A Busy Vacation

Am I the only one who finds that they end up MORE exhausted from vacation than they do just going in to work?  I do!  Doesn't matter whether my vacation is going some place fun or staying home...exhausting nonetheless.

I will say that I've had A LOT of F-U-N though.  Riding dune buggies, VOLLEYBALL, basketball, food-fighting (lol), swimming, eating, movie watching, walking and picture taking.  (Did any of you catch the eating?)

I'd like to say that I burned off just as many calories as I've eaten with my 7+ games of volleyball this weekend, 1-on-1 basketball and splashing around in a pool but I'm thinking it's unlikely.

The past 4 out of 5 weeks of phase one of the Biggest Weight Loss Challenge have proven quite hard.  When I wrote "Bad Habits Die Hard," apparently that was an understatement.  Feeling like you are starting all over again from day one is HARD.  Not being able to jump on the scale and weigh myself, it's HARD. When you are running around as much as I have been, YOU HAVE TO PLAN because YOU WILL FAIL if you haven't.

In the past 7 days I've found myself at a birthday party, TWO bar-b-ques, church, campout, chuck-e-cheeses, doctor's office, crown center, park, hotel pool, steak-n-shake, chinese buffet, walk to the redbox, lake and today I'm heading to Science City.  OH YEA  - and tomorrow morning I wake up early to drive to St. Louis to visit the zoo and maybe *crosses fingers* the arch! Am I allowed to take a post-vacation?

I'm proud of how active I've been but I over-compesated the burnt calories in yummy group eating sessions. Hamburger's, brats, macaroni & cheese, chips, cupcakes, cake, ice-cream and more. Egg casserole, biscuits & gravy, sausage and other items that made their way to my plate without hesitation. WOW! It was good, not so much worth it though.

Next Sunday is our group weigh in, the first weigh in I've had in 5 weeks and I can't say that I'm exactly anxious for it!  I'm going to go hardcore next week and try to turn it around but we'll see.  I have no "barometer" of the damage or success without the scale which makes it tough because I'd like to just say it's a mind battle but my food choices support the results of damange.  EEK.  During my doctor's visit for labs and weight loss discussion, she did offer me some encouragement in the fact that all my numbers look AMAZING and that regardless of what this last 5 weeks show, I've proven that I know how to do it on my own in a healthy manner and I shouldn't be discouraged by the setback.  I'm embracing that comfort to get me through this weigh in.  :)  The mental hurdles you have to jump on a weight loss journey are insanely emotional.  I have to keep perspective of what I've done and not let the struggle of what I've been doing keep me from my weight loss goals & dreams!

One of my best friends said it best on one of her facebook statuses a couple days ago.  I am so proud of her for all she's done and ALL my weight loss girls!!

Valerie wrote:

"well, I missed my one year weight loss anniversary cause I was bemoaning the fact that I am struggling so much right now. But today, when I realized it's been a year, I got to thinking: it's been a struggle all along...and it's the fact that I'm still "battling with the struggle" a year after the fact that counts. So... there. STRUGGLE ON! :)"

STRUGGLE ON!

Verse of the Day:

Ecclesiastes 3:10-12 (NIV)

"I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live."