So, a couple of things I've learned during these past two weeks of H, E, double hockey sticks. One, I'm older than I've ever been before and holy bananas can I feel it. Two, I'm getting the hang of this eating less thing. And Three, sleep really does matter!
I've read so many articles about how getting enough sleep is primary to loosing weight, being healthy, all that stuff. But I thought to myself, well, I've NEVER slept a whole night thru, and I lost weight before, so I'm not counting on sleeping and suddenly waking up trim. Like just drink water and sleep and miraculously I'll be 120 pounds! Yea, not so much.
But during tech week and this first weekend of shows, I've truly been getting 4 hours of sleep a night just because I'm not getting home early enough to get any more. I've been tracking EVERYTHING I eat, been staying within my limits, drinking more than enough water (nearing a gallon a day!), and the dancing and movement during rehearsals counts as exercise in my book due to the sweating and heavy breathing. My knees are sore, I've got bruises in places I didn't even know existed, I've got some sort of odd injury on my palm of my hand from crawling on the stage so much, and I've earned each and every one of these owies, and I'm kinda proud of them!
And yet my number is stagnant. Not up (thankfully) but not down like I think it should be running towards. And I realize that sleep; restorative, restful, relaxing sleep truly is part of a healthy life. This week, my hubby and I continue our long tradition of PJs and family avoidance for Thanksgiving. We make our own turkey breast, veggies, sides, and I make healthy apple muffins. We watch football, I'll be doing crafts, and just enjoying the ONE day I won't have to go anywhere. Yes, I've got shows during the Thanksgiving holiday break. But no work the latter half of the week, so I'll get a bit of sleep on Thursday.
I'm going to continue on this more and more comfortable path of eating what I'm supposed to and not over eating. I'm going to continue drinking tons of water with my new goal of trying to reach a gallon a day. I'm going to substitute exercise at home on the evenings I'm not rehearsing to keep that physical activity momentum going. I'm going to be sensible during Thanksgiving and not stress. And I'm going to try to catch up on sleep.
I'm going to do my best to remind myself and accept WHY the scale isn't moving, and not obsess or get upset. This show will be over soon enough, and then I'm done. I'm too old and crotchety to lack this much sleep. But I'm going to keep the momentum this show has begun for me. I've got one more month to make that goal I mentioned when I joined Getting There, and I really thing I can still make at least part of it. I've learned so much, and have made such long strides. I'm not giving up now! I'm just sleepy. I'll sleep on Thursday. Happy Thanksgiving all my dear team members - I'm so thankful for all of you.