Healthy holiday plans

Every time I go away somewhere I pack my gym clothes.  Nine times out of ten, the gym stuff stays at the bottom of my suitcase and never gets used.  This time around I'm hoping things will be different.  

So far this year, I've actually managed to stick to my New Year's resolution to exercise more and eat better.  I've been working out almost five days a week, working my way up to 40 minutes of cardio and including some abs and free weight workouts as well.  All in the comfort of my own basement, using some workout DVDs that I got for $5 on Kijiji.

I said from the start that I wanted to avoid falling into my old pattern of becoming obsessive about diet and exercise, keeping a food journal and counting every calorie and giving myself guilt for indulging in cravings.  My focus was just going to be about becoming healthier, not necessarily thinner.  And I've stuck to that, which has been great for my motivation so far.  But I'd have been lying if I said I hadn't hoped to drop a little weight in the bargain.  I'm on the average side size-wise so I don't have much to lose, but I wouldn't miss ten pounds or so.  I kind of hoped that the last 6 weeks of cardio, plus a huge focus on more fruits and veggies and less sugar in my diet, would have put a dent in that.  But as I was packing my suitcase for Mexico earlier today, I realized that some of the bathing suits and shorts that I wore quite comfortably last summer were too tight.  Some were just uncomfortable tight, while others were "Oh honey, you don't actually think you can pull that off?" tight.  I'm talking serious muffin top, people.  Not good.

So I'm kind of bummed.  Bummed for letting myself slide with diet and fitness last year to the point that this has become an issue.  And bummed because it looks like if I want to be comfortable in those clothes again, I may have to get more regimented about my diet and whip out the ol' food diary when we get back from Mexico. 

In the meantime, the magical Joe Fresh came to my aid with some quick-fix new swimwear on the cheap.  And I'm really, seriously going to try not to let the past 6 weeks of fitness-building go to waste while we're away.  I mean, I'm certainly going to relax, but I figure I can carve 30 minutes per day out of my busy lounging-sunning-drinking-sleeping-reading schedule to do something active.  

And so you, my bloggy friends, are heretofore called upon to bear witness to my resolution that I am going to do 30 minutes of exercise per day while I am away, whether it's going for a run on the beach, doing some cardio at the resort gym or something else entirely.  And I will log it all here when I get back next week.  This is how I am going to keep myself accountable.  I will also do my damndest to make healthier food choices, however let's be honest, it's an all-inclusive so I can't really be held responsible.  Because tequila.

See you guys in a week!  I probably won't have reliable internet access so I won't have a chance to read other blogs while I'm away, but rest assured that you are all in my thoughts (especially those of you currently or soon to be in your TWWs).  I'm hoping to see lots of pink lines when I get back.  Don't let me down, ladies.

Adios amigas!