It has been 4 months since I went on the vacation that started it all. 2 months since I started blogging. Perhaps it IS time to share my story! If anyone wishes to read it...
In March 09, I drove from Dallas to California for an ACIM seminar. Taught by Ken Wapnick. Went to the ocean - typical California tourist stuff. Walking on the beach in Oceanside. Walking around every little town from Temecula to La Jolla!
All my life, I have never "gone on vacation!" I've gone places, but the Army doesn't count as vacation! I never weighed, but I was probably 205 pounds, or more. Some have estimated / calculated 225 or 230! I wore a size 24 and I'm 5'2". Do the math.
That spring, there was a late snow storm. Do you remember? As I neared the Grand Canyon (on the way home) it started to snow. 7,000 feet up and snow. "How pretty!" I thought, until the 70 mph winds started!
I finally got to a little fishing lodge in Marble City AZ. That's a link to the Cliff Dweller's Lodge. RV's were toppled over, fishing boats were capsized. People were stranded everywhere! The roads were closed, the power was out. Wifi and cell phones didn't work. No way to pump gas, or even buy anything unless you had cash. No cooking, either, because they couldn't run the vents in the kitchen. So I had hot tea, hard boiled eggs, beef jerky, and pistachios. And protein mix.
The next few days brought power back intermittently. There was an old propane wall furnace in the lodge. So it was cozy. During the day, I hiked through the Grand Canyon. Once for 3 hours. Hours, not miles!
When I finally could send a text out, my nurse friend wrote back that I had just gone through Atkins induction phase. The hardest part was over - why not go for it? And don't look back!
The stars at night were so close, it seems you could reach out and touch them. And so bright!
A few days later, I detoured through Sedona, AZ, hiking and bragging to some friends about "surviving" a massive snow storm. Did I mention hiking? Not quite up to Cathedral Rock...maybe next time!
Headed home, I got stuck again in Santa Fe, NM! Pretty good places to get stuck! There was electricity there, but the interstates were closed. I sludged through the narrow streets - another 2 days of mega hiking! I opted out of "tourist" food and stuck with the hard boiled eggs, hamburger patties, salads, and Atkins protein shakes. And Georgia O'Keeffe for days!
Finally, the storms were over and I headed for home. But NO! Route 66 was still closed. So I drove through Roswell, NM. (But no aliens!) And then to Carlsbad Caverns. And got my butt whipped by hiking there as well! Atkins protein shakes all the way.
When I got home, people thought I had gone for liposuction or a lap-band! "Right..." they said. "You go on *vacation* and come back sun-tanned and 15 pounds lighter! Uh-huh...sure!" ;)
"Stranded," I told them, "But not banded!"
"Stranded," I told them, "But not banded!"
I was stuck and incommunicado for 5 days. What can you do when you can't do anything? The trip was an apt metaphor for my life. Stuck, bewildered, not in good shape, not knowing where, or how to start. Driving through the desert alone, just an ipod loaded with all kinds of music - Sara McLachlan, Loreena McKennitt, Jeff Johnson. It was a healing experience.
Next time I go, I want to go camping, maybe ride the mules, with no worries about weight restrictions! Maybe even rent a dog. Do they have a Rent-A-Dog? Well, they should!
And that's how I started Atkins! On a trip. Hence the name Carb Tripper. Plus I like The Beatles, and it's like Day Tripper.
Thanks for reading. Hope it wasn't too long or boring. :D
Luv Ya!
Luv Ya!
