Don't Panic

As someone who used to weigh 188 pounds, wear a size 16, and have a body fat of 34.9%, you can imagine that Nancy is somewhat paranoid about gaining back any weight. She started training with Becky in 2002 but it took a year to figure out that you cannot consistently reward yourself for a hard workout with a Big Mac and fries. In 2003 she got serious about her eating habits and after a year had taken off 60 pounds, wore a size 4, and had a body fat of 24.5%. With regular workouts and pretty good attention to diet, that weight has stayed off since 2004.


You can imagine, then, the trepidation with which Nancy always steps on the scale after a vacation. It’s so easy to backslide when you are out of your regular routine. So with the attitude of someone heading to the gallows, Nancy weighed herself this morning and found that, yes, she had a little too much of something a time or two last week, and exercised a little less often than she should have (although she did frolic in the waves, as you and many people on Hilton Head Island may recall).

One thing Nancy has learned over the past six years, though, is that if she gets right back into her regular eating and exercising habits, those pesky pounds she picked up on vacation will go away again. They don’t stick around if you don’t continue your vacationing ways. Today it’s back to lots of water and healthy meals in moderation. Add to that a nice trail run this afternoon, and today will go a long way to counteracting the transgressions of last week.

Just remember: if you fall away from your healthy habits, don't panic!  It may take a day or two (or sometimes three), but sticking to your healthful ways will take you right back to where you feel your best.  You won't lose much ground as long as you get right back to it.
Although Nancy will not deny herself a few wistful memories of the chocolate cake, garlic bread and wine she consumed last week, her body feels better when she eats right. The only thing left to damage her health now will be if Becky finds out that Nancy did buy the fresh homemade ravioli at the Farm Market in Bluffton and she did eat it and she did not bring any home to share. So don’t tell her.