I'm having a wonderful time in Seattle and that's a great thing. It's such a beautiful city. Friendly people. Succulent gardens. Lots of great restaurants. Today we took a ferry to Bainbridge Island and had fun poking around in and out of all the little shops. Great breakfast at a diner there - omelet full of interesting veggies. Long walk uphill to visit the local library - one of my favorite things to do in any new place I visit. Lots of walking today. In fact, I am happily sitting with my poor tired feet and legs propped up at the end of a very long and wonderful day. So the good is the good time, and the fun stuff, and the shopping and the family I'm visiting with. The Bad and the Caloric are one in the same. I've had chocolate mousse - oh my - birthday cake - just ok - alcohol - a reasonable amount - and pretty rich meals all around. I'm hoping that the walking and all those hills will have some effect on the calories, but I'm predicting a gain. Not sure how much. And the only solution to that gain is to jump back on the program when I get home on Monday night.
Oh, here's another Good. I have had situations on this trip where I needed to move through crowded spaces - whether it was a crowded shop, or a crowded restaurant, a overloaded bus or ferry line. And in all of those situations, I did not feel like a great big moose in every one's way. And that is a huge change for me. I didn't feel like I was taking up more than my fair share of room. That may seem like a small detail to some, but when you feel like you ARE the moose, it leads to shame and guilt and sadness and eventually binging. Binging to make yourself feel better for being fat, but of course the binging only ever makes you feel worse. So to be in and out of crowded spaces over the last few days and NOT feel huge has been very rewarding for me. And, of course, as always, I was aware of other people who are very heavy and was able to recognize that look on their faces - that look of discomfort, of shame, of wanting to disappear. Of wanting to be out of everyone's way. And I don't have to feel like that anymore. And staying on this journey will keep me feeling that way.
Another Good thing - I was able to keep up with the very physical aspect of the last few days. On and off the city busses. Up and down countless stairs. On and off the ferry. Up and down the streets of Seattle. And I kept up. My thighs didn't chaff. My heart didn't pound. Sure, I'm achey tonight - but the kind of ache that is reasonable, that lets you know you're alive, that you did something. So, I may be up a few but I can take care of that. I'm on vacation, eating reasonably, not binging. And all of that is Good.