Living Outside The Bubble

As many of you know, I spent 28 life changing days at Hilton Head Health Institute. Even though you are permitted to leave anytime you'd like, you spend most of your time at the facility. I rode my bike up to the main building from my condo and spent the day there. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and a full slate of fitness options all day long. Even on days when you might not be at the top of your game and decide to take it easy, you find it pleasing just to stay at the main building maybe just laying by the pool or in it. Like monkeys in a cage, your internal clock just knew when it was almost 3:30. Feeding time at the zoo. More appropriately, metabo time. If you were by the pool, you started looking for Adam or one of the other crew from the dining room to bring out the tub of snacks. Having that set plan of food and exercise in a place free of readily accessible stockpiles of chips, wings and drive thru windows is a good place to be. Unfortunately, we have to leave the bubble eventually.

I felt good about coming home after my 3rd week but was thankful to have a 4th week there.

My first time alone in the real world was at the Hampton Inn by the Savannah Airport since I had a very early flight on Sunday morning. Upon entry to the hotel, a tray of warm cookies greeted me. Then, needing some water, I ventured to the 'Suite Shop' to browse. There, I was confronted by frozen dinners (a.k.a. empty calorie food), ice cream and energy drinks. I decided to head upstairs. In my room, to thank me for being such a loyal Hilton Guy, I received a calories free thank you card along with a bag a Doritos. Nice. I felt like a WWII Bomber flying through flak and shrapnel. Fortunately, I planned for the high risk situation by bringing a couple of extra metabo meals as snacks. Staring down the Doritos, I ate my apple and cottage cheese.

Now that I am home, I have found it to be A-U-T-O-M-A-T-I-C. "Breakfast Whack" every morning. Jess named it, not me. What is it?

• 1/2 cup of Fiber One Honey Crunch


• 1/2 cup of 1% cottage cheese


• 1/3-1/2 cup of plain, nonfat yogurt (premixed by YOU with splenda and vanilla extract)


• top with cut up strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and/or raspberries

Jess called it Breakfast Whack because the first time I told her of my new obsession, she said it sounded "WHACK" but now she is a believer too!

I have my metabos and a good lunch. Dinner selections have been from the Hilton Head Health cookbook and their blog which is called H3 Daily. GO THERE!

Next week, I travel for the first time. I have no fear. Traveling smarts were just one more lecture given by the amazing Bob Wright (picture with The Orracle below). It will be just like being at home. Planned out, researched and disciplined!

I do have a long road to go but never have I felt this confident in my abilities. This is not a diet. This is a lifestyle....and one I can live with.