Conference rocks::weight_control

    Eat APPLES - if they aren't going to provide them, bring some yourself.
    
    Drink iced tea or coffee (with Equal if you want) or diet soda.
    Drink lots of it, and you won't feel as hungry.  (Make sure you know
    where the ladies' rooms are!)

    Be strong,
    	Louise

    Another idea:  have a late breakfast that morning.  You won't be
    as hungry when you get there.

    Another idea is to get a hamburger and only eat the meat out of
    it.  If they have things like salad, eat it, but no more fats during
    the day.  Don't go hungry!  It will only make you go off your diet
    and then the real trouble will start.
    
    If you do fall off for that one day, DO NOT DWELL ON IT!  Just go
    right back on program.  Guilt for something that can not be undone
    is a real killer!

    Hi Ann,
    
    I know exactly what you mean about how hard it is to resist.
    I went to the DEC outing this weekend as well as a party and
    a football picnic the next day.....what a drag!  There was
    food everywhere and everyone was eating.
    
    At the DEC outing I tried to avoid the food areas as well as
    the popcorn vendors and cotton candy clowns.  I kept myself
    busy talking with friends, riding the rides and playing the
    games.  If you make food least important instead of most important
    it will be easy to avoid it.  I have just convinced myself that
    the popcorn is too salty and the cotton candy too sweet and the
    cheeseburgers too greasy and so on....
    
    When I finally convinced myself of this the food didn't really
    look all that good.  I drank iced tea and actually wished I
    could find a salad bar somewhere.  But you know how amusement
    parks are!  Would you believe I couldn't get just a plain glass
    of ice for water?  I guess if you don't get stuffed with greasy
    foods they don't think you had a good time.
                                               
    I know it sounds kind of silly but everytime I looked at the food
    I pictured my -33 pounds back on my butt.  
    
    Something else that helps this beer lover is drinking sparkling
    water with lime over ice.  I brought a couple bottles with me to
    the parties and it worked out great.  The bubbles make me feel 
    like I am actually getting something special.  3 months ago I 
    wouldn't have touched the stuff....that's how your mind can work
    to convince yourself that you don't need whats bad for you.
                                                               
    Keep in mind how great you are going to look for your class reunion.
    You know how good you will feel when you have reached your goal
    so don't let that memory fade from your mind even the slightest bit.
    Think of the outing as a good time to see friends and coworkers
    in a social enviroment and don't feel like you are missing out on
    anything!
    
                                    Good Luck,
                                        - Sue

    
    
    Thanks for the advise everyone and I will do my best.
    
    
    
    Ann
    
    
    

    Go on "all" the rides first then you won't feel like eating
    anything.
    
    Seriously, since you are on Weight Watchers and you know what will
    be offered at Canobie (every year its the same) can't you plan your
    extra calories for this day?
    
    Kathi
    

    
    
    That's a good one go on the rides and I won't want to eat anything
    and walk around dizzy all day..  
    I will just plan for it and no lose control... I will be with
    my thin sister who will not ruin her figure so I will eat like
    her.. Well what ever happens I will not get down about it...
    
    How have others done?  
    
    
    Ann
    
    
    

    If you don't feel too strange about it, bring your own bread
    and rolls to substitute.  That way, you could still have at
    least one hamburger and not feel like you've gone too far out
    of balance.  The WW bread or less bread for a roll, or a LESS
    hot dog roll is a lot less claories, although just as filling.
    
    As for the rest, I guess diet coke and extra calories are the way
    to go.
    
    Good Luck!
    

    Just out of curiosity, what is offered as far as "eats" at this
    outing?  October 18th will be my first time attending one of these
    events, and knowing what will be served ahead of time will enable
    me to plan accordingly.
    
    
    Thanks,
    Paul

<    Just out of curiosity, what is offered as far as "eats" at this
<    outing?  October 18th will be my first time attending one of these
<    events, and knowing what will be served ahead of time will enable
<    me to plan accordingly.

    Paul,

	"Le Menu ala Canobie" for the last nine years has been as follows:

		Tobin burgers 	(some years better than others)
		Baked beans 	(straight from the can)
		corn on the cob (I think)
		Watermellon
		various sodas
		ice-cream bars  (all you can eat)

	If you're into not-so-lean hamburgers you are in luck, otherwise...

						Al

    
    
    About the baked beans if you get there early you will see
    the place where they are baking the beans so they aren't
    from the can and the corn on the cob is fresh you can see the
    bags against the wall.. and as long as I've gone the food has
    been great..  
    
    you couldn't go any place else and have all the free food and
    rides all day for free..  
    
    We could feed alot of hungry people with just the leftovers alone.
    
    
    Ann
    
    
    

    Also on the menu, (lest we forget) are hot dogs (great for the kid
    in all of us)!  Doesn't leave a lot for us who are trying to not
    eat lots of carbs and fats.  Some of the food places are sometime
    open, but they are usually serving things like pizza and fried dough,
    so we're out of luck there as well.  Oh, well!!
    
    Val

    re .10, .12:
    
    Thanks for the info.  I now know that I could have a hot dog or
    hamburger (2 bread exchanges for the bun, and about 2 protien exchanges
    for the hot dog or hamburger) plus an ear of corn (1 bread exchange;
    I'll have to go easy on the breads the rest of the day) and some
    watermelon plus diet soda and stay within program.  
    
    I'll also tell my wife to give me a good swift kick you know where
    if I as much as look at the ice cream bar!
    
    Re pizza: It's not as fattening as you might think.  One slice of
    cheese pizza only equals about 150 calories; in Weight Watchers
    exchanges, it works out to 1-1/2 breads and 1 protien.
    
    
    Paul Y. 

re .13
    
    I think Paul's advice is real good.  You can eat well and enjoy
    yourself at the outing.  I usually have a hamburger or hot dog and
    only eat half the roll.  I think a piece of corn is two breads so
    be careful; if you're female a giant piece of corn could kill all
    your breads for the day.  Diet soda is always available, and watermelon
    for dessert is something you can have.  
    
    good luck, and enjoy the outing
    
    --Laura

    This outing sounds like it is at an amusement park - but when we
    have ours, it is more like a picnic (which can be worse, what with
    all the homemade macaroni salad!)  but there are usually plates
    of lettuce leaves and tomato slices intended for the burgers that
    can be turned into a quasi-salad.  
    
    In another note, someone mentioned spraying butter-flavored Pam
    on popcorn to hold salt - could this work to hold pepper on corn
    on the cob???  Does anyone know if there is any caloric or nutrient
    difference between white and yellow corn?

<    This outing sounds like it is at an amusement park...

Considering the world-wide audience this conference enjoys, let me digress a
moment and detail one of the 'bennies' we enjoy here in New England (I'm sure
there are exceptions to this geography).  DEC rents one of the largest amusement
parks in central New England every Saturday and Sunday from the 2nd week in
Sept. through October.  The company assigns each facility it's day at the park.
You are allowed to bring all your kids and your spouse (or a guest).  One of the
caterers (usually Tobin's) supplies all the food.  The rides are free all day. 
It's a pretty good deal if you don't mind standing in line with the other 9000
people who are also out for the company 'bargain'.  I know a number of people
who take a day off from work in mid-summer, pay to get in, pay for the food
etc. just so they don't have to deal with the crowd.

You can eat all you want providing you go on the 'Pirate Ship' (pendulum thing)
or the Turkish Twist (high speed rotation) immediately after lunch 'cause you're
gonna lose it all.;-) 

How many calories are burned riding the Roller Coaster?

						Al

    Want to hear a good one?  My wife's "incentive" that she offered
    to me for reaching the 180 pound mark was a day at Canobie Lake
    Park on her.  So, October 18th will be my second trip there this
    year...
                                   
    

    
    Paul,
    
    What a nice gift from your wife with all those donuts all around
    twice.. Watch out that is a tricky place for someone that wants
    to reward themselves. I think you should spend the day on the roller
    coaster.. You won't want to eat any thing for a week..
    
    In case others don't know there are DEC bugs everywhere to see
    if we are being good.. so be careful...
    
    As a friend use to tell me I'am watching you!!!
    
    
    Bye for now 
    
    Ann
    
    

    
    
    Well this is the big weekend coming up for me the DEC outing
    facing me this Sunday.  I feel that I will do good..  
    I will let you know if it turned out to be a outing or 
    pig outing..  I will be going next Sunday too..  But there
    are other things I like there other then eatting.........
    
    
    As Always,
    
    
    Ann
    
    
    

    
    
    I Never did go to the outing because of the weather..
    So I didn't have to worry about the food..  
    I will be going this weekend.  That's New England for 
    you..  This is a funny time of the year and storms kick
    up everywhere.. I hope you all make it through ok...
    
    So I will let you know how the outing goes next Monday..
    Try again!!
    
    
    Ann
    
    

    RE:  .20
    
    Ann,
    
    Sorry your outing was called off, but look at it this way - you
    probably burned off at least a few ounces worring about it!    ;^)
    
    Marion

    
    
    I will be going to the outing this weekend instead of last
    weekend because it got rained out.. so I will try once again.
    I will plan for it so I am not worried I hope to do alot of
    walking so.. I will give it my best shot..
    
    How have you all done?
    
    Ann
    
    

We went to our first DEC outing of the year a couple of weeks ago.  We didn't
get rained out; unfortunately we got powered out!!  The power went out just
as we were going to board our first ride (around 10:30) and the first of the
electric rides to re-open did so around noon.  Yuck!  They kept announcing
that a few rides (gas powered, etc) were open, and that they were serving
lunch.  Come one, come all, eat til the power comes back on!!  Wonderful,
just what we need, no?

Well, we walked around aimlessly and sat on benches aimlessly until noon,
when we decided it was probably safe to go eat (less crowded by then).  We
were right, it wasn't too bad crowd-wise.  I had a hot dog and hamburger w/
half the burger roll and no hot dog roll (kind of tricky but do-able), and
part of the corn since it was TERRIBLE.  I also had a little orange soda as
I needed something liquid and I don't drink diet coke.  No beans for me, I
have enough trouble. :-)  I did have an ice cream sandwich (just one), and
shared a cotton candy (that's one thing I REALLY enjoy and would feel deprived
without).  So, I could have done a lot worse (like I used to do in the past),
but I could have done better.  I was feeling so down after the wasted morning,
though.  And the afternoon wasn't much better because by then the lines were
horrible!  Maybe we'll get back there for Bill's outing, and I'll try to do
better.

The thing that always gets me is on the folder we get it says we can't bring
food and drink into the park, we have to eat their junk!  (I've noticed this
at the movies, too!)  True, I wouldn't listen if I wanted to bring my own,
but it's such a pain to carry it around all day.  Well, maybe we can leave it
in the car next time...let you all know.

Jill

    
    Would you believe it that I got rained out again this week?
    I will never get to go to the outing.. I think that someone
    has put a curse on me...
    My family planned on going last Sunday and got rained out
    and then we planned Sunday again and another rain out ..
    Should I shot for Saturday next weekend?  
    I think people have been giving me so much luck around
    the food that I don't get to go at all...............
    
    Rain Rain go away 
    
    
    Ann
    
    

    My sympathies to all those who have had their outings postponed due to
    bad weather these last couple of Sundays. 
    
    I'll be attending this coming Sunday (the 18th).  Hope Mother Nature
    is more cooperative then.  
    
    For those who'll also be there and are wondering what the face behind
    STAR::YANKOWSKAS looks like, look for a blond man about 5'8",
    accompanied by his wife, wearing a Baltimore Orioles baseball cap.
    (For those who didn't grow up in a sports oriented household, an
    Orioles cap is black with an orange visor and white front.  The
    white front has an emblem of a black and orange bird wearing a cap).
    If you see me, please introduce yourself; I'd like to meet you.
    
    
    Paul
                             

    
    
     I will try the outing one more time.  This time we will go on 
    Saturday and if it rains try it on Sunday...........
    So good luck to all of you...
    I heard from others that the food goes fast because alot
    of plants have been rained out. 
    So maybe we will be lucky to get a hot dog and a few things
    it might be the only food you'll get...........
    
    Have a nice day and I will let you all know how I made out.
    
    The best to all,
    
    Ann
    
    
    

    You WON'T be lucky to get a hot dog....those are the worst things
    for a diet!
                                            - Sue

    Howdy!
    
    My wife and I went to Sunday's outing; the following is a list of
    random thoughts and observations:
    
    	It's great to be now working for a company that has these kinds
    	of events.  Prior to coming to DEC in March, I worked for 4-1/2
    	years at Wang; they discontinued these kind of things when they
    	fell on hard times a couple of years back.
    
    	Glad I got there early (we arrived at 10:15).  We got a fairly
    	close parking space then, but I'd have hated to be among those
    	who got there later...
    
    	Enjoyed several rides; I even got my wife, who detests roller
    	coasters, to go on the Galaxy with me.
    
    	Was surprised to get even wetter on the first small drop on
    	the log ride than on the one big one at the end.
    
    	Glad we had lunch early (11:30); the lines were a lot longer
    	when we finished.  The food (I had a burger, corn, watermelon,
    	and a diet Coke) was very good, although the season for really
    	fresh sweet corn has passed.
    
    	The park got quite crowded by mid-afternoon; I assume the large
    	volume of people was due to the cancellations the previous two
    	Sundays.
    
    	All in all, a very good time; I enjoyed myself and had no trouble
    	staying on program.
    
    
    Paul

re .28 (PY)

Gee, Paul, we didn't see you there! :-)

We got there around 10:45am or so; slept a little later than we had planned.
Never saw it so crowded coming into the park!  We were lucky to get reasonably
close spaces in the parking lot!

The lines were awful!  I think we wouldn't have gone at all if we hadn't offered
to take a friend's kids with us.  At least the weather was nice, and the kids
had a good time.  We had a reasonable time.

The food lines were worse!  We didn't have lunch early, hoping everyone else
would be doing that.  WRONG!  I had a burger w/o the roll, pretty tricky but
it was dry enough to manage, corn, watermelon, and a sip of coke to wash it
down with (I don't like diet coke, and I don't like Coke either--the orange tap
was dispensing Coke instead, sigh...).  Should have brought water, but then we'd
have to carry it.

I am very proud to say I didn't have any ice cream, even though they had my
absolute favorite, eclair, this time and not last time.  And we know what a
big excuse that can be!! :-) :-)

Jill