The results are in

My weekend getaway was a tale of ups and downs. You're all probably sitting there wanting me to be all awe inspiring telling you how I stayed 100% on plan and lost five pounds...Sorry, you obviously don't know me very well.... I think I may be rationalizing, or maybe just making an excuse, but, when I think of going on a vacation, I think of it as doing something (things) you wouldn't do on a daily basis. I don't sleep in a hotel on a daily basis. I don't take $20 taxi cab rides on a daily basis. I don't drink 84,000 beers on a daily basis. So therefore, as long as what I ingest on my vacation is not ingested on a daily basis, and as long as when I come back from vacation I get back to normal, I'm okay, right? RIGHT.....in my mind anyway.
So, I talked a little about the waffles and chocolate beer already and that i chose the tenderloin on greens and not the cheeseburger, so I'll fast forward.
Upon leaving the hotel and heading to the outlet mall in Aurora, I had my first down...I HAD TO HAVE a regular fountain Pepsi. The medicinal effect it has on me when I have a hangover is truly amazing, I felt 200% better in almost no time. That was quickly followed by a series of ups. Size 11/12 jeans at Rue 21, one pair that was only $6...HUGE up, considering I hope to not be wearing them for long.... second up, I'm sorry, could you bring me the next size smaller at the Lucky store.....and they were only $39, another HUGE up. Size Large, yes, large, no x's in front of it, just a large belt at the Guess store. By this time, its going on 2 p.m...enter another down....I split a chicken club stromboli with Dan. I mostly ate the filling, just a bite or two of the bread, then it was off to Chi-town.
Beer thirty began and I started with vodka cranberry juice, once the $9 sticker shock wore off, I switched to Bud Light....almost NO ONE had select or Ultra..the big thing out there is the ale's and the really strong beers...EWWWWW....34 beers later we headed out to the Chicago Chop House I avoided the breadbasket, but did order a pomegranate martini and had a few glasses of red wine (Don bought a $78  bottle of wine, hard to say no to it.) I had the 10 oz. filet (smallest steak they had) and asparagus. I did have a few bites of the four cheese au gratin potatoes with truffles, simply because I had to know what potatoes that cost $44 served family style would taste like. I did also have one bite of the $18 slice of siz layer german chocolate cake. 72 beers later I hit the bed.
I got up and hit the fitness room (yeah me), but my glory was soon side tracked by the smoked brisket nachos at Harry Carray's and the 6 Bailey's and coffees. There is a small amount of victory in the fact that Dan and I SPLIT the nachos and did not order sandwiches or entrees.  98 beers later we hit the Kirkwood which is a Husker bar in the heart of Chicago, not exactly a fun place for a cyclone fan to be, but the beer was cold. Another plate of nachos and some Rueben wantons later (shared by four of us), we ordered 60 more beers. The positive in the day, my hour long work out and no kidding we probably walked four miles.
Sunday, GAME DAY!!!!! We had breakfast at this cool little place on Michigan called Yolk. I had the chicken fajita omelette...FULL of green peppers (finally some green, huh?) We walked a mile to the stadium it was too cold to drink more than one beer. But I did have a hot chocolate...too many calories yes, but they did not serve coffee and I needed something warm. BEAR DOWN, as the Bears won, burned probably 200 more calories high fiving the crowd around us and jumping up and down. Our game was followed by the dreaded tip to Giordanos.....I caved. I could not resist the Chicago style pizza. I had one entire slice. It was worth it. It was ooey, gooey, unbelievable cheesiness worth it.
Monday, departure day.... So sad. We toured the city for a few hours, took a double decker bus ride around the city, had breakfast at Yolk, again, had another veggie filled omelette.
We left Chicago behind and headed back home, back to reality...big time, as today was weigh in day. A testament to all the walking I did, all the pre vacation works outs, because as I hit the scale today, I was down one pound...and I am wearing my new size 11-12 jeans today :) And as I type I am on bottle number 4 of water and am munching on a caramel nut bar.