I thought calories didn't count on vacation...

So, I've been on "Summer Break" for 6 weeks now.  I started this summer off with my cousin coming to visit me in Houston.  Of course, I had to show her all the best that Houston has to offer--BBQ from Goode and Company, Gyros from Niko Nikos, Blue Bell Ice Cream (I always keep some in my freezer), and my personal favorite: The Chocolate Bar.  I told myself--you're on vacation.  Enjoy yourself.  And so, I did.

Then, my cousin and I headed down to Corpus Christi to meet my family for some deep-sea fishing.  We went out for sea food one day, celebrated my dad's birthday with ice cream from Baskin Robins, and of course, feasted on the homemade cookies that I had brought to share with everyone on the trip.

After that, we were headed out in my car for the 1200 mile drive to Houston.  We had a blast, singing along with our tunes, sharing stories, laughing as we relived family times of the past.  And of course, when we stopped in Las Cruces for the night, we had to get some of the local New Mexican cuisine.  A dinner at La Posta Mesilla was everything we could have hoped for and more.  We stuffed ourselves with chile relleno, tamales, enchiladas, and more.  It was absolutely heavenly.

When we finally got to Arizona, where I am spending my summer, I had to hit up all my old favorite restaurants.  So, slowly, over the past several weeks, I've patroned Tia Rosa's, Costa Vida, Aloha Kitchen, Sweetcakes, Mango's, Trader Joe's and more.

This morning, when I got on the scale, I had a rude awakening.  All those calories are finally starting to catch up to me; my "muffin top" has been getting a little more "muffin-y."

HOLY SMOKES!?!

I thought you didn't have to count calories when you were on vacation!!!

How did I let this happen?

Well, it all started when I let my "vacation mode" take over reality.  You see, it's okay to indulge sometimes. On occasion, you can have that ice cream sundae, the chips and salsa, the cheese fries, the greasy burger.  It's when your "occasion" starts becoming a daily occurrence that you start to have problems.  I've also noticed that once you let yourself get into "indulgence mode," you actually stop appreciating the food that you have; you stop really tasting it and enjoying it.  You get caught up in the emotion of it and you let that take over.  You stop eating because you're hungry and you need fuel.  Instead, you eat to feel that emotion again.

I can see why people become drug addicts. There is something wonderful about letting go of yourself and letting your emotions take over--the need to "feel good" that food (or drugs) can bring.  Something so freeing about giving the control to the substance--be it heroin or ice cream, marijuana or fettuccine alfredo.

What sucks is coming back to reality--and having to face the music.  Knowing that you've just consumed WAY more calories than is necessary; having your clothes feel tighter the next morning, your arms feel more jiggly and less toned, watching the scale numbers jump up, higher and higher.

I have fallen off the BAND WAGON these past 6 weeks.  And enough is enough!  I am not on "vacation" anymore!  You can't be in "vacation" eating mode when your vacation is TWO MONTHS LONG!  It doesn't matter that I am about to head out to NYC and San Francisco, two cities with some of the most amazing food in the world.  My life is not "vacation mode." My life is MODERATION in ALL things.  Regular exercise.  Control.  I need to be in control, and not let the "feel good" emotions take over. I need to count calories, pay attention to portion sizes, and learn to say no.  I can enjoy life without eating every single bite of delicious food that I come across.

Instead of "say no to drugs," my motto for the next few weeks is going to be "say no to bread and sugar."  I'm not saying I will never eat bread or any form of sugar again.  That would be absurd.  But I am saying that I need to keep my distance, reacquaint myself with my good buddies "fruit, vegetables, and chewing gum" to stave off those hunger pangs.  After all, this is my LIFE, not just my vacation.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I just saw the BAND WAGON turning left at the corner.  I'm going to have to run to catch it, but it's about time I jumped back on...