/09
I went to Spain and actually lost weight. It's a very jamon based culture, and I don't like meat. Tortilla con patatas gets really old after the first week or so. I totally fell in love with boquerones though.
Aynsl156 at 2:05PM on 09/05/09
I thought that was you with a backpack being dropped off in front of and walked into Blackbird on Sun, Aug 30th. We were just came out of Avec. How was Honey1 bbq or Chicagoan BBQ in general? Any comparison to Kansas/ Carolinas/ Texas ?
anakorpa at 5:48PM on 09/08/09