It’s amazing how time flies when you’re writing a weekly column. It seems like every seven days you’re back at your computer, explaining yourself and your choices to the world. Personally, I have come to rely on this for a number of reasons. As I’ve stated many times in the past, the accountability is key for me. I want to make myself proud, make those who care about me proud, and hopefully type a sentence or two that will inspire someone else to change the way they go about their everyday life. There’s also something very therapeutic about the whole thing. I find that the weekly recap really helps me figure out where I botched it or did well along the way.
It was an odd week for me, what with the holiday weekend and all. Holiday weekends are never good for diets. They usually mean barbecues, day drinking, crap eating, poolside power lounging, and the myriad of other activities that come along with it. After a solid Wednesday and Thursday of last week I decided to take Friday off, turn the three day into a four day, and headed off to Arizona to visit a friend of mine. Let’s consider that for a minute. Now it’s a long weekend that has been extended by a day and a trip out of town. This wouldn’t bode well for my diet, I feared, but I was willing to let it go for a couple of days. After all, I was coming back on Sunday afternoon so it’d be a two day slip at best. I’ve found that allowing yourself to be human helps as long as you realize that a day or two here and there are just that: a day or two here and there. Once you begin allowing yourself more and more leisure time you discover that it’s been a month and you’re ten pounds heavier. Oh, weight. If only you were as easy to take off as you are to put on.
Friday was not my best effort. I had a lovely grinder and a few drinks throughout the day. I ended up at a tiki lounge type place and drank their signature beverage which was a sugary fruit juice concoction. Delicious, yes, but not good for me. I had to drink it though, and here’s why: I am a firm believer that if you go somewhere you have never been and they offer their “original” this or “signature” that, you have to try it. If it’s what made this particular place famous, even in it’s own special way, it’s worth a shot. Oh, and I also ate a bunch of tacos from the happy hour bar. Corn shells, ground beef, lettuce, cheese. Standard, delicious tacos. That pretty much put the cap on my Friday eating but a few more beers were had, for sure.
Saturday was mellow in comparison. Didn’t really eat until 3:00 PM or so (not good, I know, but so it goes) and that was a burger. Again, their “signature” “original” burger. It was very tasty, as I hadn’t had an honest to god hamburger in quite some time. From there it was off to the tailgate at the University of Arizona. We didn’t know anyone there so we spent the pre-game time wandering about and looking at the setup. I’m a big USC fan so I was sure to tell everyone to “Fight On” every chance I got. When taken to the field house where they keep all of the trophies I asked quite a few people where they kept the National Championship trophies for football. Some of them were not amused. I, however, was having a fantastic time. All in all, it’s really a nice campus, friendly tailgate, and a cute stadium. Arizona even won the game, defeating Toledo in overtime.
I flew back on Sunday and, happy to be out of the god-awful heat of Arizona, spent the afternoon and evening relaxing at home. I didn’t eat much and stuck to water for the most part. That trip had taken a lot out of me. I awoke on Labor Day and went for a quick bike ride through my neighborhood. It wasn’t much but it was enough to feel like I was getting back on track. I met the gang for a day at the beach where we had some drinks and caroused in the surf and sun. Good and different exercise was had that day. The surf was WAY up so being in the Pacific really kept you on your toes (or off of them, as the case may be). We also played some wiffle ball and a game of beach football, as evidenced here. I’m the quarterback.
As the sun set into the west we tore down and went our separate ways. I did little else Monday night and awoke Tuesday nearly ready to return to work. Like most days early in the week for me it was right back into the saddle. Exercise, good eating, etc.
Now, given my jet-setting schedule and seemingly insurmountably terribly diet this week you’re probably interested (like i was) to see how the weigh-in went. Well, truth be told, it didn’t happen. I got on my scale this morning and it thought about it for a minute before giving me the “ErrR” display. Knowing I hadn’t gained so much weight that the scale couldn’t even register it I tried again, and again, and again until it stopped coming on altogether. The battery in my scale died and I had to have this written before I’m able to replace it. I am calling last week a wash, which is probably generous, but I cannot reliably say whether I am heavier or lighter at this point. What I can say is that I need to get some routine back. I need to really focus because I still feel like I’m not going anywhere, even if the scale (normally) says differently.
I’ll see you all next week. Until then, enjoy the return of the NFL, Fight On, and Go Broncos!
