August 28, 2008 Back From The Beach

As the summer winds down and the kids get ready to go back to school, I have some thoughts on the events of the past couple of months. I began the summer really concerned about how I would do food-wise on vacations. I need not have worried. I assumed my weight would be pretty flat from July 1 to September 1 or so, as I’d probably gain on vacation and then have to lose it all over again. I was wrong. On July 1, my weight was 225 pounds. On August 27, after a riverboat cruise, 4 days in Williamsburg, a trip to Scotland, and a week at the beach, my weight was 209 pounds. A loss of 16 pounds!

One thing I have noticed is that when I get back home from a vacation, it’s hard to get back on track. This is occurring again right now, and I’ve been home 2 days from Cape May. I’ve yet to go to the gym. I’m still not totally “clean” in my eating. It’s time to get back on the wagon! My Cape May experience was interesting. I was with my kids, and also my BFF and her two kids. The food in our condo was NOT what I usually eat! I brought things for my breakfasts and lunches, as well as some fruit for snacks. We planned our dinners in advance, and I knew they were all things that I could eat. Not exactly what I’d eat at home, but still OK. BUT there was also a lot of stuff that I don’t eat. M&Ms. Candy. Snacks. I steered clear of most of it, but did indulge a little. We went out for ice cream every night. I only had a small dish of soft vanilla, and only on 3 of the nights. Even the night on the boardwalk in Wildwood, all I had was a slice of pizza, some lemonade, and a small ice cream. NOT bad!!

The coolest things had nothing to do with food. Walking on the beach and not feeling like I would die trudging across the sand. Actually sitting on the beach on a towl and being able to get up. Wearing shorts and not feeling like everyone was staring at me. Walking all over town and up and down the boardwalk with NO problem! And best of all—my experience at the waterpark in Wildwood. I was able to climb up A LOT of steps to get to one of the high slides, as well as 2 moderate height slides. I fit very nicely in the tube on the lazy river. And when I sat on the lounge chair to take a break, I was able to stand right up with ease! No pushing myself up, contorting into odd positions, just to raise myself up from that chair! I

find myself now just 9 pounds from ONEderland. Only 23 pounds from my revised goal of 186. I actually had someone ask me where I was going to find 23 pounds to lose! Ummm, how about my right thigh?!!? Trust me, at 186 I will not be thin by any means! But I WILL be the lightest member of my family. I WILL be about a size 16. I WILL be healthy! And if my body decides it wants to weigh less, then so be it, I’m game. For the first time in my life, though, I’m not afraid of maintenance. I’ve always been way too good at gaining weight, and not too bad at losing it, but staying steady at any given weight is something I’ve never been able to do. This time I think will be different. Why? Because even on vacation, my habits have changed. Sure, I indulged a little. But the key was moderation, something I seem to have finally grasped. I still don’t know where I’m going to end up weight-wise. Only time will tell. But I know I need to have most of the clothes in my closet altered so they’ll still fit me this fall. And I know I am able to move my body like it hasn’t moved in a long, long time. And I know that I am content with the body I have, even if it isn’t, and won’t ever be, truly THIN. I think being comfortable in my own skin is the best feeling of all!