Every November all the ladies in my family pack their boots, hats and cowgirl attitudes for our annual trip to Amarillo, TX to celebrate my grandma’s birthday. It’s a long weekend full of family time, good wine, rodeos and two steppin’. It’s a tradition chock full of traditions – like drinking wine from coffee cups, two steppin’ Saturdays at the Midnight Rodeo, matching outfits, shopping (#alltheshopping), cruisin around town in my grandma’s jag (and often stealing it for more shopping or bling excursions) and a play at the local theater that we’ve walked out of almost every single year we’ve gone.
It’s also a weekend when our routines go out the window – we practically throw them as far and fast as we can. We dig into the Dorito’s late at night, we drink more than our share of wine (and anything else we can get our hands on) and spend a lot of time laughing and hanging out in our PJs. The workouts (if you can even call them that) are often few and far between. Sometimes we run (and I use this word lightly) around the greenways near my grandparent’s house and sometimes we even do a little bootcamp, typically led by my eight year old niece. Bootcamp often includes things like: Zombie Walking, Silly Running, Lean Over to the Side, Flamingoes and even a Newspaper Toss.
And this year was no exception. The food, the wine, the queso, the shopping, and the two steppin’…I definitely came back a little squishier – full of queso and cheese and cheese and queso and of course wine.
This morning, I woke up in my own bed and while I was happy to be home, I was also sad not to hear my niece giggling with my mom in the next bedroom or to hear my grandma scooting around the kitchen (beep, beep, beep) or Alyse and her mom whispering about their upcoming find the coffee missions. It was just the slight whir of the waking city and my husband’s heavy sleep breathing.
I was getting out of bed, practically tripping over my bulging suitcase (seriously, we do all the shopping) trying to locate some workout clothes for my 6:15 am bootcamp. Not even home for 12 hours and already my routine was back in full force. Wake up. Brush teeth. Find workout clothes. Dress in workout clothes. Run out the door and start my workout. Finish workout. Get home. Make and drink smoothie. Check Twitter. Check email. Shower. Check Email. Check Twitter and email again. Dress. Go to work. Check email. Blog…and you get the picture. Soon, I’ll be eating lunch. Probably a green salad with sweet potatoes (hello, routine!) and then dinner – something light and fresh.
And while I I know that I will have to work my way back into my routine this week and that my workouts will feel a little harder (and my pants are definitely a little tighter), I don’t for one second regret any of it (not even the queso).
I feel like I spend so much time focused on the routine – as a runner and someone who works in fitness – I’m always planning life around a workout, a race, a run. As a fitness blogger (and giant part of a fitness community and brand), I almost feel like I’m expected to be on my game 100% of the time. I never slack on workouts or binge on late night Dorito’s. Or drink a beer that is bigger than my head. I would never lose track of the amount of wine I had. Or even the number of cookies. No, not me. I would never NOT get up and run. I would never choose breakfast and extra sleep over a workout. No, not me, never.
‘Actually, I would. And I’m telling you (my readers and SweatPink community and friends) that I do. I was in Amarillo Friday-Tuesday and did all of the above more than once. I enjoyed my time, my family and of course my queso and will always cherish the memories of these trips. The pants will loosen up. The miles will be run. And the workouts completed.
So no matter if it’s a trip that throws you off track, a long work week or just a rough week, don’t forget to start over again. Excuse yourself for the past and move forward.
Now, who’s with me for the Holiday Sweat Challenge? 😉 I know I’ll be needing it.
Stay Sweaty friends,
XOXO
Jamie
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