two weeks away from jenny

How can you visit New York and Boston and not have Dunkin’ Donuts?

That’s a rhetorical question.

You can’t.

Well, I can’t. I have a serious Dunkin’ Donuts obsession.

This presented a slight dilemma during my two weeks on the East Coast, but I was so good most of the time that, guilt-free, I picked up my two favorites – Boston Kreme and chocolate glazed – at the airport to enjoy on my flight home.

They never made it onto the plane but they did make my waiting time much happier.

I landed in San Diego late Tuesday night and immediately got back into my Jenny Craig routine. I haven’t gone back to Jazzercise yet because I feel like I’m coming down with something, but am resting up and planning to go to class on Monday.

Meanwhile, because pounds do not take a vacation, today was weigh-in day. It could have gone either way. Before I left for my trip, Marne and I had agreed that my goal should be to just maintain my weight and not gain. This took so much pressure off me.

As it turns out, though, I miraculously lost five pounds! This puts my total loss up to 15 pounds!

Here, I think, is why I was able to still lose weight while I was away:

* I was prepared. Marne packed me up with Jenny Craig Anytime Bars that I often ate for breakfast. I love the vanilla chocolate crisp ones, and these satisfied me until lunch — which was usually more than I would have eaten at home. And Nicole sent me across the country with a variety of Jazzercise DVDs. Since I had my laptop with me, these made it easy for me to work out in my hotel room a couple of times. I missed my beloved instructors, Dawn and Kristen, but the DVDs were a great alternative and I especially enjoyed Live Latin, which featured Dancing with the Stars’ Cheryl Burke and the option to do a 20-minute Ballroom Blast, a 10-minute Ab Blast or the Total Body Workout.

* I didn’t just stuff my face. At the TMS Family Travel Conference, there was so much good food and, normally, I would have just eaten because it was there. This time, even when they put out a candy spread of all of my favorite chocolate goodies (oh, Peanut M&Ms, how I adore you), I was able to pass because I thought about how I would feel later. I knew my feeling of accomplishment would outweigh the temporary satisfaction.

* I walked a lot. In San Diego, I drive everywhere, including ridiculously short distances. In New York, I walk miles without even realizing it.

* I made choices. When my son and I went to Five Napkin Burger, I had the ahi tuna burger minus the bun – plus fries. When my daughter and I went to Max Brenner, I had salad – on a waffle.

I never felt like I was depriving myself and, in fact, ate so well that when I told Sara I lost five pounds, she said, “Are you kidding?” She then added, “That’s huge!” followed by “But you’re not!” Yes, she is hilarious.

I don’t know; maybe, for the first time in years, my metabolism is actually moving again – which would be awesome.

I do know I will keep moving and making choices and working toward my goal because I’ve taken control, I’m seeing results and I’m still enjoying my Dunkin’ Donuts – and that is awesome.

*I received a free month on the program in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way. Note: Clients following the Jenny Craig program, on average, lose 1-2 lbs per week.