I just got back from a week long fitness convention in Florida. This is the third one that I have attended but definitely the most positive experience that I have ever had. There is nothing more motivating than a few thousand fitness professionals and the best instructors in the world at a beautiful destination resort.
I lost 3 pounds during the past week. To those of you who are dedicated to your diet and exercise and lose 3-5 lbs every week this might not seem like a lot. But to someone like me whose weight plateaued a long time ago, this is amazing.
I know that working out several hours a day and eating lots of small meals between my workouts was key. This along with the variety of workouts that I was doing and the fact that I was getting a good night of sleep every night. These are all things that seem like they could be modified to fit into my real life. Because I had a large dinner out with dessert and a glass of wine every night. I didn't feel deprived. My digestive issues were better. My energy still had dips in the afternoon but it was definitely more stable.
I am terrified that those 3 pounds will be right back next Sunday when I weigh myself. But there is a little voice in my head that tells me that this could be my jump start. This could be my biggest loser week. I spent a week at the ranch and learned what works for me. Now I just have to figure out how to make things work now that I'm back home with all the responsibility and stress that come with work and family.
I think its also important to point out that my attitude was much better than it normally is. I was surrounded by people of all races, ages and sizes. Sure, there were plenty of size 2 "fitness models" walking around but there were just as many curvy (or dare I say fat) fit folks walking around. And no one said anything bad to them. Everyone accepted that they were instructors and had just as much right to be there as everyone else.
I found myself walking around in my swimsuit top and shorts or in my swimsuit and a t-shirt. I would never do that at home. The moment I am out of the pool, I am wrapped from head to toe in a beach towel and hustling my way into the locker room. Maybe I need to stop doing that. Maybe if I pretend to be confident and comfortable in my own skin, I'll start to feel like it. Maybe this is the beginning of me loving me just a little more than I care about what other people think about me.