1. I listened to my belly not my mouth. Sometimes my mouth feels like it wants to eat more food, but if I listen to my belly, I'm full a lot faster than I would think. So, I eat whatever I want, I just listen to my belly to tell me when I'm full.
2. Even if I don't get the chance to exercise, I try to stay active. When you are up and around doing things it might not register as exercise, but you still burn calories, and you also won't be as tempted to reach for that snack or that extra meal. : )
3. Read or find a hobby to occupy your time. I read in a study that even reading a book burns more calories than watching TV, it doesn't burn as much as gardening or mowing the lawn, but it's something. The more active your hobby is the faster you burn calories and the easier it is to pass the time.
4. Hang out with friends, even if you hang out with family, that counts. It's the support you get from the people who are close to you that will give you strength to do well in this process. I've noticed that even though I'm not "exercising" like I used to back home, I get more support and see the same type of results. It's nice to be around people you like and who care about you!
OK, now on to the really fun stuff about my trip so far : ) I've already gotten to see some of our cousins, my in-laws, and of course my parents and little sister. It's been really good to have someone to chit chat with even though I still do the same stuff that I would have done at home. Actually, that's not true, I think I spend less money when I'm here with my family : ) I'm not as tempted to run to the store for something. : ) And it's a whole new place to get to talk about Jamie. Most of the people here know him, but they don't know how he's been doing. It's fun to talk to people who really enjoy hearing his progress because they've been there and the know Jamie. They love to hear the little side comments that he makes in his letters and the different things he tells me.
Lat night I got to spend some time with one of our cousins and her family. Her son absolutely LOVES Jamie and thereby he loves me because I'm Jamie's wife. : ) He's so funny, but I love the look that he gets on his face when he does something and I tell him that Jamie loves this or Jamie does that. He absolutely loves to be related to Jamie and it's super sweet to see that he is looked up to. What more can a woman want from the man that'll be the father of her children and be the head of her home : ) It was a super fun and good night last night.
