I'm baaaack.

Well, we made it back tonight and I'm thankfully home.  Disney was wonderful and we had a great week, albeit a REALLY hot and terribly humid one.  Everyone got along well and we did most of the things we wanted to do.  The biggest frustration, for me, was that none of them (being typical teens) would get their butts out of bed in the morning to get going, so we were getting to the parks a lot later than I'd prefer (and when it was a lot hotter).  But it was what it was, and this was a trip that was all about them, not about me - so I did my best to not let it get to me, and went with the flow. 

Hydration worked really well - I bought a hydration backpack from Costco a while back, and this was my first chance to really use it.  It holds 70oz of liquid in an insulated pouch - you take a sip through a tube that runs through the shoulder straps.  By filling it with ice then water, I found that even in that horrible heat (heat index of 103, for example) I had ice-cold water available to sip on until well into the afternoon each day.  Refills were simple wherever we stopped to eat.  I was sucking down about 1-1/2 of those pouches every day, plus drinking water at every restaurant.

Food-wise, however, I did NOT have a good week.  While I had taken a bunch of friendly foods and had a fridge in the room, and while i did pack myself appropriate snacks for throughout the day, I nevertheless found myself making some bad food choices.  

One trap I fell into headfirst twice (and knew it as I was doing it, which is worse) is that "getting your money's worth" trap... the one where you have a wonderful dinner placed in front of you that is a significant chunk of change.  At home, I'd simply ask for a to-go box and make several meals out of it.  But that wasn't an option there, so I found myself thinking that I needed to eat "a little more" to get my money's worth... then looking down and realizing I'd eating most of the entree.  Portion control was not my strong suit this week.

I also found myself acting out of what I'll call "addiction resentment" for lack of a better word.  Watching all these happy "normal" people consuming all of my favorite old "friends" - ice cream cones, icees, french fries, turkey legs, and TONS of carbs.  My addict resentment came into play with the "why can't I have some too" argument? why do THEY deserve to have the enjoyment of those things and I can't have ANY of them?  So I searched out and found some things and ate them - managed to restrict myself to sugar-free desserts and one unfortunate NON-SF (but fat-free**** cream, so kept a tiny bit of rational control... but I was VERY unhappy with myself for my lack of self-control and my giving in to the addiction in such a blatant way.  

Adding to that, the hotel did not have a fitness center, and running outside was just simply not an option given the heat index and horribly high humidity.  We did a TON of walking, which mitigated the lack of working out somewhat, but still not what I would have liked from myself.

As I just got back tonight, I have not yet approached the issue of the scale. I will be accountable to it, I'm sure, for my behavior this week.

So my goal for the upcoming week is to get myself back fully on track. 
- Either Sunday or Monday (depending on when I can get to the grocery store and get my supplies in) I will start a 5 day pouch test.  (should be interesting, as I don't actually HAVE a pouch, but it should work)
- Tomorrow, I will work out and will get myself to the gym at least 4 times this week. 
- I will resume tracking all of my food via Sparkpeople as of tomorrow morning.
- I will resume accountability postings on here on a daily basis.
- If i find myself getting back into trouble, I will call or text one of my support group friends and get the help to get through it. 

Falling off the wagon doesn't mean I can climb right back onto it, even stronger and more focused than before.  That's my goal.

Thanks for listening!

Karen

Welcome home my friend!!!

First off - so glad you had a good week with the kids.

Secondly - I seriously think you are being WAY to hard on yourself.  I would almost bet $ on the fact that you were not as bad as you "think" you were.  Bad food choices are just that, but it doesn't sound like you made to many terrible decisions.

The "get your money's worth" trap - I feel for ya on that one.  When I can't bring left overs home I feel weirded out about it, too.  But then I also feel sick and am miserable for hours on end, so I have curbed that habit a bit.  Granted..I still do it.

And all that walking IN that heat - girlfriend - that counts as a HUGE amount of exercise.  Just because you're not running doesn't mean you're not doing one hell of a work out!

Welcome home once again!  I'll be in touch this week about a few things!

So glad that you are back and that you had a good time even with the heat.  As Pam said I find it hard to believe that you did that badly eat wise.  It is tough to watch others eat the things we want, and not being able to get your money's worth.  (we were on a meal plan, and left not using it all up)  Walking in the heat takes a lot out of you, it was hot when we were there too.  I can relate to the getting up late thing.  It works that way to when you have a bunch of little ones, and it takes time to get them all kick started.  All in all I am sure you did better than you thought, and you are recommitted to a fresh start.  Keep up the good work, and Welcome Home.


 

Welcome back Karen.  We missed you!!!!   Well we are always harder on ourselves than the reality but I can completely relate to "just one more bite" of something that cost a bit or sometimes just because it was freakin yummy.

All we can do each day is keep trying and getting back on track.  Try not to beat yourself up and just follow your 'reentry' plan.

Hugs.  and .. YAH FOR DISNEY

WElcome home Hun! We missed you!

I agree with Pam (shocker I know) and I am sure you didn't do as badly as you think you did. I wouldn't be surprised if the scale was kinder to you then you are expecting.

My phone is always on if you need something

See you later!

Liz

Thank you, my dear friends.

The scale reported that I've gained (gasp) 5 pounds this week.  Yikes!  Granted, that it could have been significantly worse, but it's still a disappointment - as in I am disappointed in myself.  But, today is another day and all this journey is, is taking it one day at a time.  

i just have to get my mind around this as a temporary setback, not an inevitable slide back up the scale.  Accountability and community are my two biggest tools in fighting this battle, which is why I'm here with you guys and why I appreciate so much that you are all here with me. 

Love and hugs.

karen

Karen, I'd lay odds that that 5lbs is due more to water retention from the humidity and stress on your body from the heat then the food you ate.  Do as you planned and start the 5 day and I bet the scale likes you by day 2.  Hubby and I did WDW the last week in July one year, ODG!  What a nightmare between the heat and humidity and the crowds!  Florida goes back to school the 1st week of August and I think every family took their kids that week.   Standing in lines for an hour in 95 degrees, we were just dripping before we even got on the ride!   I felt like a camel hoarding water, we stopped at refilled our water bottles at every water fountain we saw.   Glad you enjoyed your trip, glad you are back.

Jackie,

Thanks so much - I really hope you're right!

WDW is perfect in Late September - lamid-November (my favorite time of year to go)... Summer, not so much!  Although between fast passes and good timing, we didn't wait more than an hour for anything - and most things were in the 20 - 30 minute range, which was surprising.

Glad to be back.

karen

It was good to see you today, and I have complete faith in you that you will recuperate from that gasping 5# gain in no time flat. 

Thanks, Nan - it was great to see you, too!

And the mangoes and plums with cheese were amazingly good!  Meant to tell you that while you were there - I would never have thought to put them together like that, but will be planning to serve them that way for katie's birthday party this weekend. Yum!

Karen