Last week was a vacation week of sorts for me. It started as a bona fide vacation. We went away for a couple of days for a family reunion. And then my sister was in town for the rest of the week, which had me visiting her around my work schedule.
I have to admit, it was not a good food week. Not a great exercise week either. What rattled me most was how easy it was to slip out of good habits and back into bad habits so quickly and easily, all because it was a vacation week. Added to the family vacation was the departure of one of my co-workers this week.
Between the two events, there were lunches out, dinners out, fast food and drinking. Now, it’s not like this is the first time I’ve gone out for meals since I started eating healthier two years ago. But in months past, I always stayed conscious of the types of food and the amount of food I was eating. This week? Let’s just say I threw caution to the wind.
There were lots of fried, greasy foods, some old favorite fast foods, and comfort food like Lobster Mac & Cheese, which we found on one menu and proceeded to inhale when it came to the table. And that was just the appetizer. I will admit, the next time I am in this particular restaurant, I will have that dish again, even though it must be a gazillion calories. It was outrageously good, and sometimes those kinds of treats are so worth it.
However, seven straight days of treats? No so good for the waistline. Even this weekend, where I was trying to return to “normal” eating, my efforts were derailed by assorted pizza treats on both days.
So here’s the thing. I ate lousy for a week. I didn’t exercise as much as I normally do because I had other things going on. And as a result, there was a real difference in how I felt. By last week’s end, I was tired and achy and lethargic. It became a vicious circle. Eat crappy, blow off exercise, feel guilty, eat more bad stuff, feel like a slug.
Even this morning I didn’t make it out of bed to go running, although I do have a walk planned for tonight. It may take me a few days to get fully back into my healthier routine, but I am back on course today. I didn’t like the way I was feeling last week. Even though, I will admit, I did really enjoy the assorted goodies I was eating while I was eating them.
Those few minutes of yumminess however aren’t worth feeling icky the rest of the day or watching the numbers on the scale creep north. So I’m back on track. I have a half-marathon that isn’t going to train itself. And I know nutrition is a serious part of that endurance training commitment.
After my little confession here, I’m planning that the next couple months of blog posts will find me running, literally, in the right direction once again.
Related posts:
Hey Diane,
elizabeth
it does hurt that we can’t go on vacation and just have fun w/o the guilt. But I know you can get back on track- think about your victories – they are extraordinary!
just so people know that you do inspire – I have been getting up and walking at the beach for the last 2 weeks – 3 to 5 miles! That is happening because I see what you have done.
P.S. – can you send me some of that Lobster mac and cheese? I just want to smell it.
I am dealing with the exact same thing! I just returned from a weeklong vacay that was fun, but also included nonstop eating out and no exercise. Now that I’m back in my routine, I’m kicking it up on the healthy notch! I’m trying to stay positive and focus on the fact that I missed being healthy. That in itself is a feat, right? Best of luck!
Hi Diane,
Great post! Summers are tough with vacations and family reunions. I have had similar issues. Glad you enjoyed your time thought! Just get back on schedule and you will be fine! All of us need those times when we endulge ourselves. One of my nieces, who was trying to encourage me recently to continue on my healthy, weight lost schedule (she is an RN), said something to me recently that really motivated me…she said nothing taste as good as being healthy and slim looks and feels. It has stuck in my brain…thought it might encourage you as well.
Also, you once wrote a blog about your favorite workout schedule. I was reading it recently and it motivated me…mainly because of the excitement in your writing I picked up on when you discussed your workout schedule.
Hang in there, get weighed and move forward!
Jeannie
Really! Same problem with me that I had gone for the vacation, there were I had ate lot of spicy food. Returning from vacation I was doing exercise to recover from vacation eating. After that I was feeling good.