Are You a Dancer?

Quick update of sorts here. I have really enjoyed getting back into the gym in the mornings this week. I have also mixed things up a bit as far as cardio goes. I have started to run a bit. I haven't ran since the end of July and that was outside. I am running on the treadmill for about 1.5 miles. I also started biking a bit again. And tonight I went to my very first water aerobics class. I am always a little nervous about trying new things, especially when it is at a place I haven't been. This (Outdoor!) water aerobics class was at the Downtown Y on their Rooftop pool! Once I figured out the location of the pool my nerves calmed a bit (who would have thought it would have been difficult to find the roof?). It also helped that a friend wanted to go too. Besides my friend, there were two other girls who had never been to this class before and two guys who had obviously been to this class a lot. Once I got used to all the movements it was a lot like boot camp in the water. We were stretching at the end and we had to hold our foot out in front of us and reach for your ankles/toes/foot/whatever you could grab. I can easily grab my foot and then we did the stretch with our leg out to our side. One of the guys yells across the pool "Are you a dancer?" Completely shocked was I. Me a dancer? Nope. And, this will not be any sort of love connection. I don't think he likes girls and he was about 50.

I am going to Indiana this weekend. More on Sunday!

The Week Ahead

I stayed in last night which was a really nice change of events. I have felt that for the past 2 months I have pretty much been go-go-go. That probably is some of the reason it has been hard for me to lose weight (and focus too). I would start to get into a good routine and then I would do something that threw my schedule off. Of course these things involved travel and seeing friends and family, so it was all worth it. BUT ultimately I want to be able to do all these things and not have it completely throw off my schedule. Any suggestions???

This week is shaping up to be a busy one. My personal goal is to make it to the gym every morning this week, something I did not do at all last week. I have spent the past three days journaling my eating (no points, but calories) and getting back into the gym. It has been a much need break.

On tap for the week I have drinks/dinner with a friend on Tuesday. A possible outdoor water aerobics class on Wednesday. And my last Advanced Negotiations class on Thursday.

So what exercising/eating guidelines do you follow when traveling or on vacation?

Starting Over

I am going to skip a long drawn out intro. I was doing well, really well the week I got back from Europe. Then I went to Wisconsin and had a blast and ate yummy foods and drank yummy drinks. I haven't gone to the gym at all this week. AND I have eaten at least one meal out every day since Monday. This my friends is a recipe for disaster.

Tomorrow I am going to sleep in, eat a healthy breakfast and lunch, and go to the gym after work. I am going out tomorrow night, but I drank enough alcohol last weekend to last me a while.

I need to get my act together.

European Adventure Part 1

I know this is long overdue, but here it is.

My flight:
Nashville->Chicago->Paris

I have been on this flight before. Not horrible, but out of DC it is a little shorter. I was in the middle. I tried to switch, but that was impossible on a full flight. There were 5 seats in the center of the plane. I wasn't in the very middle, but I was in the seat next to the very middle, thus not an aisle. My main concern was being able to get up and walk around. Ever since my 20 hour flight to/from South Africa my ankles can swell pretty badly resulting in cankles that seem to last for at least a few days. My cure? Aim for the aisle seat and drink obscene amounts of water so I have to get up and walk around. I actually slept pretty well on this flight with the help of a few benedryl and and my neck pillow. A few years ago I invested in a Thermarest Neck Pillow. I wanted something small and compact and decided to give this a try. I really need to start using it on shorter flights and not just international flights. This things is SO worth the $30.

Arrived in Paris as well rested as possible on an 8+ hour flight. Now here is the part where I wish I would have packed slightly different. I had a wheeled checked bag and a carry on by two different manufacturers. Thus, not the easiest to combine when traveling in say the Metro or down/up stairs. I refuse to use a pack when in Europe, just a personal preference. I probably could have packed a little lighter/differently, but I am going to be honest, I wanted some options. Before I left the states I even considered taking a taxi instead of using the RER (public transport straight into the city from the airport), but decided I couldn't justify spending 60 Euro on a cab when I have taken the RER before. I struggled with my suitcases and maybe even pitted out (sweating that shows in the pits) a bit, but I made and saved some money!

I made it to the hotel and caught up with Alethea. A quick shower and I was on my way out into the city.

Now for some pictures:
I had just purchased my first Nutella Crepe on the Rue Cler:



I spent the afternoon in the Rodin Sculpture Garden:



Dinner at a nice restaurant followed by a stroll around the Eiffel Tower park. I will never have too many pictures of the Eiffel Tower.



It stays light out pretty late in the summer time. I didn't go to bed until after midnight and I didn't even take a nap. Summer months are definitely easier on the jet lag than traveling in winter months.

Coming up next: more Paris and Monet's Gardens