So...how do you BOUNCE BACK?
It has been recommended to me to take a gradual approach. Research shows the most effective 'bounce back' means:
- Avoiding desserts that are rich in sugar and fat for 7-10 days to help curb the craving for sweets
- halve your portions for the week following vacation
- Try to schedule a day of intense calorie burning physical activity. One uphill hike can burn an extra couple thousand calories and jump start the vacation weight loss
- DON'T get down on yourself (leading to another eating binge)...take the bull by the horns and get back into routine!
- Don't go too extreme. Just return to normal eating habits. Restricting your food intake too drastically can send your body into shock and have a reverse reaction.
In this most recent 'bounce back' this week, I had a couple memorable moments. I felt like COMPLETE SHIT on Monday and Pure Barre was SO hard. My legs were shaking like crazy and my friend Karen was realizing that I NEVER shake this much in my Pure Barre class. The following day I had greatly improved. Karen looked at me and said "you look better!" to which I replied - "I feel 1,000 times better!". What she said put a smile on my face. She stated: "THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW YOU'RE IN SHAPE!" This made me realize that it's not the end of the world and vacation was EXACTLY what I needed, but now it's time to get back to routine. Sometimes you think you've lost it all, but in reality - there is such a thing as 'muscle memory' after all.
Another realization I had was when a fellow cyclist in my Full Psycle class saw how much I was dragging in my class on Wednesday. I told him I might as well have been sweating out tequila and apologized if he was getting a contact high. "I'm trying to get back to normal" I stated...to which he replied, "well you have your whole life". So there you have it, there is no quick fix, it's about hard work - and dedication. Goals, goals and more goals - but dammit....Mexico was amazing and I don't regret a single tortilla chip (or huge plate of Justin's amazing chicken mole...)
Some photos of eating, drinking, consuming and enjoying.....
Til the next time Cozumel.... #vivamontanos!
