 |
| Pretty kitty. Those are white lions. |
Yesterday I promised Julien that we would head to Safari Niagara today. I toyed with the idea of getting up at 5:30 am to do my 8K steady run this morning, then decided to sleep till 7 and put off my 8K until tomorrow. Since I'm on vacation I can do that. I've run 3 days in a row, so I'll run 3 more days in a row before taking my next rest day. The only way my training schedule is affected is by switching out rest days (rested today instead of tomorrow).
I headed out too late last night to get a roasted chicken from Walmart. I went at 8am after coffee and my shower to grab one. I needed to pack a Paleo lunch for hubby and I to enjoy during our zoo outing. We had roasted chicken, coleslaw and blueberries for lunch. We snacked on baby carrots and sunflower seeds throughout the day. And we drank LOTS of water. It was a very successful eating day. I noticed that whole chickens are on sale this week. I'm stocking up because we're going to do some beach days and I'll roast my own chickens for my future picnics. That way I can control the sodium and there is never an excuse to eat off plan (for me anyway).
 |
| Yeah, that's the mind blowing ropes course in the back ground! |
At Safari Niagara I did something completely wild and totally out of my comfort zone. I did the Ropes Course. I never, ever, ever would have done this before. Did I mention never ever? Although I was completely freaked out by the height, I was pumped that I was doing something that I never dreamed I'd be able to do in a million years. All three of us went on together (which Julien LOVED) and sadly hubby could not reach his phone to snap a photo of me. He was gripping his rope too tightly. You'll just have to believe that I did it. It felt so odd to have the harness so loose on me. The loose harness definitely didn't make me feel very secure. The weight limit was 300 pounds and there was a time in my life (several actually) where I wouldn't have made the weight limit. Even though heights scare the bejeezus out of me, I didn't care. I wanted to be able to say that I did it!
 |
| The difference of a year. Julien got bigger and hubby got smaller. Hubby's also wearing a very similar outfit. He's not going to like when he sees this! |
While we were driving home from Safari Niagara, hubby and I were talking about the hardest part about losing weight. We were discussing Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition and The Biggest Loser. In my opinion, neither of those shows depicts the reality of losing weight. Average people are not able to access the resources that are on those shows and those people lose large amounts of weight in relatively short periods of time. Does it all stay off? I don't really watch either show (except a few episodes here and there) so I'm not sure what the success rate is.
What happens after the show? Now there's a documentary to do. They should be showing us how to maintain. We already know how to lose weight, and in my case, I did it unsuccessfully for the majority of my life. I lost and gained the same 30 pounds over and over. And even lost 100 pounds 15 years ago, only to gain it back (and then some) in under a year. In my opinion, the harder part starts with maintenance. According to the studies, only 20% of people who have lost at least 10% of their body weight are successful at keeping the weight off. That's an 80% failure rate. I'm not gonna lie, when it didn't matter so much to me, I used the "well I'm just going to gain it back anyway so why bother" attitude way to often.
It really is inspiring and motivating to see people successfully lose weight, but the real success is keeping it off. I'm not there yet. I've successfully lost, and I'm feeling more and more confident every day that I'll be able to maintain. Each day that I stay on plan and get my exercise in is one day closer to maintenance success. But it has been a lot of work both mentally and physically to get here. And I'll be working just as hard (maybe harder) to maintain as I did to lose. A lifestyle change truly is for life.
I've been the same weight (give or take a couple pounds) since December 2012. I was wearing size 10 in December and I just started fitting into size 6 (depending on make). It frustrates me that although I'm getting smaller, my weight does not go down. I don't mind so much because I am getting leaner. But even 5 pounds would really help with my running (pace and foot issues). People always guess that I weigh less than I do. And for that reason, when I go to the CNE this year, I'm gonna play that game where the guy has to guess your weight. I am so going to win! I hope they have Mario Brothers prizes. Julien will be so happy!
 |
| My eats from today. |