Day 28
Flying out to Spain this afternoon – time to squeeze in a cardio workout this morning before the weekly weigh-in: have lost another 2.5 kgs in a week –That’s a total of 7.6kg (16.75lbs) since I started, which puts me right on target with 2 weeks to go!
Tim showed me how to make their “Lumberjack Roll” – basically it’s a massive filled roll with all the soft doughy bread gutted out of it. Gluten – (glue, times ten) – is all bread is now days and not good for a healthy dieter but, oh it smells so good! I was shown some fairly disgusting pictures of how it lines the intestines which very quickly cooled my ardour. The crusty shell of the roll is great to stuff full of coloured noodled or sliced raw vegetables and with an added chicken breast, egg and a little low fat hummus to complete a take-anywhere meal. We carried two each – one for the airport before we board and one for when we arrive in case there’s no food available straight away.
Anne also made a portable meal loaf they call LMRC (Loaf, Meal Replacement, Complete). I know, I know – don’t ask. I refused to eat it when I saw the ingredients. It was made with 5 blended vegetables, greens powders, whey protein powder including Aloe Vera straight from the leaf. Two eggs, one pear and one plantain banana plus chopped almonds, apricots, linseed, dates and ¼ packet of gluten free cake mix and Quinoa flour to give consistency. I am sure it has greatly added to our weight load and I will report on taste at a later date as I lug the thing through customs.
Day 29
Last night we arrived at a terrible, awful hotel, very small and very hot! It was like moving in treacle and couldn’t summon up the energy to move far.
We had booked rooms with cooking facilities thinking this would be a healthier option All their pots and pans were coated with Teflon, a great modern toxic invention that now damages our health. Teflon comes with a warning that you shouldn’t cook on high with your budgie in the room, the fumes can kill them! There are also cases going through court in America regarding the damage perfluorochemicals cause to our bodies. I have enough toxic chemicals of my own at the moment.
Went for a long walk to stretch our legs after the flight– every restaurant and bar was engulfed by huge crowds watching the football world cup final. It was mostly silent as we meandered around the streets until about the last 3 minutes of play when the whole country erupted in a roar as Spain scored their winning goal. All night long there were spontaneous street parades and celebrations – the party atmosphere was contagious.
Day 30
Happy to be moving on, tell tail signs are everywhere of the celebrations that took place last night. Our next hotel includes breakfast which is going to be a challenge as there are no facilities to make ones own food. I have to report the LMRC loaf was really scrumptious. Hunger had got the better of me and tried a piece. It bore no resemblance to that green pulp (sludge) I saw being mixed up. It is so hot I don’t feel like eating much but as we explore our new environment we look at some of the food options available. Foot strikes 13,500 today
Day 31
Another fab sunny day.
I still have to perfect my skiing and my confidence is high after my rather humiliating start on the boom at the Thorpe park water ski centre. We tip toe across the beach because the sand is so hot and although I have my swimming togs on I am not ready to expose this body to the world yet, hence a rather large over shirt to inhibit my cooling systems. The large ski cable machine and platform stands approximately 200 metes out in the sea. It reminded me of something out of Mad Max and not for the first time I wondered why I had put myself through this. We wade out carrying our personal items over our heads as the water slowly creeps up to my neck, at least it is warm. After a brief demonstration I realize this is not at all like a boat start and I have to be pulled off platform covered in what looks like artificial grass. Tim goes, Anne goes and I go head first into the sea gripping the handle for dear life, but… oops my skis are still firmly in place on the platform. It was like I had never had them on in the first place and I certainly wasn’t ready for barefoot skiing!! Swimming back everybody behind waiting for their turn laughed in a good humoured way and that was about all I could do too. Next turn, a very unsteady start but at least I have my skis on my feet and I am up.
The buffet breakfast was a challenge as there was a huge range of food but most of it was centered on the beige diet. Beige, cream or brown foods are out of bounds for me as they are generally all the processed foods. Not good for the waist line or my health, it’s a shame really because they are all the foods I do like. NO! did like!! Not so many steps today but lots of calories spent skiing!
