Day 20 : "Temptation"

Got up and went to the gym this morning, for a good legs workout.

Then at lunchtime we made the trip to the Harvester on Drove Road (The Grove) to celebrate my Gramp's 90th Birthday.  And didn't I do well !  I was actually going to allow myself to have a steak. But, when it came to ordering, I couldn't do it... and so asked for the Grilled Sea Bass instead, with a Parsley Sauce and Jacket Potato.  When the waitress asked if I wanted butter on the potato, I said 'no', but then changed my mind to 'yes' as thought it might be a bit dry without.  But when it actually came out, I removed most of the nob of butter and put it to one side.

I only chose the healthy stuff from the salad bar, but did allow myself half a new potato in mayonnaise (rather than half a bowl, as I would have used to have helped myself to).  And a few pasta shells.

I have to admit to looking at the various steaks, burgers and racks of rib that came out for the others with some envy.  I could feel the little devil inside of me jumping up and down with rage.  But I suppressed him, and did feel quite proud eating my fish.  If a little sad.

For dessert, despite really wanting a huge Cadbury's Sundae, I ordered a fruit skewer and Cornish vanilla ice cream.  Without the Cornish vanilla ice cream.

I did sniff some of my wife's Chocolate Fudge Cake, and marvelled at how my mum ate a Sundae that was bigger than her.  Whilst thinking I could probably have eaten two of them.  I don't think anyone noticed me drool.

Thank God for Unlimited Refill Diet Cokes.


And as if the lunchtime experience - whilst very enjoyable - wasn't hard enough on the willpower, this evening we went to a bonfire and fireworks display in Ashton Keynes which proved even more testing. My wife and two of my sons ate toffee apples.  My other son tucked into some candy floss followed by a hot dog.  I watched them.  I also eyed up other people drinking steaming mulled wine. Mmmmmm...  In fact, the air was full of the smells of delicious treats, like being at the fairground. How I resisted, I don't know - but I did.  I really fancied some soup, but there was none - only delicious-looking but not-allowed hot chocolate - so I went without anything.  But now I'm back home I'm going to have some low-fat soup for my tea instead of salad.  And a tin of tuna.

So all-in-all - despite, it seemed, temptation at every turn - my diet today has consisted only of:

- Breakfast:  A banana;
- Lunch:  A bowl of salad; grilled sea bass with parsley sauce, green beans and a jacket potato; and some fruit;
- Dinner:  A bowl of soup and a tin of tuna.

Taken at lunch time today - 

proof of my ability to resist steak!

Weigh-in tomorrow!