Dr. Pepper, soft pretzels with the coarse salt on top, hot dogs with relish and mustard, jelly bellies, tortilla chips with bean dip ... and I left the 7-11 with 3 packages of red licorice yesterday. Ahhh, the confessions of a missionary on furlough.
All of the foods that I lay awake and dream about in my bed in Bulgaria that just last week were an ocean away, literally a world away and today there are shelves and shelves of them, just around the corner. Who can resist? Who can be disciplined? Increasing the force of the temptation is the sinister small voice whispering that all of this beauteous bounty is mine now but it comes with an expiration date of 3 months. Why not indulge? Even as I type, my teeth sink into the soft cushion of a pull apart licorice stick, and a glass of Dr. Pepper sharing space with crushed ice is at my elbow.
Why not indulge? Because it is possible to add 30 pounds to your waistline in 3 months - we know this from personal experience. Why not indulge? Because one can spend their entire monthly salary at Taco Bell. Why not indulge? Because those shorts that I bought at GAP outlet last week are feeling a bit snug today.
Bulgaria has great fresh fruits and vegetables. I am not saying that we don't sneak a piece of cake or candy at home but quite honestly, the beautiful apples and the great mandarins are often just as tempting. First time visitors to Bulgaria rave over the tomatoes. I have often heard visitors say, "I had forgotten what a tomato is supposed to taste like." It isn't uncommon to make a meal of a Bulgarian shopska salad (tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, baked peppers, and Bulgarian feta cheese) on a summer day. How difficult it will be this summer to opt for the Cobb salad in lieu of the Bacon Cheddar Chicken Grill burger!
In any event, Jay and I are trying to find a balance between discipline and indulgence. We have taken up jogging - a tortuous experience that I do not wish on my worst enemy! We have entered into a pact to make one meal a day salad only. While we may not loose any weight, we will be successful if we manage not to add any pounds.
The other side of the challenge comes with the wonderful potluck spreads that many churches lay out for the missionaries. Couple that with the sedentary activity of driving for twelve hours in a day to get to the service and you have an unbeatable recipe for an expanding waistline. Jogging, in spite of the medieval torture it represents may be our only hope this sumer.
Somebody remind me that a trim waist is sweeter than Shrimp Fettucine please!
1 comment:
Hi Sunbergs! Just wanted to drop by and let you know I'm following your travels this summer!
Also, I completely relate to this post (on a smaller, slightly-less-chaotic scale) as I'm prepping for four weeks in the States as well. Last summer, I made a deal with myself: on the list of Stateside things I was completely and utterly craving (In 'N' Out Burger, Chipotle), I was allowed to have my "bad" version once and really, really enjoy it. And then I was going to eat healthy. Letting myself seriously indulge a couple of times totally got it out of my system--you may not be wired the same way as me, but I just need to reteach my brain occassionally that I actually prefer raw foods and lighter meals to... well, everything else. Hang in there! You're worth it!
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