Recap of an indulgent weekend
Guest Posting
I’m guest posting at Dr. Mommy Health Tips! Check it out to learn more about almost-vegetarianism (as opposed to flexitarianism). Speaking of guest posts, I’ll be going away next weekend to Ontario and later on in the summer I’ll be going away for another short trip, so if anyone is interested in writing a guest post here at Living Healthy in the Real World (or even for Living Rhetorically in the Real World!), do let me know. I’d love to have you!
Camping, great music, partying, socializing…
This past weekend I spent four days camping at Birds Hill Park with thousands of other people at Folk Fest. It was fantastic. The music was out of this world- between Elvis Costello, Neko Case, Josh Ritter, Hey Rosetta!, Iron and Wine, Mirah, Steven Page, Xavier Rudd, Serena Ryder, Martha Wainwright, and Patrick Watson among many many others, it would be pretty hard to beat. The performances were amazing.
Camping was a whole other experience in itself. Although I used to go camping every year, it’s been quite a while since I last went camping and I’ve never been out there with such an enormous group of people. It was so healthy for the soul to meet new people and run into old friends. A big bundle of fun!
While my mind was boosting it’s health with enormous strides, my body perhaps didn’t receive quite the same treatment. I tried to prepare beforehand, and I think that I definitely managed to lessen the damage by stocking up on healthier foods. I made a gigantic batch each of crackers, hummus, and energy bars. The people I was camping with- my sister and our friend- and I also brought along bread, nut butter, jam, plenty of fruits and veggies, chocolate covered raisins, chips, and Kraft Dinner. I got a can of Annie’s pasta in tomato and cheese sauce (I don’t recommend it. Far too salty; I didn’t even finish it) as well as Guiltless Gourmet blue corn tortilla chips (delicious!) in a weak attempt to maintain some good nutrition.
There was plenty of food available to buy at Folk Fest, too, including some food stalls catered by local/organic/vegan restaurants. I indulged in those vendors a couple times but also enjoyed plenty of kettle corn. Considering that I had Kraft Dinner one night and some fried tofu another, I was surprised that I felt fine all weekend except for Saturday night when my tummy was sore (although that might have been alcohol consumption rather than food). “Exercise” consisted of hauling beer, walking from the campground to the festival grounds multiple times a day, and dancing at the shows.
It was really good to get away from a mirror for a few days. It really does wonders for the body image when you don’t look in the mirror and see what you perceive to be flaws, but which no one else even notices or cares about. I also made the decision to leave my pedometer behind at home and to not track anything. Normally I track how much money I spend each day, how many steps/miles I walk each day, and what/how much I eat each day. But I took four days off from doing that. I walked and danced and ate and spent money when I wanted to and stopped when it became too much. It was indulgent, but I was also more intuitive about it than usual.
I’m back to wearing my pedometer and tracking everything again now that I’ve returned home. The main reason for that is because I honestly enjoy writing lists and keeping track of it all. But I enjoyed the experiment of not doing it, too. I enjoyed just completely letting loose and having fun and drinking as much sangria from a watermelon bowl as I felt inclined to. Taking a break from the norm, from the usual restrictions- yes, even to eat Kraft Dinner– put it all back into perspective for me. Focusing on improving our health is incredibly important. Knowing the reasons for why we’re doing it, and having fun with it, and making sure that it remains a part of our lifestyle rather than getting in the way of living, is equally as important!
Last chance to enter my giveaway!
three cheers for a relaxing and stress free weekend!!
for some reason my heart sank in a way when you said you got home and returned to the ped.etc. but then, after you professed your list love, I got it.
I think that is reason #218382 why it was entirely easy for me to give up the scale etc—IM NOT A NUMBERS OR STATISTICS WOMAN
I see the word 😉 pedometer and think ‘punishment’ but for you it seems to be simply interesting information!
off to check out your dr mommy post (love that name :))
Good post : )
Sounds like a lot of fun! I think it’s really good, both for body and soul, to take a break and let loose from time to time. Dancing and walking around festivals is actually a lot of exercise, and yummy on the sangria and fried tofu.
It sounds like you have a very “freeing” weekend! Like you, I love to make lists and track things, too. But there is definitely something to be said for getting away from it now and then. A vacation for your brain. 🙂
I love Iron & Wine! It sounds like such an amazing experience. Glad you had a wonderful and memorable time!
Glad to hear you had a good weekend! Sounds like it was a blast.
I was also glad to read this part of your post:
“- put it all back into perspective for me. Focusing on improving our health is incredibly important. Knowing the reasons for why we’re doing it, and having fun with it, and making sure that it remains a part of our lifestyle rather than getting in the way of living, is equally as important!”
Sometimes, when reading some blog posts (not necessarily yours – I’m speaking generally now) I wonder about all the tracking and obsessing that some bloggers seem to do. I realize that for many of them, the health blog is only PART of their lives, but reading day in and day out about how they deny themselves all kinds of things and restrict their diets to such an extent, blah, blah, blah, I wonder “when do they do any living?”
Glad to see you seem to have it all in perspective!
MizFit- exactly. It’s pure fun to me! (I’m a little strange ;))
Dorie & Holly- thanks, it was a good time!
Julie- it was really excellent.
Bag Lady- I agree. Sometimes it gets out of hand. And that’s not good at all.
It sounds like a lovely weekend! I think the list-keeping tendencies actually enhance those vacations from lists. We appreciate them more!
Love the GG tortilla chips with salsa!
sounds like a fabulous weekend!!!
“Focusing on improving our health is incredibly important. Knowing the reasons for why we’re doing it, and having fun with it, and making sure that it remains a part of our lifestyle rather than getting in the way of living, is equally as important!”
Here, here! Well said.
Leigh Ann Otte
Managing Editor
My Family Doctor magazine
Make that “hear, hear.” Heh.
Yay for a fun weekend! 😀 Being healthy should indeed be fun since it is a lifelong commitment.
I used to wear my pedometer all the time before and don’t remember why I stopped. Now I only use it as a timer when running.
Living the good life…sounds like you had an awesome time! 🙂
Sounds like a fun weekend, glad you let your hair down 🙂 I always say a “bad” meal won’t break your diet or your health. And will a “good” meal won’t make your diet or you healthy. However, whichever one of those you do month after month, year after year in a higher percentage will show measurable effects one way or the other…
Your weekend was just another form of living healthy in the real world 🙂 Nourishing friends and activities “feed” you just as much as vegetables at times. All is good!
Sounds like a great time! I am really yearning to get out of the city for a day or two…
Did you inherit your list-making tendancies from your mother? Word on the street is that she makes lists of her lists!
I couldn’t agree more with the letting lose from time to time. Sometimes too many restrictions get me down. I’m a list person too though and I do enjoy keeping track of things. But just like you, I like NOT keeping track of them sometimes too. 🙂
Sounds like an awesome weekend!
Cammy- so true about the lists 😀
ttfn300, RickiRae & Spring Girl- it was indeed!
Leigh Ann & Mia- we’re all about the fun.
Jolene- I like that! I suppose you’re right… the fun of it all is LIVING. AND healthy!
Hanlie & Lori- taking a break is a good thing.
Anony-mum- I take it one step further and make lists of my lists of my lists 😉
I love camping, camp fires, fire (pyro from birth). Glad you have such a good time. Camping is the one time i feel completely confident in who i am. Never thought of the mirror thing, but that would totally be part of it. I just love the fresh air, and honestly the smell of a good camp fire.
Man…I mean WO Man =) You inspired me once again. When i get back. I going to go camping. It will be the first time with the fam. I went every chance i could in college. Just won a free ten at a work party. With my old one and the new one we have no excuses =) Time to go party outdoors. Thanks for sharing as always.
ah, that was you shakin’ it all over in the corner of the field…
or maybe that was you dressed as a fairy and lying under the skies – thinking!!!
I kept my eyes open for you at the fest!!
I also thought it was awesome
except that you would not have caught me in a tent. not even if I was young!!!