The Happiest Place on Earth and a Moment of Clarity

Hello everyone.  I am finally back from my vacation to Disney World and I had a great time!  The weather in Florida was sunny and about 75, which is perfect in my book.  We stayed at the Polynesian hotel and it was great!  They had a nice pool and a white sandy beach that made me feel like I was by the ocean even though it was a man made pool.  

The Polynesian hotel with a volcano water slide in the middle.

The worst part about the trip is also kind of the best part about the trip, but at the time it was just plain awful!  I got five blisters over the course of my time at Disney World.  All over my feet and they were ridiculously painful.  I guess I should have brought more comfortable shoes.  I had to put antibiotics on them, band-aids, moleskin and finally an ace bandage to be able to just walk semi-comfortably.  So that was not exactly the best, but we walked about 10 miles a day.  One day we even walked 13 miles.  I kid you not we walked all day everyday.  It was nice though to be always moving and feel like I was seeing all there was to see.  I got to see pretty much everything at Disney World including the Magic Kingdom and all its glory and Epcot and all of the nations within it.

The Magic Kingdom!

Epcot.

So, before I went on the trip I was having a lot of anxiety about how everything would go and just worrying about my size as it relates to fitting in a plane seat and being able to buckle myself on the various rides at Disney World.  I have to say that I am about 30 pounds smaller than I was last year at this time when I went to Hawaii and my experience on the plane was noticeably different.  Last year the belt barely buckled and I felt completely cramped in my seat.  Luckily my fiance was next to me on that flight, so we made it work.  This time on the airplane I fit into my seat just fine and had room to spare on my belt buckle.  I even sat next to a stranger on the way to Disney World and I was terrified of someone reporting that I was too big to fly next to them.  Luckily for me this didn't happen and I was able to even engage in conversation with my neighbor during the flight. 

I can't even begin to tell you how amazing it feels to fit on a plane seat more comfortably and have room to spare in my belt buckle.  It is something that only someone who has been there before can truly understand.  For me it was a moment of clarity.  It was the push that I needed to say to myself, "look at what you CAN do!  You can fit in an airplane seat and you CAN lose this weight!"  I think that some people lose a little weight and they reward themselves in unhealthy ways (eating poorly, not working out, loosening up on their regime and I am the first to admit that I have been there before!  I am happy to report though that my eating was mostly in check on my trip and my spirits are better than ever.  I am a woman who has seen a change that is so moving for me that I am bound and determined to book my next flight in the middle seat.  YIKES!  Just as motivation for me to continue to lose weight and to keep up this hard work.  Losing weight is such a battle and can be so anxiety filled and I am just done with worrying about not fitting into a plane and worrying about not being able to buckle my belt on certain rides.  I am over it.  I want to be carefree about my weight.  I want to be able to sit anywhere on a plane or in a car and not worry about fitting.  I want to go on my trip next year and sit in the middle seat and not spill out into anyone else's space and to buckle my belt, put down my tray table and bend over to grab my stuff stowed beneath the seat with ease and comfort.  I want to feel comfortable in my own skin again.  This is my mission and my goal.  My next blog post will be about my plan.  The actions behind the goals.  Because you are all talk if you don't make a plan!

I am going to leave you with a picture of me last year in Hawaii just one year ago and a picture of me now in Disney World.  I am changing and sometimes even though I can see it in an image it means more to see it in the form of an airplane seat.

This is Ron and I in Hawaii last year.  March 2010.

This is Ron and I at Disney World.  March 2011.

Mini Goal and My dress vision

Hello!  Happy Friday!  I hope everyone has a fun weekend planned.  I am jet setting to Florida tomorrow, so I will be on a brief hiatus, but I wanted to leave you all with some updates before I leave.  When I get back I will have some give-away's and will be back to my regular posting of a few times a week rather than once a week. 


So, onto the news in my life... I have worked out every day this week.  I haven't done that in a long, long time.  I now that it is a small thing to many, but it is such a big thing for me.  My motivation was at an all time low.  I was feeling totally hopeless about my weight loss situation and for some reason getting back into gear was reallty hard for me.  I am proud to say that I have lost 2 pounds this week (since Sunday).  I have worked out every day and I have eaten very, very well!  I am so excited about getting back on track and moving forward from this stalled point that I was at.


Another update is that after buying around 100 (okay, maybe not THAT many) bridal magazines I have found the style that I like.  I will post pictures later for you all to look at.  I realized that I am more romantic than I thought I was and tend to gravitate towards A-line or ball gown (not too dramatic, not puffy or ridiculous) style dresses.  I also realized that I really like silk organza and tulle when it is used in moderation and in a unique pattern or texture.  I also know that I want the dress itself to be free of embellishments and I want to do a really beautiful belt around the waist.  I love the dress that Chelsea Clinton wore and am thinking I will get something like that.  Check out the picture below courtesy of Jamie Lee Events.


 


Alright, I am off to Florida.  I hope I don't get sun-burnt.  I hope that I get to see Minnie!  Have a safe, healthy week!

Meal Planning and Disney World

I love to plan out my meals for the week because it saves me money and time that I would otherwise spend thinking about what to make (and in the past finding myself grabbing something qucik and not healthy).  So, this weekend when we went grocery shopping all of the meals for the week were planned out.  We're having some new things and some good old standby's.  This is the last week before our trip to Florida since we leave on Saturday morning.  I am beyond excited to get out of this freezing cold, snowy tundra that I have been living in for the past 6 months!

So, thinking about Disney World has me excited and a little anxious about some things.  I don't love flying, so I always worry about that a little bit, but once the plane takes off I am usually okay. I am also a little worried about the food situation while we are there.  My fiance's parents have bought us a very generous meal plan that includes three meals a day and two snacks.  That is generally what I usually eat, however I like being in control of my options.  I have looked a little bit at some of the restaurants available and it seems like there will be some healthier options available.  I am planning on starting out with a nice healthy breakfast every morning to get me going and that shouldn't be too hard to find.

All in all this week feels much better than last week.  I am starting to feel more relaxed and ready to take on the week in a healthy way and and I am preparing for my vacation as best as I can.  I want to really relax and enjoy myself while I am there and take advantage of all of the activities going on.  I am hoping that just being active will help me to not have a gain next week.

Last year when we went to Hawaii I bought a whole bunch of new outfits and this year (being in between sizes) I decided not to buy too much because I am hoping to buy summer clothes in a few months when I have lost more weight.  I feel like if I buy them now and I spend a week wearing them and then have to put them away until May or June they will hopefully be way too big and thus a waste of money.  So, I am wearing what I have and I feel okay about it.  I am going to get a few new shirts and a pair of shorts and other than that I shouls be set.

I made the most amazing veggie omelete this morning.  I will post pictures later.  I also had a piece of whole grain toast with it and an apple.  Unfortunately, the apple was mealy and not crisp like I like them to be, but nothing is stopping my good mood today.  This evening I have a date with the gym and a delicious dinner which will be honey dijon grilled chicken with brown rice and asparagus.  Dessert will be the always delicious clementine.  I hope you all have a healthy and productive Monday! :)

Saturday Session... I know, I know it is Tuesday

I know.  I never seem to get this post on the right date.  Saturday is just always so busy.  I know that it is an excuse, but this weekend was wedding planning madness and we were just very overwhelmed and busy.  Ron and I looked at two venues that we are very interested in and are trying to make a decision between the two of them. 


Is anyone else planning a wedding?  If not, those of you who have planned wedding's what was the best part of the wedding planning?  What was the best part of the wedding?  What did you do that you could have skipped or what do you wish you would have done?  I need some ideas/suggestions from those of you who have been here before or are here now!


Okay, onto the purpose of the post.  Life is moving along quickly.  January used to be a month that I hated because it was so long and dreary.  It is still cold and dreary, but there is so much going on that to me it feels like it is flying by.  This week I did very well with my eating, and okay with my working out.  I need to get more activity in there.  I am down 3 pounds.   Woo hoo, going in the right direction!!


I am going to change the layout of the blog soon because I need a change.  I want something light and refreshing. Maybe this is because I already have Spring fever?  I am counting down the days to my trip to Florida in March with Ron's family.  So excited for another family trip and so thankful that they are being generous enough to take us on a trip!! :)   

Goals...

1. Take two new classes at the gym.

FAIL.  I did go to the gym a lot, but I took classes that I always took mostly because I am scared of change?  What am I so afraid of?  Looking foolish I suppose.  I know this doesn't make a ton of sense, but I just don't want to look like a dummy not knowing what I am doing.  This logic is really stupid because every class I have gone to before I have been new and I have loved it, so I think I need to just suck it up.  I am sure you will all tell me that.  You are all right!

2. Try 3 new healthy recipes.

Done, done and done.  I will be posting some of the pictures along with links to the cookbook sites this week.  They were all super delicious, fiance approved, healthy meals.  We loved them all and can't wait to try more!  I won't post the recipes for the ones in the cookbook, because you should buy the books because they are that good!!!

New Goals...

1. Take a picture of myself sweaty from working out every day this week.

I am using this as my motivation to go to the gym each day this week (hopefully to a new class) and posting it so that you can all see that I am re-committed to this weight loss thing.  I just really want to get back into my workout groove.  I want to commit to going everyday and soemtimes twice a day like I was in October and November.

1. Sign up for my first 5k.

I am very excited about this one, but also nervous!  I am going to sign up for a 5k this week that will be in a few months so that I have enough time to get ready to rock the 5k.  I know for some of you this may seem like no big deal, but for me it is stepping out of my comfort zone to do some new activity!

6 Things Sunday

1.  I hope everyone had a happy holiday!
2.  I did pretty good with my eating this week.  I did have some of my mom's famous caramel rolls that I only get once a year and a few glasses of wine.  I didn't veer too off course, but I did allow myself to enjoy some things that only come once a year.  Was I as good as I have been? NO!  Was I completely out of control?  No. I just need to be honest with all of you and myself that I enjoyed my holiday without stuffing myself to the gills or depriving myself.  I was somewhere in the middle.  Usually I am bloated and want to puke I am so full, so I thought I did well.
3.  I got a Wii Fit and Just Dance for Christmas!!  So excited to start using them soon!
4.  I'm going to Disney World!!! My future in-laws are taking all of us to Disney World in March.  I have been there before, but not since I was 8, so I am excited to go again!!
5.  I just went to Target and Pier 1 and got $300 worth of stuff for about $100.  Success.
6.  I am so, so, so excited to get completely back on track, into a groove, don't have parties to go to, cookies to bake, dinners to eat, drinks to sip... you get it.  I love the holiday's but I have had my fill and now I am ready to make the rest of 2010 and the New Year a huge weight loss, healthy living, feel amazing about my body year :)