by lan » October 9th, 2005, 5:58 am
Hi, Everyone!
Best wishes to all as we become more healthy!
I have been in Italy for almost two weeks visiting family. I prepared them ahead of time that there were certain things I could not eat. I described our "lean and green" telling them that I was focusing on lean meats and vegetables. In the beautifully prepared meals, I avoided the pasta (I did not even taste it) and skipped courses that had anything that was not in my best interests. When they told me they were worried about me having enough to eat, I assured them that I did and that I was mainly there to enjoy their company; that was the important thing to me.
I have to say, I did not get that many Medifast meals in, but I really watched my food consumption.
The thing that really helped me is that they live a very active lifestyle. All of those long walks up and down the hills (more like mountains) really helped me and taught me something about my physical capacity. I received far more exercise that I have been accustomed to. Now I know how much I need to pick up my everyday exercise! All of that exercise prepared me for what was to follow.
My daughter and I visited the Amalfi Coast and the Isle of Capri before we returned home. In Capri, I was able to conquor the Arch Naturalle; this is a long walk up and down steps and long inclines/declines that goes from high on the hills to just overlooking the seaside and then climbs back up to an even higher mountain as you come up from the sea. My daughter was with me, and we went at a slow and easy pace. It took us almost 5 hours to complete the trip, but I was able to do this. I feel, for me, it was really an accomplishment. On the way up during the last part of the journey are stone stairs looking to me like they must be the stairway to Heaven! There were switchbacks with landings winding and turning--beginning to just above sea level to high, high on the hill. I stopped counting at 500 stairs! Once we were well into the journey, there was no turning around; nowhere to go but to keep on going! The treck was beautiful out in nature, surrounded by the mountains and the turquoise Mediterranian Sea.
Well, on to the good news--I lost over 2 pounds. Today I am at 208. That puts me into the 50 Pound club.
Good luck to everyone! This is something we can do, thanks to Medifast!
Lan
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined. - Henry David Thoreau