How Did I Get Here?

Quote of the Day: “I am not in this world to live up to other people’s expectations, nor do I feel that the world must live up to mine.”

Over my career, the most effective weight-loss program I have discovered is a little thing I like to call “deployment.”

During the first Gulf War back in 90-91, I went from a porky 200 on my 5’ 11” frame to a svelte, concentration-camp-victim-looking 130 in just 7 ½ months. Living in a tent and subsisting on vegetable beef soup, ramen noodles, and stress is effective yet not recommended.

Each time I was away from my lovely wife, the pounds fell off.

During TBS and my follow-on school, I spent a total of about a year away and, you guessed it, I was the picture of slim (although not all that healthy since I ate very little and what I did eat was not on the healthy side of the spectrum.)

As recent as two years ago when I came to San Diego for the first month alone, I lost a lot of weight which I needed to considering Virginia makes you fat no matter what.

So now that I’m facing yet another deployment, I thought the cycle would continue and I was looking at getting back to a 175 just in time for my retirement. I would go out 55 lbs heavier than I went in but it would be over a span of 22 years and at my height, 175 is a good weight.

Knowing that I’m going to a foreign country, and also knowing I like to try new and foreign foods about as much as snails like to roll around in salt, I figured I’d be passing on the camel meat and goat milk. I figured I would be making a triumphant return to the vegetable beef soup and Raman noodles.

Add to that the fact that anything I ate, I would have to PLAN for, BUY the ingredients, and PREPARE myself, convinced me that yeah, 175 lbs was in the bag.

Well, I just found out that I will not be languishing out in the middle of the dessert, devoid of all food joints. In fact, I found out that quite a few places will be at my disposal. Here is what I got from the Major I’m replacing:

G. Restaurants. There are all types of restaurants in Jeddah from fast food to fine dining and from ethnic to U.S. chains; here is some of what you can expect to find.

Fast Food: McDonalds, KFC, Hardees, Papa Johns, Little Caesars, Pizza Hut, Baskin Robins, Dominoes and Burger King.

Fine Dining: Steakhouses and seafood restaurants are the most common but some of the ethnic restaurants can be somewhat high end.

Ethnic: Lebanese, Middle Eastern, Spanish / Portuguese, Indian, Thai, and Chinese (I have not seen a Mexican restaurant which is something I miss).

U.S. Restaurant Chains: Chili’s, Applebee’s, Ruby Tuesdays, Fuddruckers and TGI Friday’s (basically the menus that you would find in the U.S. minus alcohol and pork products).

There are lots of restaurants to explore in and around Jeddah and I have had some of the best Thai and Indian food that I have ever had here in Jeddah.

Wow, quite a difference from the last time I was there where the only “fast food” was Achmed’s Mystery Burgers and fries that I do believe my arteries are still trying to recover from.

Free Advice for Today: “On a clear night, look for Orion’s Belt and think of your mother. It’s her favorite constellation.”