A week ago my husband and I took our first vacation in three years, without the kids. We chose to visit a small town in Vermont that was only a 3 1/2 hour drive from our house. It was great not to have to rush to get on a plane. On our trip, we took a falconry course, did some shopping at the factory outlets, took a glass blowing class, went to an amusement park, made a couple of visits to the hotel’s spa and just relaxed.
Learning the art of falconry.
My very first time blowing glass.
Sounds amazing, right? What’s not to love? I actually feel awful saying there was a part of this vacation that I didn’t like, but it’s true. Sadly, what I didn’t love was the food. And I love food. But seven nights of eating out simply killed my stomach. At home, I cook pretty healthy and we only have dessert once a week. Unfortunately, restaurants don’t cook like I do. Almost every dish in a restaurant is cooked with a combination of butter and oil. Add some wine and a dessert for seven consecutive evenings and you have a recipe for daily upset stomachs (and a few extra pounds!). We did enjoy some great restaurants on our vacation but almost every evening I was curled up in a ball with a stomach ache.
My new enemies – wine, butter and oil.
I left for vacation a little under the weather from an ulcerative colitis standpoint. But I came back with a full-blown attack. A whole week of eating out simply did me in. I brought back some great vacation souvenirs – new clothes, self-made glass pieces and maple syrup. And one not so great – a flare up. Now I’m running to the bathroom a couple of times a day (including in an auto-body shop on Thursday – gross but you do what you have to, right?). As always, I’m hoping for a quick recovery. Cross your fingers for me!
-By Gia
Gotta Go: Our IBD Lives 