It is not uncommon to lose our balance juggling our time and our meals in the midst of travel and vacations. Our routine is upset with long car rides, sight-seeing excursions, and curve balls including unexpected inclement weather and the need to find a meal fast when over hungry. I know for myself these situations can lead me to a place which I used to live in all the time. A place full of cravings, misgivings, and frustration!
Below is the highest peak I have reached 13,000 Feet
I just spent a week away traveling to a family wedding followed by a brief getaway to Martha’s Vineyard with my beautiful wife, Kelly. From this experience, I can report back to you that eating the way I do now when away can be a breeze!
When following a Keto or Low Carbohydrate High Fat (LCHF) or a High Fat Low Carbohydrate food plan, food for travel can be kept very simple. Don’t misunderstand, your new environment may not necessarily support the ease of the way you eat at home and may present challenges. However, with a head already clear from cravings, food decisions can be made from a place of peace and calm and certainty rather than from a place of chaos and confusion.
The first obstacle I faced was the wedding itself. Of course, I predicted my meal times would be off so as a buffer, on the way to the wedding, I ate a half of cucumber I had brought with me picked straight from my garden. It held me over through hors d’oeuvres and drinks of which I ordered sparkling water with a wedge of lemon or lime throughout the evening. Like any meal served by a typical American food establishment, there was plenty of meat with a laughable amount of vegetables (maybe two to three green beans and a few mushrooms) and a monstrous mound of carbohydrates. Prior, when bread had been served, I had taken immediate action to secure my fat friendly food (butter), placing it on my bread plate. My intent was to use it on my main course, which I did, melting it over the meat and my measly vegetable serving. Dessert did not even begin to tempt me. Why would I want to take a food drug knowing where it would take me—not only ruining my evening but also the wonderful days ahead planned with my wife alone? I can tell you I had a fantastic evening with my wife and extended family and hearty congratulations to the bride and groom, Heather and Mark!
The following day we took a ferry to Martha’s Vineyard, an island south of lower Cape Cod. By my strategic planning, I had secured a room in a hotel which not only served a continental breakfast but was located next to a grocery store. That was our first stop. To make sure my food and eating would be secure for the next few days, I procured all of the things I would need, a pint of heavy cream, a few vegetables, and some food for my wife to enjoy, The hotel continental breakfast was a carbohydrate addict’s nightmare. I will not go into specifics as to not trigger anyone, but flour and sugar were everywhere. If my memory serves me correctly, the only carbohydrate free foods were slimy, peeled, refrigerator eggs and salty butter packets. I did what I had to do. I ate the butter to fuel my day along with some of the groceries I had purchased at the store. Believe me, this was not my preference. I usually have a bullet proof coffee made in the way I was taught by my mentor, Bitten Jonsson. But when you want a simple life, you have to keep your life simple. It’s just about that simple! For a few days, I am willing to do just about anything to safeguard my health and sanity. I do what I do for my life and my health and I know for a fact today I am worth it! I don’t mind the looks I get or the comments from time to time, though they are very rare. And I have no issue explaining what I do to those who are interested. You never know, it may really help someone change their life!
The rest of our time on Martha’s Vineyard food wise was fairly uneventful; however, one night I had a very hard time finding my staple eating out favorite, a Cobb Salad (good healthy greens, eggs, and healthy fats). So, with some patience and perseverance, I requested help from my server who was accommodating and settled for something else that was high in fat and very low in carbs. This would not have happened if I did not ask. We must always ask, or we will not receive! (SEE my post A.S.K.)
Throughout my stay on the island, I secured my sanity by continuing my daily spiritual practice and enjoying and appreciating the beauty of my surroundings and the serenity of the island. My thoughts, “This is my life and I want to take care of it,” and the actions I took to protect myself kept me from the guilt and debate of the foods I used to crave.
To the left you can see the Red Clay Cliffs of Aquinnah. I never would have thought I would find such beauty in the state in which I have lived nearly my entire life! Below is a close up of the red clay, which is literally the stuff from which you would make pottery. It is a nationally protected area and property of the Aquinnah Reservation, so the clay can’t be removed. It is totally worth the trek out to this remote area on the western side of the island when you visit.
Today, Keto is saving my life. My left knee pain has disappeared, my skin has cleared up and my memory has improved. I have zero digestive issues. My energy level is the best it has ever been, and I have patience today, a lot of it too! This is all thanks to sticking to a high fat low carbohydrate food plan as well as continuing my daily spiritual action practice. Keto is a huge part of my life and works for many of my clients too. I want to let everyone know that Keto Repair is now live and available. Check it out if you want real healing! Its comprehensive approach has greatly improved my life and the lives of so many of my clients!
My wife and I are getting ready to head to Lake Tahoe for ten days. I know if I take the necessary preparatory steps, my food/eating will not only be simple and easy but delicious, nourishing, and healthful.
Today, I can travel anywhere in the world and take care of myself! All I need is just my Wife, Me, and my high fat low carbohydrate (Keto) food plan.
Recover On!
-David