See, we (Kitty and I) look forward to our beach vacations with our families all year. I'd be confident speaking for both us when I say these vacations are highlights of our life, hold the fondest memories, get us through grey awfully cold winters, our escape from the boring routine of school, and the one thing we both really really look forward to every year.
But around January, as much as we looked forward to the beach, the pool, the fun family time, we'd dread knowing that we also had to expose our wintery, flaky, pasty, post-Christmas-cookie-eating marathon, white blubbery bodies to the public. Oh, I'm sure the public didn't care or notice too much-but we sure the heck did, and what it really comes down to, is feeling good about ourselves in our own minds.
I got to laughing the other day, because this memory-our Beautification Program yearly phone call-came to mind. And yes, alas, probably more Beautification Programs were bombed when the chocolate foil wrapped Easter eggs started showing up on grocery store shelves, but the intention at least led us in the right directions and so I decided that although it has been awhile since I've jumped on board, this year, post-Janey, it's just the motivation I need. Here is what the "Beautification Program" entails for me:
A motivating collage taped on the fridge.
A calendar counting down the days.
A scary jump on the scale. (Something I almost never do.)
A reasonable goal, based a little on a number, but more on being able to fit into my (buttoned!) summer shorts.
A huge bottle of moisturizer and a renewed commitment to actually use it. (My scaly legs are awful!)
A renewed promise to eat healthier and exercise more.
A cute swimsuit in mind.
And I'm off and running. (Not running, running, that's just a figure of speech for now, or a massive exaggeration like the diving in the ocean thing.)
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Love it Sarah! Your post made me laugh. Especially after our emails. :) I hear Rocky music in the background! Let's do this! You take the lead and I'll follow soon. I need two more weeks of chocolate...
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Just. Notice Isaac's muscleman pose on the rock. He is such a crack-up! Good luck with the beautification program. I've got two kids swimming parties coming up... Eek!
ReplyDeleteTook your advice this year and did my own cook book - love this idea on the fridge too!
ReplyDeleteI loved this post. My girlfriend, Caz & I look forward to our annual family vacation to the beach every January ( in Australia ). We spend hours on the phone talking about summer menu ideas for the bbq, what to pack, beach toys & shelters, new bathers & strapless dresses. It is the only time of the year I get a mani & pedi.
ReplyDeleteI live for that 2 weeks by the sea. Live for it. It is now so much apart of all our lives. A gift to our kids. x
P.s I think half the fun is in the anticipation & planning. Love it.
A Beach vacation sounds great! As to moisturizer for scaly legs, it probably won't help. Rub baby oil on your legs just before you get out of the shower, then pat your legs dry with the towel. You only need a little in the palm of your hand.
ReplyDeleteIf you have itchy legs, this is also a great help.
I needed to read this. It is freezing cold and all I want to do is stuff myself full of comfort food. I feel sluggish and yucky and know that some good old fashioned discipline is all I need. I shall start my beautification today with a smoothie! Thanks for the renewed motivation!!
ReplyDeleteWoohoo! I am with you! We're hoping to visit my family this year in the Caribbean and I am totally on a beautification program, starting with applying coconut oil (yummy)on my skin every morning(7F today this morning) and getting on the bike for a half hour. I am wearing a bikini(Okay, maybe tankini)this year!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post! Beach season will be here soon...although my 7+ month pregnant body would like to think otherwise! At least I can moisturize now and feel like I'm doing something to prepare because I'm too scared to hop on the scale! :)
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree with you here! I started Jan 1 back on Sparkpeople (It's a free website with food tracking based on calories/portions/low sugar/balanced diet. You can make the site complicated, or simple. I make it simple by setting my weight goal and just use the food tracking part. LOVE it!)
ReplyDeleteLucy was born Aug 2, so last summer I was pregnant for our beach trip (so all bets were off there), but summer 2011, I had been sparkpeople-in' and felt AMAZING. I definitely had more fun that year and also "got in the picture" SO much more!
Ah, thanks for this. I've been feeling very grumpy at the little inner tube of fat around my waist and hips that has not budged even after "losing" (more or less) the baby weight. I can't really diet-diet since I'm nursing, and I know you are too, but I can sure as heck stop cramming my pie hole with sugar, and try to do something slightly more active than rushing between the car and the front door a couple times a day!
ReplyDeleteIt's so hard to feel motivated in the bitter cold, cooped up with little ones all day. And mine have been sick for three weeks, so you can imagine the amount of comfort eating that's been happening... Thanks for the thoughts of summer to cheer me up. :) I am counting down too!
Sarah - thanks for the motivation! Do you have any go-to foods that you enjoy while you are "beautifying?"
ReplyDeleteI'm trying so hard to get myself into this mental mode as well! I start off every morning so motivated and then as each hour passes I slip further and further into the abyss of weakness.
ReplyDeleteMust get onto the scale and I must keep a specific article of clothing in view in my closet, knowing that one it fits comfortably, I am there!
Love the photo inspiration! I so need a good, swift kick like that every time I need a snack!
ReplyDeleteI NEED this. I'm jumping aboard tomorrow morning bright and early!
ReplyDeleteLove it!
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