Evie1010's Journal, 17 October 2011

Missed you! So glad you're back safely, and what a blessed, and lovely time you had!!! Sounds wonderful. (you know...just confessing my envy doesn't make it better...but oh, I wish, I wish, I could have stowed away in your suitcase!!!) See ya when you return from your busy day! Much Love and Blessings, dear friend! 

Can't imagine having my owns Chef! Beautiful vacation - thank you for sharing. Welcome back! 

Sounds like a wonderful vaca indeed...so glad you had such a good time and the food sounds delish..have a great day... 

Thanks Buff, Paula and Bren! Love you girls... @Buffy and Paula, You CAN enjoy it! As members of the Palace Resorts we get deep discounts and we share our benefits with our friends. Let me know when you want to go... Instead of paying $1000/per night per person -- you could go for 7 nights for about $1900 for 2 ppl. It's all inclusive - all food/drinks, excursions, mani/pedi/massage, even free transport in a private suburban from the aiport to resort. And if you take the kids/fam/friends, the savings will pass on to them, too. We'll hook you up! And you will even be assigned your own chef, for you low carbers! Let me know when you want to book your vacation of a lifetime! 

Evie - Sweet of you to offer but I haven't had a pay raise in 3 years and my husband is only working part time, so even that is out of my budget right now.  

Evie - I read about your vacation and it sounds fabulous! So glad you could enjoy such a wonderful experience. And especially glad you were able to stay on-plan and not gain anything!! That is super!! I have a question for you . . . what do you have to do to get your own chef? I have the worst time eating on-plan when I go on vacation. Do you have to go to an all-inclusive resort? Or is it something you just have to ask for. I mean, I don't have to have my own personal chef, but it would be nice to know that I could have what I needed to eat on-plan.  

@StarKeeper, I understand how you feel. It is disconcerting to feel "doomed" dietwise even before your leave for vacation. Many feel that vacation is the time to go all-out and indugle in everything. Too often they are not prepared with the fall-out: weight gain, reintroduction of high glycemic foods, battling cravings...and a whole lot of other crapola. Let me see if I can help. I do not expect that one would 'need' to go to an all-inclusive resort. I believe any resort/hotel would be happy to accomodate you as long as you let them know in advance what your dietary needs are. Here is what I did: This might give you some ideas! We've been members at Palace Resorts (Cancun) for many years. I just wrote a letter explaining that in recent years I have developed an intollerance to excessive carbohydrates and I am required to follow a strict whole foods, low carb diet, much like gluten-free, with more restrictions. I explained that the contra foods cause an allergic reaction and severe hormonal imbalances (for me) and digestive issues. [I don't tell them this, but I have PCOS and, for me, a traditional high carb diet is what caused it! But for anyone, if carbs make you fat, you need to think of them as "cursed" and tell yourself that you're allergic to them and stay away! LOL] Anywhoo, I explained this: here's what I can eat - all the veggies I want...(except potato)...all the fruits I want (except banana)...any meats, poultry, fish...most dairy, expecially cream cheese, hard cheeses, cream/butter, etc...cooking oils...and Splenda as sweetener. I explained I cannot eat bread, or anything cooked with wheat/white flour, sugar, corn starch or thickening agents, corn, corn maiz, etc. Then I actually sent the concierge a recipe - instructing the chef of a safe and healthy dessert, requesting that the dessert be made for me during my stay. [You see, I did not want to be away and surrounded by all the decadent desserts without any safe option for me to eat. I did not want to sit at the table while my family enjoyed their desserts with nothing for me to enjoy - so I made sure I was prepared. It worked. I had a safe sweet treat on occassion - just when I felt I needed it] I brought with me a container of Almond Flour for the crust of my Low Carb NY Style Cheesecake and the recipe to back it. And get this - the Executive Chef was so impressed with the Almond Flour he then ordered it for the entire Moon Palace resort, which boasts sixteen restaurants, and days into my stay he already began instructing his team of chefs how to cook/bake with almond flour to accomodate guests with special-needs, such as gluten-free, which is very common now. They were making breakfast muffins and tortillas with almond flour by the end of my stay. They thanked me for bringing this 'genius' ingredient and my own recipe so they could best meet my needs, and at the same time help other guests. It was during that stay when I was told that I could tell the concierge whatever I wanted to eat and the chef would even come out and talk with me, and together we'd plan the most delectable meals. Shrimp ceviche with mango, Chicken soup w/ julienne-cut fresh veggies, appetizers with grilled steak/chicken/vegetable skewers/kabobs. So, the key is to just communicate your needs. Just ask. And for a vacation with all the frills and the best service you will EVER get on the planet, look no further than palace resorts dot com!!! I could hook you up with my concierges and send an introduction to a team of 6 chefs who have helped me so much. I promise they will deliver you red-carpet treatment. 

Super nice vacation, you lucky duck! So glad you enjoyed it so much, and your private chef, wow, now that's living! :) 

Wow Evie, having your own chef sounds like first class service to me.....how wonderful, you couldn't go off plan when you had delicious meals made just for you how decadent. It sounds like the whole trip was awesome, but the little sea turtles what fun, I have often wondered why people don't help them into the sea.......  

@Yvonne...So true! The baby sea turtles need a little help getting their start. It is really nice b/c the Palace Resorts (among other fine resorts) play a critical part in caring for the environment and the wellbeing of the ecology, sea creatures included. Evey single year the Palace Resorts releases an estimated 150,000 newly hatched sea turtles into the Caribbean. Sadly only 150 of them will live to maturity. But it makes me proud that the resort(s) are doing so much to give them every chance to get a healthy start at life! 

Gosh your experience sounds like heaven.  

@icy...thanks! It was delightful!! And, by the way, heaven is gonna be so much more spectacular. I know because that's where I'm goin'. (smile) I am 100% positive it's my final destination positive b/c I have a rich and meaningful relationship with Jesus...it's not a religion. John 14:6 - Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life; no man/woman comes to the Father but by Me." I know I am heaven bound and will be far more glorious than my precious Cancun! Yay! Love you girlie!! 

What an awesome family vacation...and so happy for you that you were able to stay on plan!