Week 12: Rachael has fun and still loses weight on vacation!

Hellllooo Skinny Friends!



Do you remember me? It feels like it’s been so long, but I’m still here plugging away on Rachael 2.0, my revamped diet and lifestyle. You may remember back in December, I told you hubby and I were going to Aruba for vacation. Well sadly our plans didn’t go so well. A giant snowstorm swept through the East Coast and our flight was canceled. All of the airlines were so overbooked because of holiday travel, they were completely unable to rebook our flight. Ugh. So we called up the resort (a big name chain) and asked if there were any hotels in driving distance from New York they would let us swap for... And that’s how we ended up in Colonial Williamsburg for Christmas. It was not Aruba, but it was still nice to get away from our busy lives. We explored the museums and ultimately had a lot of fun.

 

My diet also did pretty well on vacation! Right before we pulled up to the hotel we stopped at a supermarket and picked up lots of fiber-rich foods to stash in the mini-fridge, and of course I packed my GG crackers. I was very strict with my breakfast everyday: Greek yogurt with Fiber One and some fresh black berries. Yum! Then I packed a picnic each day complete with GG Cracker turkey sandwiches to eat while we were out and about. It was fun to feel spontaneous with our picnic locations. I’d also pack quick healthy snacks for later in the afternoon so I wouldn’t be tempted by the Colonial baked goods that were for sale everywhere we looked.

And because I was so good for my breakfast, lunch, and snack, I let myself relax a bit at dinner time. Did I really want a baked potato with my steak? Well, then I had it! Crab legs squeezed with fresh lemon? Yes! A few bites of a yummy chocolate dessert. I went for it! Knowing that I had been so good earlier in the day let me indulge. Was I trying to lose weight during my vacation? Not really. I was just trying not to slip backwards and gain anything. I think it was both a physically and mentally healthy way to take a vacation.

So now I’m back in New York, and I’ve started my new job doing videos for an online newspaper. I’m still getting the hang of it. I think it’s going to work out just fine. I’m back to packing my lunches and hitting the gym after work. It feels good to be back in a healthy routine. And even with my vacation, I still managed to lose a little weight over the holidays — 2½ pounds!

Happy 2010, people. May it be a healthy year for all of us!