Back to my happy routine

I had a bad couple of food days. Spending time at my parents' house always equals food disaster for me -- meals tend to be late and there is junk food everywhere. I love spending time with them, but it's not the greatest for my weight-loss efforts.  Friday was worse, since I hadn't had time to plan ahead so I went there hungry. Never a good choice. Yesterday, I cooked myself a big spinach omelette before I went, which helped a lot. I didn't feel the urge to pick at the junk food until late in the day, when I was tired. It's hard to explain the compulsion I feel to eat when I'm there, it's totally irrational.

Today I thought I'd do my version of detox -- reasonable, healthy meals, fresh air, and exercise. We cleaned out the fridge and planned our meals for the week.  I went to the grocery store so that we'd have all the things we'd need for this week's dinners.  I made this potato and leek soup for lunch. I went for a walk with my husband in the gorgeous sunshine. I did my swim class tonight -- I regretted my choice to swim in the fast lane, as it activated all my "I-don't-belong" self-doubt, but I feel good now that I've had a shower and some dinner.

It's amazing how overrated being spontaneous is, at least in my opinion. Making plans about what to do, what to eat, and how to spend my time always results in better outcomes than leaving everything up in the air.    I like knowing what and when I'm going to eat. I feel better with regular rest and exercise.

As I get older, I feel like one of the big lessons I keep learning is that I have to be the person I am instead of the person I think I should be. My parents valued being a free spirit, but I think I'm more the stick-in-the-mud type. And I'm totally okay with that...