Greetings from Arizona

Flagstaff, Arizona! So what the heck am I doing here?

My husband has needed to have back surgery for a long time...in fact, since I met him almost 25 years ago. He has kept putting it off, I think because the idea of someone cutting into his back was really scary. His brother, who has the same hereditary back issue, finally went to a neurosurgeon in Flagstaff last year, because he knows him personally but mostly because this guy walks on water, at least as far as neurosurgery goes. And Hub knows him, just a bit, through business connections. So even though we have the best medical care in the Seattle area, he wanted to have the surgery in Flagstaff. So we traveled all this way for back surgery. We flew from Seattle to Phoenix last Sunday and then drove to Flagstaff.

We are staying in a very nice hotel, in a handicapped unit. Well, right now, it's just me, because Hub had the surgery on Tuesday and is still in the hospital. But he's doing really well, and we expect he will get out tomorrow. Then we'll stick around Flagstaff until around next Tuesday, flying home then.

So, what's on my mind?

Can you guess?

Of course you can…my weight!

I've been eating crap for the past two weeks…stressed out is my excuse. Not being in my normal routine is my sub-excuse. Bottom line is I've gained I-don't-know-how-much weight. Maybe 7-8 lbs, who knows, I don't have access to a scale.

All I packed was sweats, shorts, capris, t-shirts. Well, the doc (who as I said we know somewhat aside from his doctoring) invited us to a picnic at his home on Saturday afternoon. I had nothing to wear, so I went shopping today and bought a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and a cute jacket. (I thought it was going to be hot here, but it's been rainy and cool, so I totally packed the wrong things.) Evidence of the weight gain is I'd been in a size 10 jeans all summer but had to buy a size 12.

But you know what?

I'm not freaked out about it! I know that when I get back in my routine, I will get back down to my 10's. That's real progress…the not freaking out, I mean.

Another positive thing is, rather than sitting on my backside all day, I finally worked out at the hotel gym today and felt great afterwards. Food has been pretty good today, and I think I've worked out all my junk food desires because I literally ate nothing but crap the last few days. And eating crap makes you feel like crap. Duh. Like I didn't know that. Yes, I obviously still use food for comfort and to deal with stress, but now I recognize it and accept it as part of my emotional makeup. Eating stuff that is bad for me doesn't make me a bad person.

I'm feeling a new-found desire to start blogging again on a regular basis, and I have been thinking of a new positive approach that has almost nothing to do with my weight. So I'll be keeping in touch.

Time to go visit Hub in the hospital. Take care, everyone!