I ended the work week with 61,475 steps (an average of 12,000 steps per day)!
This weekend, rather than perform traditional exercise activities, Marcus and I went to visit some friends who were camping on the Michigan-Indiana border. We agreed to go on a "lazy river ride" along with about 30 other people. Let me tell you.... there was nothing "lazy" about it.
We rented inner tubes for $5 and were driven to an area on the St. Joseph River where we were told we could jump in. I stepped into the water with my tube and it was freezing!! Once I finally worked up the courage to sit down in the tube, it was all over. The current was taking me down the river and there wasn't a lot I could do to stop it.
Initially I thought we would just be relaxing in our tubes and floating down the river. Little did I know that on this river ride there would be a slew of obstacles (logs, boulders, tree branches, etc.) to avoid. Obviously I had no paddles with which to steer, so my only option was to paddle frantically with my arms. 2 hours later my shoulders were burning. What I initially thought would be a relaxing activity turned into an opportunity for exercise.
Upon returning to the campsite, we spent time hanging out with friends and relaxing by the lake. However, when dinnertime came I felt a sense of panic rising within me. I hadn't planned on staying at the campsite this long and had planned on being home for dinner. I guess it should be said that I have been doing Weight Watchers for several weeks now. Well, really this is my third or fourth time around so I suppose I should say I've been doing Weight Watchers for several years. But, I just got back on the wagon a few weeks ago.
For those who don't know how Weight Watchers works, you are given a set number of points per day to use on whatever food you would like. The goal, however, is to stay within your point target. Ideally, you would spend a small number of points on lots of different items that will fill you up (lean protein, fruits, veggies, etc.) but if you opt to splurge on a high point item you can. Just realize that you have sacrificed points that you could have used on more nutritious and filling items.
So.... back to camping...
We were invited to stay with our friends for dinner. Panic ensued. I wasn't able to control what I was eating. I didn't know how many points anything was worth. I wasn't sure how any of the food was prepared (hidden calories with oils, sauces, etc.). However, this scenario is real life.
So I calmed myself down and thought about how many points I had left for the day... 17 unused points. I looked at the spread of incredibly appetizing food: taco salad, corn on the cob, sausages, steak, noodle salad... and found a few items I could eat without overshooting my point target. I ended up opting for half of a piece of steak, a baked potato dry, and a small portion of Asian noodles. It was delicious and surprisingly I didn't feel deprived what I was finished eating.
I was so proud that I had survived a social gathering with a buffet full of mouth-watering food and had the willpower not to overeat and indulge! And today, the food is gone, the scale is here, and I'm so happy I stuck with the program. Until next time...
The best is yet to come.
Ashley
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