Hurdle Jumping

Life has been really crazy the last little bit. I traveled out of town for business, a wedding, to move my son, and to see my family. The gym’s pool closed for renovations, and I fought a nasty cough for two weeks. Because of the travel, I had limited eating choices which prevented me from following my eating plan and exercise was not as frequent.  I have to admit I am thankful for these hurdles. They were perfectly place in this journey.  

I had become a robotic Jillian Michaels exercise maniac and a boring Chef Boyardee, mini-meal maker on remote control. Needing to jump these huddles made me think about my choices and transition my new approach to health into real life. I found ways to exercise outside the gym and made conscientious food choices.  I ate a piece of wedding cake, had a slice of my brother’s birthday cake and a candy cane cookie that mom makes once a year, and I relished a few pieces of chocolate my friends gave me for Christmas.  I don’t regret these food choices. They were done in moderation.  I didn’t lost control.  They were celebrations.

I’ve had many small victories in this race since Thanksgiving that make me thankful.  I have lost 20 pounds and 10 inches, but it is the little celebrations that mean more than the numbers.

• I flew in a plane without needing an extension…Skinny friends - I bet you thought the extension was just a flight attendant’s visual aid to show people how to fasten the seat belt didn’t you?
• My clothes are getting sloppy.  (What are the chances that the baggy clown clothes look will be in style this Spring?) 
• I shopped for a dress for my friend Jillian’s wedding.  I tried on a size smaller than I used to wear.  It was too big, and they didn’t have the next smaller size. 
•  I wore a dress I haven’t worn for eight years to the wedding instead. (I am SO glad I didn’t get rid of that dress, but I have to confess that I needed to wash it first because a layer of dust was vacationing on its shoulders.
• I ordered online the dress I tried on in the store three sizes smaller than where I started hoping it would fit for my friend Erin’s June wedding.  It came today, and (cue choir singing) it fits and I love it!

I am positive there will be more hurdles, but I am prepared to keep jumping and to celebrate the small victories when they come.