Summer Daze

As my summer break is winding down, I’m frantically finishing up what projects I can and find myself reflecting on the last 7 weeks. I didn’t get as much done as I would have liked, things aren’t growing as much as I would have hoped, but I also see what I have accomplished.

I went on a 2-week vacation to see my younger kid and the few friends I want to maintain a connection to. When I returned, I began my projects. Even though I’m not the project whiz that I envisioned myself to be, I did something every day. The majority of those days, I was doing something physical. I used my muscles more this summer than I have in the last few years. I’ve not really lost any weight, but my clothes fit differently. I can even get into jeans that I couldn’t fit into before.

Now, I need to figure out a way to keep it up. I’m not willing to return to being a couch potato. I want to continue what I’ve started in becoming stronger, and I know the weight will start melting away. The truth is, muscle weighs more than fat. Just because I’ve not lost pounds doesn’t mean I haven’t lost weight. I had something similar happen years ago. I worked out for a quarter and didn’t lose any weight, but I did lose a dress size.

As I get back into a more structured routine, I know I’ll need to add a stretching regimen. My muscles have often been sore this summer and I wake up each day stiff. It’s a start though It’s a huge positive step in the right direction. Other pieces will need to continue to fall in place, and I’m optimistic that they will.