Ginny Gets Skinny!: Derailed in Darwin

Gorgeous sunset at Mindil Beach

Sooooo, the big question - how I have I been managing my diet at the conference in Darwin? Well let's see, on wednesday I broke my diet, on thursday I broke my diet, friday, ummmm, oh yeah, I broke my diet, aaaand saturday I broke my diet.

Pretty awesome huh? Not.

I'm not looking forward to stepping on those scales when I get home and see what damage I've done.

On the brightside - 'cause there's always a bright side, I mostly stuck to it, and my breaches were minor, and taught me a lesson which will help me in the future. This lesson is -

Putting the wrong stuff in your body makes you feel crap!

On day one I ate a small piece of cheesecake (not the base) and on day two I ate some of the marscapone cream out of the tiramisu. My reasoning was - "I'm allowed cheesecake at home (the Atkins kind) and I'm allowed cream (ah, but what about all the sugar that's probably in it?"). So, I talked myself into it being OK when really it wasn't. After both of these diet breaches I was flattened by the sugar high followed by the sugar low and had to go back to the apartment for a nap. It smashed me! I felt crap. After that I didn't eat anything I shouldn't - no matter how yummy!

The deserts I resisted at the conference dinner.

Despite this I actually think I did really well - I planned what to do, and as soon as I arrived I went straight to the supermarket and bought chicken, eggs, cheese ham and bacon. I brought Atkins bars and sugar-free jelly with me from home. When eating the conference food everyone I spoke to was supportive and helped me "eat animals and green stuff". I picked the meat out of sandwiches one day, ate a whole plate of just barramundi (yum!) another day, and picked the beef out of a curry the other. At the functions I didn't really eat as there wasn't much suitable - but I had prepared for that and eaten at the apartment before I left. We were taken out for dinner one night and I ate fish, avoiding any of the entrees and bread successfully. When I went to the Mindil markets (OMG, amazing!), I had a crocodile sirloin steak sandwich without the bread and the guys preparing it were very supportive of the no carb thing, discussing with me what was in the various sauces and chutney and offering alternatives - the macadamia and lemon myrtle pesto was to die for! I had lemongrass prawn skewers that made me want to weep they were so crisp, fresh and delicious! Amazing, fresh local Darwin produce.

Crocodile sirloin - yum!!

Mindil sunset markets

They were the best, and most enormous markets I've ever seen!


Sunset at Mindil Beach

So what's the big deal you say? Sounds like I was really good! Ah yes, but we are forgetting the alcohol! Damn, delicious, irresistible alcohol. On night one I had decided to have one or two champagnes in celebration of how well I had done thus far - and had six. On night two I had another two glasses. On night three I had 4 beers - but at least chose the low carb beer which isn't quite as bad. I also had a glass of champagne when I got back to the apartment. And then on night four I had several champagnes. Hopeless!

Oh well, what do ya do?

Answer - you dust yourself off and pick yourself up! Im thinking of the of the positives - imagine what I would have done if I was eating anything I wanted? The desserts, the bread, the pastries, the greasy, fatty, carby finger food. Oh geeze, I could have done much MUCH worse!

So overall, I'm actually pretty happy with myself. I could have done better, but I could have done a hell of a lot worse. I have had a great time, I have seen more of our beautiful country and I have been touched by the support and loveliness of the people I know, and the people I met. Although the stifling heat and humidity was almost unbearable, Darwin has been a wonderful, and beautiful adventure both visually and emotionally.

Below are some photos from my trip, if you haven't been to Darwin, head on over and have a look at our beautiful country and have a chat with the friendly people here. If you can spare a few days absolutely get in to see Katherine Gorge, Kakadu and take a visit to Arnhem Land and learn more about our indigenous people and their history.

See you in a few kilos (not sure if that will be plus a few, or minus a few!). xx