Mother Nature has decided she hates us this week, and we’ve had a winter’s worth of snow in just a few days. It’s been bitter cold to boot….-30 Celsius
….making everyone on the whole (clients, co-workers, even the grocery store tellers) just a wee bit crabby. Spring may only be 6 weeks away, but it feels like forever!! The weather man says there’s more of the white stuff on the way for us again tonight, so I’m guessing we’ll be digging ourselves out again in the morning.
I spent some time this morning getting my travel binder all fixed up, and I started separate folders for our October and December trips. I had a bit of a mish-mash of stuff all blended together, and decided it was time to separate and organize for my sanity’s sake. One of my bosses has also booked for the same week in May (we travel Friday to Friday, he’s Sunday to Sunday) so I’ve been working on his travel binder today as well….some days, I do have the best job in the world, lol. It must be a side effect of the dreadful weather, but this guy (who is normally a huge procrastinator) has been very motivated to make some pre-vacation decisions all of a sudden, so I’ve been purchasing his Groupons and scheduling his activities while the interest is still there. As a result, there’s a lot of Florida chat happening around the office these days. I must admit, it’s a lot of fun!
On a personal level….
Back in early January, Steve and I decided to shed some of our bad habits and adopt a more healthy lifestyle. I don’t want to say we’re
dieting, because quite honestly, that’s what we are trying to avoid….short-term, dramatic changes that will yield equally short-term results once we go back to more “normal” habits. Instead, we embarked on dietary changes that we can sustain over the long haul including eating more fruits and veggies, indulging in few to no desserts (particularly difficult for me and my sweet tooth) and daily exercise. We took every single box of chocolate that we received from various well-meaning sources over the holiday season and delivered it to someone whom we knew would enjoy it. If it’s in the house, we’ll eat it….if not, the temptation is gone. I think my body went into a bit of a shock the first week or so, but its growing much, much easier to make smart choices. We have been working hard to reduce the ridiculous supply of canned goods and our unwarranted freezer stockpile and focusing on fresh and healthy. While I anticipated it would feel very restrictive to do so, it’s actually rather freeing. Of course, there are moments when I could sell my right arm for a cookie
….but thankfully, those times are growing pretty rare.
We were already members at the YMCA, so we’ve made a conscious effort to increase our sporadic commitment and have been faithfully swimming every single evening and most Sunday afternoons. We both LOVE to swim….it’s a fun yet very substantial work-out to the muscles . Steve’s gone the extra step and added various other aspects to his daily workout, spending an extra hour each day lifting weights, using the elliptical, running on the treadmill, or whatever appeals on a particular day. We love the community feel of our local Y, so it’s been rather enjoyable to run into the same folks on a regular basis. And you know, while there’s been no substantial weight loss as of yet (though Steve has dropped about 10 pounds thus far) I cannot believe how much better we
feel. Our energy level is up, our endurance is significantly improved, and our achy backs/knees/etc. have improved dramatically. I am very excited for the arrival of spring, where I can add some evening walks to our swimming schedule once the days grow longer and there is a little warmth in the air.
Steve’s goal is to lose 25 pounds by the time we travel in May. I don’t know if he’ll hit that target, but all the changes will have a positive impact regardless. I have no doubt we’ll be able to do a 9 to 9 park day without blinking an eye. He’s also planning to continue his daily session at one of the Vistana gyms while we are on vacation, something I would NEVER have dreamed he would consider. I am so proud of that guy!
I will say that we have no plans to punish ourselves on vacation as far as meals go. If we want a snack or dessert (or another Butterbeer), then we plan to partake and feel no guilt. All the walking at the parks and swimming at the resort tends to balance some of the indulgences out anyway, so the damage is usually much more minimal than if I did so while I sat at my desk all day long. I know there are at least a few sweet treats that are on my Universal bucket list…..a Brookie (that cookie/brownie thing) at Thunder Falls Terrace. An Otters Fizzy Orange Juice. A D’oh-nut sundae from Simpon’s Fast Food Boulevard. A big pink donut from Lard Lad. Okay…maybe that’s more than a few!
I am also finding that the whole self-improvement philosophy is catching on in other areas of our existence. I have embarked on a commitment to stop biting my nails….a 40 year old habit of mine that needs to be addressed. I always said that I don’t smoke, and I don’t drink, so biting my nails was a pretty good crutch to have. Well, baloney. Time to give up the excuses. I am sure this will prove probably the most difficult of all, but I am determined to work through it. I may even treat myself to a mani/pedi before our May trip to celebrate my success, assuming that there’s success to reward. I have never been to a spa before (I have a real shortage of ladies in my life!) but received a very generous gift card for Christmas for a beautiful establishment here in my city that should cover the cost of both services. It’s a good carrot to dangle in front of me for the time being, while I still need that motivation.
And to top off all the little life adjustments…..I have stopped straightening my hair. I have retired my straightener, added some long layers, and am letting the natural waves and curls take over. A very different look for me than my straight (
read: “neat and tidy”) locks, but boy…..does it ever cut down on the styling time and frustration in the mornings. And its lighter, which is a nice feeling. Steve loves it, and so does my mom (surprising, when she would normally love to sneak up behind me and cut my dark hair into a short and sleek style)…..so I guess it is a good change all around. I am still trying to become accustomed to the tousled look, but I am sure that comfort will also come. That's me, trying to let go of small aspects of unhealthy control, one small OCD tendency at a time
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Progress, even limited progress, is a step in the right direction
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87 days to go!
Using the Sea World AP made for some great savings.
. DC is da bomb! Did you opt for the dolphin swim or the day resort package?
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. You will drink your plan value in water bottles alone. So yes, I totally recommend it!
I really appreciate your words of wisdom. I also appreciate your enthusiasm for my, and others', plans! It is infectious!
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. I think it hit here much later than your region, though....it arrived sometime overnight (and hasn't stopped since....blah!). The blowing and wind chill are horrible, in particular 
. Its a snow day for the elementary and secondary school kids here, but the college is still open, so Jake was off to his classes as scheduled. 
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...........that's brave!! I have 4 pairs and would lost with out them......sad I know........
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