Edinburgh, food and The Plan

Righto, people! Let me tell you about Edinburgh and the Tattoo. Against my good judgement (or more accurately because I didn't get my arse into gear early enough to get a ticket to the Tattoo!), I went with a tour group. I hate tours. I hate the herding of 50 odd people on and off a bloody bus seeing bloody touristy things. I hate dodgey hotels which house mattresses well past their used by date. I hate sharing a bathroom with someone who sheds more hair than long haired labrador. Ugh! So NOT my scene. But as I said, I didn't get a ticket to the Tattoo independently (mind you, tickets sold out in December last year for this year's performance!) and had no other option if I really wanted to see this amazing event. If you ever get to go, be prepared to line up with 1000's of people ... not ideal if you suffer claustrophobia or agoraphobia! It's mad but somehow they seem to get everyone inside within 30 minutes - no exceptions. But seriously, the sound of bag pipes ... watching over 300 pipers playing and performing in perfect unison made the hairs on my neck stand up. It's truly moving .. and quite haunting. Words do not do justice in describing this event. All I can say is that it's just amazing!

In August, not only does Edinburgh put on the Military Tattoo but it also hosts the Fringe Festival which is an eclectic mix of live comedy acts, street performances and musical events. Imagine ... an entire month devoted to the arts (a loving sigh!). By chance, I happened upon a Glaswegian band on Sunday who put a funky spin on the traditional way the drums and bag pipes are played. As I love original stuff, I bought their cd to support their art. How kind am I?! Lol!

I also ventured out to Roslyn to see the infamous chapel from Dan Br*wn's book. It's a beautiful little chapel. But it is little. And it is inundated with tourists. You can barely move inside. But to see the exquisite stone masonary was worth the 7 pound entry fee and elbowing my way through the sea of people inside. Every piece of stone work tells a story. I could've stayed for hours but the lack of space really limited prolonged enjoyment!

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I ended up eating solid (but largely soft) food .. nothing that involved bread or pasta. And nothing that required too much chewing like crunchy apples or tortilla chips! What did I eat? I hear you ask ... well, I ate the following:

(now, now ... if this bores you ... hit 'page down' about now!)

Friday:

• Protein shake (1 cup)
• Fruit smoothie (non-dairy) (1 cup)
• Kit kat (impulse buy on the train as I was starving 3 hours into the train journey .. any wonder considering I'd only eaten the above?!)
• Small salmon fillet with 1 1/2 baby potatoes (tiny baby potatoes at that!)
• 8 kalamata olives
• Chocolate mousse (1/2 cup)

Saturday:

• 1 weetabix (with lots of milk and a sprinkling of sugar)
• 2 tablespoons of baked beans
• 2 tablespoons of scrambled eggs
• Latte (1/2 shot) (small)
• Slice of edam cheese
• Kit kat (not a wise choice!)
• 2 egg omlette with cheese and ham
• Fruit smoothie
• Protein shake
• Bolognaise sauce (no pasta) (6 tablespoons)

Sunday:

• 1/2 slice of toast, 2 tablespoons of baked beans and scrambled eggs
• 1 weetabix
• Latte (1/2 shot) (small)
• Chili con carne (6 tablespoons)
• Fruit smoothie
• Kit kat (naughty girl .. 3 days in a row .. shame!)
• Protein shake (1 cup)
• Fat slice of brie cheese
• Coconut yoghurt (3/4 cup)

Since I've started eating solid food my appetite has come back with a vengeance! I actually feel hungry every couple of hours now ... it really sucks! I am sooo looking forward to my fill to hopefully kurb my appetite again. It was so nice not to think (and single mindedly focus) on food all the bloody time. I can't wait to have that feeling of not being hungry back again. Two weeks tomorrow, my friends, till I have my first fill. I'm sooo excited ... the anticipation is killing me! Hurry up already! (Patience is not one of my better virtues if you couldn't guess!)

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Next week I plan to keep a food journal, eat regularly (even if only small portions of food) and exercise (4-5 times). I have decided I am not going to weigh myself until the Wednesday prior to my fill so as not to send myself spiraling into a black void (as per Tuesday's entry). I just need to give it time. Be patient. Love my body. And know without a shadow of a doubt that I'm going to kick arse ... eventually!