At-Home Retreat: Will It Work?

Recently I saw an ad for a long-term weight loss retreat. It was ridiculously expensive and luxurious and not really intended for normal people.

However, it got me to thinking...

1. Wow, would I love to do a 6-month weight loss retreat (emphasis on mindfulness and wellness and healthy food and hiking in the forest).

2. Wow, would I love to do a 1-month/2-week/hell, even a one-week retreat.

This would be a great way to soothe my soul and jump-start my weight loss at the same time.

Then I started researching the weight loss retreats and I saw the price tag.

*faints*

Also, I still have a teenage daughter at home to care for, as well as a dog, husband, etc.

I can't just run away from home. *shifty eyes*

This got me to more thinking...

Why can't I do an at-home retreat? Is this a thing?

I researched this, and discovered...Yes, this is a thing.

I read a bunch of articles discussing the concept for a staycation or at-home retreat. They touched on many aspects, including diet, exercise, good mental health. Some were appealing to me, some not.

I decided to custom design my own AT-HOME RETREAT. This is essentially to jump-start my weight loss, incorporate good habits into my daily and weekly schedule, and emphasize mindfulness and wellness in my life.

Here are the things I'm including...

NINA'S 2nd RATE AT-HOME RETREAT

(TRYING TO MAKE 2nd CHOICE A WINNER!)

1. The articles suggested trying a new fitness class. I like this idea. My daily exercise is copious walks--both inside (winter) and outside as weather permits. I've gotten into a rut with this. Same thing every day. 

However, I don't belong to a gym. So I decided to stream some yoga videos to mix it up.

Maybe some other types of stretching/strengthening videos, too.

If any of you have favorites--on Youtube, or Amazon, or wherever--please leave a comment with your recommendations and links! Thank you.

2. I do the same walk every day, loops in my neighborhood. I decided that one easy change I can make is to vary my walks. Add more hills, go to new places--in my own town, and to other locations. As the weather gets better, this will be much easier. I can head off to nature preserves and do hikes in the woods.

Right now I'll do the best I can in my local area.

Flexibility for this: If the weather is bad/icy and I have to walk inside, I am going to add more stretching/strengthening exercises to my routine.

3. Diet: this is the big one. At a retreat, they offer perfectly balanced meals that taste delicious.

How I can recreate this at home when I have to cook for me, my teenage daughter, and my carnivorous husband?

I'm going to design a retreat diet for ME and implement it. This will take time, but I'll plan over the weekend and start on Monday morning. This plan will include breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, all keeping the carb count down (I'm trying to reverse my diabetes diagnosis). 

I'm going to write out my menu in fancy font, print it, tape it up in the kitchen. Hee hee!

I'm also going to try some new recipes, but not too many. I'll keep most meals simple--salads and fresh fruit. If I try too many crazy things I'm afraid I won't be able to stick to my plan.

And of course, I have to cook for my daughter and hubby at the same time, but they will have a different menu. No fancy font!

4. Another sweet suggestion in one of the articles was to host a party. It made a point of saying that adding positive social events into your life was a great step towards happiness. I agree. I LOVE this idea!

So, at some point I am going to invite some friends over for a healthy evening of good food, good wine, and a relaxing time just hanging out. Maybe we'll do a potluck where everyone brings a favorite healthy dish and recipe printed up.

5. A big part of the retreats is pampering yourself...at a spa or pool or beauty treatments. I'm not really into that stuff to be honest. However, I like the idea of making an effort to schedule some appointments for myself. 

I'm going to attempt to squeeze in a hair appointment, a nail appointment, and maybe even a pedicure. That's as far as I'm willing to go with the beauty biz, but it's a start.

6. Another big tip on all of the lists: TURN OFF YOUR SCREEN. Totally agree with this. It makes your anxiety go way down, and helps you with mindfulness. 

Since I read on my phone, I will prepare for this by getting some print books in advance for reading material. Then, I'll try to block out Internet access for at least a day (baby steps), and see how that goes.

I have a feeling this will be incredibly liberating and good for my soul!

7. If this was happening in the spring/summer instead of winter, I would also add this bit of advice: do outdoor activities! Like biking, kayaking, hiking. Unfortunately, we're in the midst of our hideous New England winter right now.

Here is my winter alternative...do INDOOR activities that are fun, entertaining, and include walking around. I'm pushing for a trip to the MFA, maybe the Gardner Museum, and a visit to the Boston Flower Show. When the kids are home from school we'll head down to Mystic, CT to tour the aquarium. If the weather is okay, we'll also add on a day in Newport, RI and hike around Sachuest Point in Middletown.

*******

That's it. I'm working on new exercises, a strict (and yummy) diet, a party, some pampering, a screen-free break, and some new activities.

Although this is not the same thing as a real retreat--where it's all about you, hee hee!--I think it has a good and practical application.

I'll be developing good habits that I can continue at HOME. 

Have any of you tried an at-home retreat? What did you do?

Let's chat!

Nina/Penny

Confessions of a Quirky Author

This is the time of year when we reflect upon the past twelve months and think...what just happened?

Did I accomplish the things I wanted to? Did I succeed, fail, let myself down, surprise myself?

Yes to all these things.

This is also the time of year when we think ahead to the next twelve months. A fresh new start! What will I accomplish? What will be my successes? What will be my failures?

Many things.

True confession time: I have had the SAME TWO THINGS ON MY LIST FOR 3 YEARS.

Didn't get them done in 2016, didn't get them done in 2017, didn't get them done in 2018.

And so, in an extremely unfortunate and discouraging turn of events, these SAME TWO THINGS are now on the list for 2019.

These 2 things:

1. Get rid of diabetes.

2. Finish BLUE.

They say that when you are truly ready for change, the change will happen. 

Re: diabetes. I started to lose weight (15 pounds), but my A1C hardly budged. I got very discouraged.

I know how to diet. I know how to exercise. I know what I need to do to make this happen. AM I READY FOR CHANGE?

Am I ready? Yes, I am.

Determined. Ready. THIS WILL NOT BE ON MY LIST FOR 2020!

In 2020, I will not have diabetes. 

Re: BLUE. After years of writing romance, I switched to a new genre and a new format. This book has changed so many times, I can barely keep up with it. But I know in my heart, this is the best thing I've ever written. Also, the most challenging and the most difficult.

The writing is always easy for me. But having so many choices about my characters, the story--and how to get there--is tough with this one. 

I need to buckle down, choose a central theme, and write. Write, write, write, and find the story in those words.

FINISH BLUE WILL NOT BE ON MY LIST FOR 2020.

By 2020, BLUE will be finished. 

Easy days: When the number on the scale is down, when the words flow.

These are the days it's easy to stick with the goals.

Hard days: When the number on the scale is up, when the book feels like a hot mess.

These are the days you have to push through to get to the other side.

One thing I know for sure about 2019...there will be easy days and hard days. 

I have to get through all of them to achieve my goals.

My goal for 2019: 

TO HAVE A BRAND NEW SET OF GOALS FOR 2020

That's my goal. To wrap up these things that are hard, challenging, life-changing.

I've pushed a little bit, they've pushed back. Forward and back.

This year I will push back all the way.

So, that's sort of a quirky goal for 2019. To have a new set of goals for 2020.

But there you go.

To everyone who is planning to push back all the way...

WE GOT THIS!

xoxoxo

Neen

Slow and Steady Wins the (Weight Loss) Race

I guess it's never too late for an old dog to learn some new tricks.

Case in point: Slow and steady wins the race.

Any other inane proverbs for this post? Let's wait and see!

Here's my story...in 2010, I had a heart attack.

Following the heart attack, I lost about 50 pounds.

How did I do this?

Fear.

I was freakin' scared out of my mind.

There is nothing quite like the fear of death to motivate you for a diet.

I worked out 2-4 hours/day. I hardly ate a thing. I was totally exhausted. I lost all of that weight very quickly.

I also spent my entire day focused on my diet and exercise.

Coz...FEAR OF DEATH! 

At some point, I realized I was not going to die if I ate a cookie.

So, I ate a cookie. Then...I ate another cookie.

I continued to walk every day, but not for four hours.

I ate more foods, even cookies.

Eventually, I gained back some weight. Not all of the weight that I'd lost, but enough to make it imperative that I get back on the right track.

I realize that my super strict I-Don't-Want-To-Die diet was not sustainable in the long run. It was way too strict and too fast. 

But I like FAST and DRAMATIC results!

Drama! Excitement! Not working!

Now, for the grown-up realization...

Sometimes FAST and DRAMATIC is not the best way of doing things.

Sometimes, making small changes and being PATIENT is the best way.

And slowly, like a frickin' turtle, you will lose weight.

I'm not a patient person. I like fast, dramatic results. So this whole new approach to diet/exercise is torture!

But I realized something this week.

It's also working.

I lost 3 pounds. It took a while. I feel better.

I still walk every day, about 30 minutes-1 hour as time permits.

I still eat a lot of greens and super foods.

I try not to eat after 8 PM, and I try to eat a small appetizer-sized dinner if possible.

As the weather gets better, I will add an extra evening walk into my daily routine.

I will see results, but not overnight. 

Did I mention I'm not a patient person? Sob.

So, yes...this is working. 

And yes...it's slow-going.

And yes...I am not patient and it's hard for me.

But hopefully, in a year, I will be in a better physical place.

I CAN DO THIS!

SLOWLY!

LIKE A FREAKIN' TURTLE!

Slow down, honey. What's the hurry?

Sigh.

Off for my morning walk!

Love,

Penny/Nina

P.S. One last proverb...

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE

*grumble*