North Eugene Wildcats WIN!!! And I eat A LOT!!!

    I have to take a minute to brag here.  My daughter's soccer team swept the end-of-the-season tournament to win the gold medal championship game yesterday.  The tournament was three games and they held all of the opposing teams scoreless.

I don't usually brag too much, but this has been a really difficult season for their team.  They are now in the U11 division which is mainly 4th and 5th grade teams.  They started the season with a jamboree and they won two games and tied the third.  This got them bumped up in the standings so that all but two of their games were against 5th grade teams.  You might not appreciate the difference between a team of 9-year-olds vs. a team of 10-year-olds, but let me tell you - it is significant.  10 year old girls tend to be just that much taller and stronger.  They kick a bit harder and their longer legs carry them just a bit faster.  Plus they have played a year under the U11 rules so they don't tend to make mistakes with off-sides and lifting their back foot during throw-ins.  Despite the tougher competition, our girls played really well.  Although they lost most of their games, all but two of the games could have gone either way.  They lost by one or two goals and if they'd had the edge the older girls did, they would have dominated.  So in regular season play, they lost all but two games.  It was a difficult season, but the girls didn't lose heart.  They were excited at each game and did their best.  There was no grumbling or sour grapes.  I couldn't be prouder of them!

So they ended up in the third of four tournament standings for the U11 division.  Finally they were playing against 4th graders and they got their chance to shine!  The weather was cold and rainy, at times it poured, but they didn't give up and they won the gold medals! 

After the game, we had a big Mexican food potluck at one of the parent's house.  I ATE so much!!!  It was awesome!  I hadn't had anything all day except a cup of coffee and a protein drink.  I had a taco with rice and cheese and guacamole and some chips and bean dip.  After I was done, I had another mini-burrito and some more chips and bean dip.  I also had two drinks AND a piece of cake!  I figured my calories for the day at 1,750 with 1,450 in that meal alone!  Holy cow!  I can almost never eat quantities like that, but I guess the lap-band gods smiled on me.

And here's the thing - I don't feel bad about it at all.  I'm not ashamed or full of self-loathing.  I know I usually don't (and can't) eat like that.  I know the calories, while high for the day, can fit into a healthy diet.  I will still lose weight for the week.  I enjoyed the meal.  I wasn't eating compulsively.  I had intentionally NOT eaten much because I wanted to be hungry for the potluck. 

I am not really sure how I was able to eat so much.  Do you think alcohol relaxes the band somehow?  I almost never drink so that is the only unusual thing about the day.  I know my restriction ebbs and flows from day-to-day.  I don't usually put it to the test though.

Which brings me back to what I wanted to say.  My relationship with food has really changed.  I am different.  I feel so free!  This is such an amazing tool!