I just got back from vacation. Normally, that is no reason to celebrate! But this time, I do have one thing to be proud of. I only gained 2 lbs!
Sounds silly, right? To me, it isn't. I used to come home 10 lbs heavier than when I left. Then again, in those days, it only took me a couple of weeks to lose it again.
This vacation was full of fishing, eating, drinking and relaxing~ so how did I not put on more lbs? I think I have an idea. I always scoff at those crazy articles in fitness and health magazines talking about finding a gym wherever you happen to be vacationing. And I still say "Yeah right!" This vacation, I just made a concerted effort to walk, climb stairs and not eat EVERYTHING on my plate. I'm actually starting to get the hang of this 'stop eating when you are full' thing. Sounds crazy, I know.
We took a hike around a gorgeous county park, there are 44 stairs going down to the lake that my family's cabin is on, and I have a very active dog. Those things primarily are the only reason I think I survived this vacation with so little weight gain. I'm sorry people, but there is no way I am not going to eat basically what I want on vacation. I also get to indulge in a few extra beers. That's the way I like to unwind. Healthy? Probably not. But everyone deserves a break sometimes. So I decided not to sweat it, but to make a few healthier, more active choices. And it worked like a charm. Chalk one up for the good guys!
Now, I do have to go through the trouble of losing those extra 2 lbs all over again, but trust me- a week's vacation was more than worth it!
Friday, June 22, 2012
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
It's All In My Head
Sadly, my scale is still not moving as quickly as I had hoped. So, I have decided to judge my progress by instead looking at my self-confidence instead. I know, I know... all women's magazines say to think about how you FEEL, not how you look. It sounds cheesy and I used to roll my eyes until they almost fell out of my head at this advice. Until I experienced it. Weird, right?
For as long as I can remember, I have been growling at the jeans drawer in my dresser. Still, I cannot bring myself to throw away some of my precious smaller sizes so that I can have a 'measure' of my success. Not surprisingly, every time I fail to comfortably zip a pair of these 'goal' jeans, I pout and curse my slow progress. I am now realizing that even though I'm not where I want to be yet, I am making real progress, if only in my head.
Just recently, I have been anxiously seeking women's sweatshirts and t-shirts. I know that sounds like a 'what else would you be looking for?' kind of thing, but for me it's not. I have forever worn men's sweatshirts. Now, I want to find sweatshirts built for me. A woman. My shape isn't perfect. I am curvy. I'm still rockin' the pooch. But I have earned this shape. I go to the gym more often than not. And that is something to celebrate! I have succeeded in making a lifestyle change that I can live with. And I will be exponentially healthier down the road because of it. Chalk one up for the good guys!
She wears short-shorts? Dream on, Nair. These legs were not meant for polite company! Personally, I have always been of the mind that I would rather wear jeans than shorts. More coverage means less worry about spilling out of the shorts in a sausage-casing exploding sort of way. But now? I'm too old for that nonsense! I don't need to melt when it is 95 degrees out just because my vanity forbids a pair of shorts. Besides... these legs have seen countless miles in the gym. They are far from perfect, but they are strong. True, they will never grace the pages of a magazine, but they have served me well and they deserve to be appreciated.
I never believed that "judge your progress by how you feel" craziness, but it's true. I feel better about myself. I can appreciate my body not just for how it looks, but for what it can do for me. If you are not there yet, have faith. You'll get there. Take it from a skeptic: The magic is transforming not just your body, but your mind in the process.
For as long as I can remember, I have been growling at the jeans drawer in my dresser. Still, I cannot bring myself to throw away some of my precious smaller sizes so that I can have a 'measure' of my success. Not surprisingly, every time I fail to comfortably zip a pair of these 'goal' jeans, I pout and curse my slow progress. I am now realizing that even though I'm not where I want to be yet, I am making real progress, if only in my head.
Just recently, I have been anxiously seeking women's sweatshirts and t-shirts. I know that sounds like a 'what else would you be looking for?' kind of thing, but for me it's not. I have forever worn men's sweatshirts. Now, I want to find sweatshirts built for me. A woman. My shape isn't perfect. I am curvy. I'm still rockin' the pooch. But I have earned this shape. I go to the gym more often than not. And that is something to celebrate! I have succeeded in making a lifestyle change that I can live with. And I will be exponentially healthier down the road because of it. Chalk one up for the good guys!
She wears short-shorts? Dream on, Nair. These legs were not meant for polite company! Personally, I have always been of the mind that I would rather wear jeans than shorts. More coverage means less worry about spilling out of the shorts in a sausage-casing exploding sort of way. But now? I'm too old for that nonsense! I don't need to melt when it is 95 degrees out just because my vanity forbids a pair of shorts. Besides... these legs have seen countless miles in the gym. They are far from perfect, but they are strong. True, they will never grace the pages of a magazine, but they have served me well and they deserve to be appreciated.
I never believed that "judge your progress by how you feel" craziness, but it's true. I feel better about myself. I can appreciate my body not just for how it looks, but for what it can do for me. If you are not there yet, have faith. You'll get there. Take it from a skeptic: The magic is transforming not just your body, but your mind in the process.
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