Could Have Been So Much Worse

Dearest Rachel –

You might have noticed that I’ve said very little about my weight or exercise regimen over the past couple of weeks, but you probably haven’t been wondering much about its absence. After all, Daniel and I have been cruising, and you know what it’s like. You were with me on enough of them, so you understand completely as to why this discipline might go by the boards. Not that you would even think about the idea of disciplined eating; I never engaged in this throughout our marriage, and you certainly never needed to for your own sake, so why would it cross your mind?

Be that as it may, it’s to be expected that people eat and drink more when they’re on vacation. It’s all part of the process; it’s offered, it’s been paid for, so why not get your money’s worth? Plus, just as you’re on this trip to unwind and relax, free of the cares of life back at home, in theory, one of those cares includes the concern about overindulgence. Kick back and enjoy the cuisine! It’s prepared especially for you, they tell you!

Granted, as a sop to those who simply can’t let themselves relax when it comes to that – or who feel the need to endure penance for the excessive indulgence – there is a fitness center, along with a walking path around the perimeter of every ship. But for the most part, it’s hard to put myself through those paces. If nothing else, I’d covered more than the usual amount of steps on the days we’re in port, and on the days at sea, there’s the desire to rest up from those port days (although in fairness, I’m at least eschewing the elevators for the stairs). That, and the fact that I’m trying to spend time with Daniel, and he has no desire (and, like you and then some, given his height, no need) to work out and work off those pounds. Indeed, he could probably stand to have a few extra added to his lanky frame, but I can’t be the one leading by example in this area.

Basically, you know that old saw about travel being ‘broadening’ ? Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about here. And of course, that’s exactly what I don’t need.

And yet, it’s to be expected. There’s no way to count calories while on vacation – and really, if you do, are you really on vacation? Your mind isn’t relaxing the way it should be if you’re consumed by all that you’re consuming. Best to just enjoy what’s before you while it’s there, and let it sort itself out later on when you get home.

That was the attitude I was going with yesterday morning as I got onto the scale. To be honest, I knew that I was going to have regressed over the two-twenty line after more than two weeks of rich, all-you-can-eat cruise ship fare. In fact, I was expecting to be pushing something much nearer to two-thirty, if not going right over it again. At least, I thought to myself, I’ll still be under my license weight.

And indeed I was. But more than that, I was well under the two-thirty line. In fact, I was just a bit over two-twenty, after all this time. You can guess how relieved I was to see this; things could have been so much worse than this.

Now, the following morning (on Wednesday), I was up another pound, but that was basically the usual fluctuation of life; after all, I hadn’t bothered to hit the gym on Tuesday, as I had an inordinate (for me these days) amount of ‘work’ to catch up on. I not only erased this increase with my gym workout, but I actually got myself back under the two-twenty line. Only by a half-pound, to be sure, but it was enough to say I’d done it.

Granted, I’m a considerable distance from where I had been when we left – especially now that I seem to have hit a brick wall somewhere between two-ten and two-oh-five, where my weight seems utterly intractable – but I think this can be brought back to that level before November, when we leave on another trip, and I screw it up all over again.

Until then, keep an eye on me, honey, and wish me luck; I’m going to need it.