Back From Florida...and Still Pumped

Back from a very different vacation than most years...

Oh, yes, the same holiday we are blessed to go on every year with my parents to a timeshare on the Gulf Coast of Florida and yet different because VOILA...EUREKA...this gal finally figured out that an attitude alteration was indeed a necessity.

I used to begrudge the fact that our children wanted to run the beach, swim for hours in somewhat frigid temperatures, and juts plain go go go...I just desired a good book, a comfie couch, and some alone time; for moi that added up to a restful time away.  It never, ever happened.  I was always disappointed.

This year involved the challenge of earning points for this blasted lifestyle change journey I have embarked upon.  And the point earned (from a walk, or some sort of recreational activity, for example) came with the bonus aspect of being an amazing amount of fun.  Pretending to be stingrays chasing each other about the pool or running (okay, jogging) through incoming foam-covered waves between quick bend-and-grabs for pretty shells about to be kidnapped by the current.

I EARNED points for drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day (sadly, previously drinking 2 in a day was a record), following the Canada Food Guide and recording what I ingested in a food journal.  Downtime before bed or reading earned me a point as did praying and spending more time with family.

I LOST points for the evening I had a couple of glasses of wine, and the afternoon ice cream sundae that just didn't feel like it was worth that point loss.  (And which, after finishing, our too-smart son eyed me up and asked, "so when are we going to go wear that off by getting another point?")

Now, don't get me wrong: as I sound all easy-schmeasy about it all, it was far from that.  I have been a woman used to over-indulging and justification. Sometimes I didn't want the 2 cups of veggies without the after-bonus of some overly-sweet and decadent dessert.  Some nights I didn't want to jog the five storeys of steps up-and-down 5 times, huffing and puffing and begging for survival (but thanks to my supportive husband I did, even on a couple of nights when he refrained from joining in - and by the end of the week we had even cut 1 minute and 20 seconds off of our time!).  Many times anything appeared better than blueberries and yoghurt and once during the travel time I wanted so desperately to get a Big Mac that I nearly caved (but the Asian salad wasssss good).

But I did it.

And I will keep doing it.

As I ran on the tread mill at the gym tonight I just kept going minute by minute...I knew I could make the 30 minute mark and I exceeded it by 3 whole minutes...

Baby steps.

Tonight I had to fight myself not to eat any, let alone all, of the four pieces of the leftover butterscotch marshmallow treats that my husband's aunt brought when she came for dinner.  I don't intend to fully deprive myself but I have to keep asking, "is it worth it?"  Did ten years of yes, yes, yes get me to where I want to be?

Baby steps.

Back from Florida and still Pumped!!!