I am back in Austin, after ten days of visiting Wisconsin, and along with trying to shake off those post-vacation blues, I realize I also need to shimmy back into some healthier routines. I was active on vacation, certainly, running most days with some dancing, walking, biking, and woodchip hauling peppered in. But I also seemed to develop this cavernous hunger doubly tempted by all the beautiful home cooking and Door County restaurants. In short, I ate a lot. More than I needed to, anyhow. And I accompanied most evenings with a glass or two of wine – a habit I’ve mostly eliminated this past year.
Part of me is tempted to feel anger and shame at this week and a half long slip up . . . my scale wants me to . . . but I don’t fully. I want habits and discipline and energy to be healthy and fit (it doesn’t happen if that’s not the majority of days) but I also want to cut myself some slack because there is so much more to life than looking a certain way. I can spend my time so much better than obsessing over cheat days or whether or not I should have a second ice cream cone in a week (I should have – it was called Pirate’s Booty and it was delicious).
It’s easier for me to keep my routines back in Austin. I live alone and can make decisions about my health just for me. But would I trade knowing the nutritional value of my chain club sandwich to sitting down to dinner with my parents? Yes. I baked brown sugar chocolate chip cookies and homemade noodles from my mother’s recipe (and with her needed over-the-shoulder guidance). What a fucking killjoy would I be if I asked for the calorie count? And who cares anyway?
Not me.
With Love,
Natalie