V A C A T I O N - We're Going to Have a Ball!

I am trying my best to not make this blog all about my weight loss journey. I am definitely having my good days and bad days. Surprisingly I have not been making excuses for not working out. That is so not like me. I am trying to keep up with at least 5 days of weight/strength training. I’m so hoping the flabby arms firm up as a result. At the gym, I am alternating with one day of elliptical machine training and another of treadmill training, including some running. I’m up to short 2 minute running bursts at speeds of 4.2 mph. I won’t be running any marathons like my friend Susie, but I feel that within the next few months I should be able to break into a full 10 minutes of running. Wow – this from the former track athlete! Who knew one could fall so far?

My biggest concern right now is that we are leaving on vacation in a week and I don’t want to lose any of my progress. Other than bragging on this blog, I have made a point of not informing the world of my new weight loss venture. Some would say it is because I’m afraid if I fail that there will be those to remind me, but really I think it is because I want this to be something I fully incorporate into my life and so regular exercise, watching what I eat and having treats only occasionally will become the norm for me and not just something I do to achieve a weight loss goal.

Our vacation is with folks from our International Dinner Club, so right there you know we are with people who love to eat. Self-control is going to be the watch word for the week. I know there will be temptations but I am going to try my best to have everyone else indulge rather than me!

Exercising is going to be another challenge on vacation. I’m hoping the lake will provide ample swimming opportunities. Hiking is really only going to be an option in the evening as the heat of the Utah sun in July will make any long day hikes unbearable. I am not one to enjoy exercising in front of others, mainly because I always feel like an ungraceful clod. Four couples on a 615 square foot houseboat for 6 days is going to make “alone” time rather difficult. I will not be deterred, somehow I will manage to move!

Best part about the vacation is the opportunity to catch up on my reading! I have several manuscript galleys (courtesy of my bookstore employee friend, Susie) as well as a few I picked out like “Girl Who Played With Fire”. Hope it is as good as “Girl With the Dragon Tattoo”. I also have a few books on tape ("Plantation", the prequel to "Low Country Summer" by Dorthea Benton Frank, currently out in bookstores and "Knit Two", the sequel to "Friday Night Knitting Club") that I plan on listening to in the car while knitting.

Finally, the bonus to the whole trip is a chance to really play with my new toy!

I just picked this up last Sunday and can hardly wait to start recording memories. I hope this helps me to become a better photographer, something I have been yearning to get better at for longer than I can remember.

Today’s favorite number is “9”! That’s how many pounds gone since the journey began! I hope the weigh in after vacation shows a loss and not a gain! In any case – here’s to a great summer vacation. Hope you take time out to enjoy the lazy days of summer!