Retreat Challenge

I am leaving today to go to a 3 day Lake Leaders retreat. We will be focusing on Environmental Ethics, staying in a beautiful retreat center with 25 amazing environmental heroes. I am sure the food will be wholesome but occasionally decadent. We will be outside a lot and there will be plenty of time to exercise.

Most of me is very excited. This is the first time I've been invited to join this group (after working 3 years with many of them) It is quite an honor and a treat. There will be lots of time for self-examination and contemplation... a rare exotic treat for a working mom.

Here's my only hesitation: I am not taking my measuring spoons, measuring cups, nor my food scale. I am going to have to trust my own power to portion. I have printed out hints for estimating and am giving myself "you can do it" pep talks. "Luckily" I got on the scales this morning, probably because of my weekly long bike ride yesterday, I have gained 2 pounds. I know this is a temporary gain and normally I would just not worry about it, knowing I have been right on plan lately. But having that 2 pounds push me back up above 200 lbs is a really good image to keep with me this week while I am nourishing myself without measuring or logging. Had I lost 2 pounds I may have gone in pretty cocky and got myself in all sorts of trouble!

All in all I am very lucky that the first time I trust myself to portion my food is also a retreat for self-reflection on such topics such as living in harmony with nature and just the whole concept of consumption.... hmmmm. Thinking already.

See you all on Friday!