Hey I'm back from sunny Florida!  What a great week!  Just a few pics above from  beautiful Fort DeSoto Park.  It truly is one of my favorite spots.  My "happy place" if you will.  We are fortunate enough to have family that owns a condo down there and they graciously allow us to stay there.  It is so nice for my husband and I to have a week away to relax and regroup after the long winter.

This time it was especially important for a couple of reasons.  One was just the long winter and we are experiencing a super crappy spring in the northeast on top of it.  Two was because we had gone through a small stressful rough patch due to my husband losing his job in February.  Turns out it was truly a blessing.  The stress of the job and the time it required to do the job just wasn't worth it.  As we get older we realized that time is so important.  Time for your family, time to do what you love, and just plain time to take care of you!!  He has a new job that is closer to home and will allow him to have the time to do the things he truly enjoys.  No more 7 days a week!!

One other great benefit of heading to the Sunshine State at this time of year is the ability to be outside and move!!  Just move your body in the warmth where it feels good.  We made it a point to move our bodies everyday.  We went for walks on the beach, bike riding, kayaking, heck we even found the local Planet Fitness and worked out at the gym one day because it was a little rainy.  My husband is a runner too...not my thing so he went on  few runs while I journaled and enjoyed my morning coffee:)  My husband and I are both on a weight loss journey right now and although we were on vacation, we tried to still eat well and exercise.  We didn't want to set ourselves back by indulging too much or sitting too much.  We wanted a balance of relaxation and self care.  Balance really is what it is all about.  Not too say we didn't have ice cream or eat out a few times.  Can't be perfect all the time!

My weight is a real source of discomfort for me right now.  Took allot just for me to post that picture in my bathing suit because I think my arm looks fat.  No really, I was going to edit the picture so that it looked slimmer but then I thought what the heck am I doing??  The whole point of this is to be who I am.  Share who I really am.  Hopefully encourage other women to be their beautiful selves.  So there it is up there...me in my bathing suit modeling my favorite hat (a mothers day gift from my daughter). 

Truth is I have put on what I would consider quite a bit of weight in the last 3 years. Since my breast cancer diagnosis.  I am currently on Tamoxifen and they say I will  be for 10 years.  I have read conflicting reports that it can cause weight gain.  Some say yes and some say no.  All I know is that I have gained since I have been on it.  I have had a few of the other side effects like hot flashes and leg cramps but I am managing those symptoms like a champ.  Weight loss is a bit harder for me. I do not feel comfortable in my own skin right now.  I am determined to change that.  I am going back to my workout routine in the morning.  I hate to work out after work so I go at 4:30...yes 4:30 am.  Not easy but I do feel great when I am done.  Ready to start the day.  My husband and I have also adapted our diet to be full of more fruits and vegies with lean protein.  I don't really believe in a strict diet plan.  Just healthy eating and portion control.  Thinking I might give up all sugar for 30 days.  I have the biggest sweet tooth!  It will not be easy!!  I also discovered that I will have to give up wine... I never realized how much sugar is in it!  We took a tour of a great winery while we were down there (you can see more about that on my Instagram @classicallytrainedheart) and learned allot about the process. Maybe I need to dangle a carrot in front of me to do it.  Like a bottle of wine from that winery!!

I am off to prep my food for the week and get ready to head back to work.  Feeling rested and ready to tackle real life again!  I have a super busy week coming up including my 3 year cancer free anniversary!  Feeling another post coming on after that;)

From My Heart,

Andrea