Back from Cruise-Didn't Do Too Bad
Hi,
I got back from my Caribbean cruise on Saturday. I had a great time and was able to get some much needed rest. I mostly stayed pool or beachside so that was cool. Also, to my shock and disbelief, I only gained .5 lbs!!! I got on the scale this morning and it said 212. The morning I left, I weighed in at 211.5. While I walked 2-miles on the Promenade deck two days, that was not even close to what I set out to do. Also, unlike my 10-day European cruise where I excercised and walked every day and didn't gain weight, the most I did in terms of excursions this go round was to go to a beach. As for food, I basically ate what I wanted. One thing about cruises, their dinners tend to be normal size portions which helps. Also, they have sooo many low calorie options at every meal that if you were of a mind to (I wasn't 
), you could definitely stay on program. My weakness is sweets and I had my share, but I guess I did not go over-board. I ate frozen yogurt equally as much as regular ice-cream. What may have helped is that for the first time in months, I purchased a 6-pack 100 calorie pack of Keebler Grasshoper cookies and sweet and salty granola bars which is what I grabbed when my sweet-tooth hit outside of normal meal hours. I also drank at least 1 cosmopolitan a day..sometimes even two. I am at a loss as to why I did not gain more. Whatever the case...I am GRATEFUL!!! My experience also makes the case for dumping the scale. I felt soooo at peace without the every day weighing.
One interesting thing is that I felt that I got more of a work-out walking outdoors than on the treadmill. Also, my stomach felt flatter after each day I walked. Mind you, I walked slower than I do on a treadmill. Could this be true, or am I imagining this? I also got a Body Compositiion Analysis which I always wanted. I have known for years that my Tanita scale was waaay off in terms of fat percentage. The BCA said that my body fat percentage was 39.6% and that I had 83.6lbs of fat body weight 
and 127.4lbs of lean body weight which was allegedly on target. It also said that my resting metabloc rate was 1758 calories which is supposed to be good. I say "allegedly "and "supposedly "because they were so busy trying to sell me a $900 detox program that they did not concentrate on the things that I really wanted to know. Something about getting rid of 15.82 lbsof toxins that are around my fat cells!!! URGH!!! I was pissed!!! I was on Holland America, an otheriwse classy ship, and here I was being given the hard sell.
I also wanted to mention something I noticed when catching up on everyone's blogs. Ladies, we are being waaaay too hard on ourselves. Just when are we going to give ourselves a break for being human? Yes, we sometimes fall short of our goals, but at least we are trying. Let's keep our heads up and do what has to be done. Lord knows that I am struggling too. The sad thing is, remember how I bitched and moaned about the scale staying at 210? Don't you know, I would have jumped for joy had the scale said 210 this morning. LOL The lesson is...let's be grateful today for even the small victories.
As for my program, I did not go back to JC this weekend. I am enjoying eating on my own this week and TOM will be here any day now. I will go back though...maybe this Saturday and face the music. I also will get back in the gym this week. I remember how miserable I was a few short months ago. The truth is...I feel pretty good. I just need to work on conquering this scale monster....yes....the scale may go back in the trunk!!! I need my sanity.
I hope EVERYONE has a great, on-program week. Remember....we CAN do this!!!
Danielle
