Fun Friday – From Buffet to Barbell: A Cautionary Tale

 

Are you old enough to remember the old TV show, Gilligan’s Island? The lyrics of the song went like this, “just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a faithful trip…”

This is a story about the moments when vacation ambition meets reality. My faithful trip started with good intentions. I preplanned in my head, that I would workout and make healthy eating choices.

The first day of my trip was a travel day, a twelve-hour ride in a van, with stops for gas, food, and the occasional restroom break. I packed healthy snacks to sustain me throughout the weeklong trip. I had done so much sitting that I was happy to spend time in the hotel fitness center the next morning.

I stepped onto the elliptical for a ten-minute warmup.  Panting and puffing I made it through the warmup, then walked around the room to steady my breathing. My eyes locked on the sign on the wall that read, Fitness Center Rules. Let me break down some of those rules.

Rule #1              This facility is not supervised. Use of the equipment is the responsibility of the guest.                               

The first mistake the hotel made was to assume I am responsible and to trust me to be unsupervised.

Rule #2              Guest is responsible for knowing his/her own physical limitations.

Hmm. My physical limitation is that I need to learn how to put my fork down and push away from the dinner table.

Rule #3              Please, no wet bathing suits or bare feet.

First of all, I’m not about to put on a dry bathing suit (let alone a wet one), until I can transform some of my flab to fit. And bare feet? I know better than walking around a fitness center with bare feet. I hesitate to walk bare foot around my house. I’ve stubbed my toes enough to know how to walk cautiously.

Rule #7              Use at your own risk.

This rule should have been listed first. I had already broken several rules before reading number seven. The moment I waved my room key and entered the fitness center; I was on my own.

During my weeklong vacation, I was in many buffet lines. I enjoyed sampling the flavors of the area I was visiting. I ate meals without regret because I also walked a lot while visiting museums and other attractions.

From the buffet line to use of the barbells in the fitness center, finding balance is key. I caution you…don’t stress over being perfect. Laugh a little, have fun, and keep showing up for yourself.

Share a humorous tale you have experienced.