Two valuable things a week in Greece reminded me of...
Allterrain_Lady
Posts: 421 Member
I just came home from a week of vacation in Rhodos Iland, Greece. It was awesome but that's not the point.
Two things 'happened' to me while I was there that I think are worth sharing.
I've lost 30lbs, before I joined MFP for the 40 remaining ones, and I know what works for me and what don't. Not being in a familiar environment triggers me to binge. In an "I'll start again at home" way.
Considering that I do a lot of things for other people on my daily life, I've saved up with my boyfriend to afford real vacation. Meaning it wouldn't just be a new place where I'd do the dishes and clean after everyone else.
So we checked into a wonderful hotel, all inclusive for 8 days.
To starting with, I was kind of afraid that this vacation would see me fall way of the wagon and then I realised that "all inclusive" meant all you-can-eat buffet THREE TIMES A DAY! Basically, the recipe for some kind of disaster...
I chose to considerate it as an occasion to put what I've learned during my weight loss process to a "real life" test. What happens if I was to improvise for a while. Without my kitchen scale, measuring cups, daily routine...
I didn't have the opportunity to follow my usual exercice regimen and I was also a bit worried that would make a lot of damage.
In order to enjoy my vacation and keep everything on track, five golden rules I tried to follow:
- No food is going to disappear from the surface of the Earth anytime soon. There always gonna be another chance to eat it. No need to stuff myself with it like it's our last encounter. If it's awesome greek food, I'll learn how to cook it back home.
- A bite of what I crave is enough if I wait for the pleasure of it to kick in before I eat it all.
- Always choose what get me closer to my goal than further away from it, FIRST. Then, the treat. IF still needed.
- Use all chances I get to move in any way. Swimming pool in the morning when the sun isn't killing us, sightseeing in the afternoon, silly playing in the sea later...
- RELAX! Deep inside, if I listen to myself, I know and want what's good for me.
I came home yesterday and got on the scale this morning. I've lost almost 3lbs!!! Without feeling like I was thinking about it as much as I do home, without measuring and loging everything I eat.
It doesn't mean I will stop doing it until I reach my goal weight (wich is more of a "how I'd like to look" goal); it just says a normal life without that much control is somewhere along the way. GREAT NEWS!
First thing Greece taught me: We know what we're doing!!!! It works.
About what I'd like to look like, Greece taught me another thing.
I have this fantasy where I'd come across a magic lamp and a genie would come out of it to offer me my dream body.
Here's what I'd ask for:
- Blake Lively's legs
- Gisèle Bundchen's stomach
- Kim Kardashian's breasts (or money for her surgeon. I'm still debating with myself wether or not those are real)
- Sarah Shahi's butt
- Jillian Michaels's arms (I'm doing her videos, maybe there's a chance here...)
- Kate Middleton sense of style and wardrobe (even though I'm fully aware I couldn't put ONE of Kim's breasts in any of Kate'dresses)
Anyway, when I allow myself to be real shallow, that's what I dream of. In that order of priority.
Up until last week, I had not gone on a beach for about 6 years. I was ashamed of everything I'd look like. And I still mostly am. I HATE MY THIGHS!
Anyway, I went with my boyfriend who is a beach addict and I survived. Even though my thighs rub against each other a lot and I can't stay with naked legs for a long time. Especially if salt and sand are involved. Spandex underneath sundresses, real fun! Not the point, sorry.
The point is, I've watched the bodies I saw on the beach. Healthy bodies, some more than others but REAL bodies. It felt like I was struck by lightning when I realised that others women had cellulitis like I do. I mean, almost ALL WOMEN.
That those women with imperfections where pretty and looked happy.
A beautiful body is not an addition of perfect features. It's a healthy, functioning body that allows you to love and share and create memories and take care of your loved ones and work and shape your future.
It may not seem all that knew to you but it was a defining moment for me. I've seen women that I would exchange my body with in a heartbeat and none of them looked like they were runway models.
None of them had awesome legs AND butt AND stomach AND breasts AND arms AND faces. And they were perfect the way they were.
I need to feel that way about me.
How disturbed my vision of a good body is!!! I couldn't be thin enough to have Blake's legs and Gisele's stomach while being busty like Kim. NOT WITHOUT SURGERY. I'm not on a warpath about magazines, hair/make up, light and airbrush here but, God!, do I need to consider myself as a real women from real world instead of hoping for a miraculous extreme make-over!
That's it folks. I just needed to say something about those expectations that we can have (regardless on how and why they came upon us) and how difficult it is to stray away from it.
Bye!!
Vanessa
Two things 'happened' to me while I was there that I think are worth sharing.
I've lost 30lbs, before I joined MFP for the 40 remaining ones, and I know what works for me and what don't. Not being in a familiar environment triggers me to binge. In an "I'll start again at home" way.
Considering that I do a lot of things for other people on my daily life, I've saved up with my boyfriend to afford real vacation. Meaning it wouldn't just be a new place where I'd do the dishes and clean after everyone else.
So we checked into a wonderful hotel, all inclusive for 8 days.
To starting with, I was kind of afraid that this vacation would see me fall way of the wagon and then I realised that "all inclusive" meant all you-can-eat buffet THREE TIMES A DAY! Basically, the recipe for some kind of disaster...
I chose to considerate it as an occasion to put what I've learned during my weight loss process to a "real life" test. What happens if I was to improvise for a while. Without my kitchen scale, measuring cups, daily routine...
I didn't have the opportunity to follow my usual exercice regimen and I was also a bit worried that would make a lot of damage.
In order to enjoy my vacation and keep everything on track, five golden rules I tried to follow:
- No food is going to disappear from the surface of the Earth anytime soon. There always gonna be another chance to eat it. No need to stuff myself with it like it's our last encounter. If it's awesome greek food, I'll learn how to cook it back home.
- A bite of what I crave is enough if I wait for the pleasure of it to kick in before I eat it all.
- Always choose what get me closer to my goal than further away from it, FIRST. Then, the treat. IF still needed.
- Use all chances I get to move in any way. Swimming pool in the morning when the sun isn't killing us, sightseeing in the afternoon, silly playing in the sea later...
- RELAX! Deep inside, if I listen to myself, I know and want what's good for me.
I came home yesterday and got on the scale this morning. I've lost almost 3lbs!!! Without feeling like I was thinking about it as much as I do home, without measuring and loging everything I eat.
It doesn't mean I will stop doing it until I reach my goal weight (wich is more of a "how I'd like to look" goal); it just says a normal life without that much control is somewhere along the way. GREAT NEWS!
First thing Greece taught me: We know what we're doing!!!! It works.
About what I'd like to look like, Greece taught me another thing.
I have this fantasy where I'd come across a magic lamp and a genie would come out of it to offer me my dream body.
Here's what I'd ask for:
- Blake Lively's legs
- Gisèle Bundchen's stomach
- Kim Kardashian's breasts (or money for her surgeon. I'm still debating with myself wether or not those are real)
- Sarah Shahi's butt
- Jillian Michaels's arms (I'm doing her videos, maybe there's a chance here...)
- Kate Middleton sense of style and wardrobe (even though I'm fully aware I couldn't put ONE of Kim's breasts in any of Kate'dresses)
Anyway, when I allow myself to be real shallow, that's what I dream of. In that order of priority.
Up until last week, I had not gone on a beach for about 6 years. I was ashamed of everything I'd look like. And I still mostly am. I HATE MY THIGHS!
Anyway, I went with my boyfriend who is a beach addict and I survived. Even though my thighs rub against each other a lot and I can't stay with naked legs for a long time. Especially if salt and sand are involved. Spandex underneath sundresses, real fun! Not the point, sorry.
The point is, I've watched the bodies I saw on the beach. Healthy bodies, some more than others but REAL bodies. It felt like I was struck by lightning when I realised that others women had cellulitis like I do. I mean, almost ALL WOMEN.
That those women with imperfections where pretty and looked happy.
A beautiful body is not an addition of perfect features. It's a healthy, functioning body that allows you to love and share and create memories and take care of your loved ones and work and shape your future.
It may not seem all that knew to you but it was a defining moment for me. I've seen women that I would exchange my body with in a heartbeat and none of them looked like they were runway models.
None of them had awesome legs AND butt AND stomach AND breasts AND arms AND faces. And they were perfect the way they were.
I need to feel that way about me.
How disturbed my vision of a good body is!!! I couldn't be thin enough to have Blake's legs and Gisele's stomach while being busty like Kim. NOT WITHOUT SURGERY. I'm not on a warpath about magazines, hair/make up, light and airbrush here but, God!, do I need to consider myself as a real women from real world instead of hoping for a miraculous extreme make-over!
That's it folks. I just needed to say something about those expectations that we can have (regardless on how and why they came upon us) and how difficult it is to stray away from it.
Bye!!
Vanessa
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Replies
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- No food is going to disappear from the surface of the Earth anytime soon. There always gonna be another chance to eat it.
Oh - this, this, this!!0 -
WOW!!!! You got it going on girl! So very proud of you for sharing this! and for seeing it in you!0
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Most excellent post, thank you for sharing!0
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Great post! I've used that no food will fall off the face of the earth rationale quite often myself - it really helps.0
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This is so fabulous and so true! When we went away to the cabin this summer I spent the first 2 days in full "vacation mode"...until I realized how disgusting I felt! And the beach was full of women in bikinis with cellulite and muffin tops and baby bellies just like me! Although some fitness people showed up... And yah they looked pretty damn good, and rich and happy to boot lmao. But I realized I didn't want to feel like crap on vacation! Food is not disappearing!
I am going to Hawaii at Christmas, and hope I can allow myself some local specialties while preventing a binge fest! I love this post thank you!0 -
I love reading these insights that people have. Thanks for sharing.0
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- No food is going to disappear from the surface of the Earth anytime soon. There always gonna be another chance to eat it.
Oh - this, this, this!!
DITTO!! I need, need, need to repeat this to myself every day.0 -
Great post! Good job on your vacation!0
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Although some fitness people showed up... And yah they looked pretty damn good, and rich and happy to boot lmao. But I realized I didn't want to feel like crap on vacation!
Exactly!!! Fitness people exist, they look awesome. Fine, we know it. We also need to FEEL awesome. And that's a state of mind...0
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