Oh, the brain work I’ve been doing! Not that everything on my mind will be solved in short order, but being conscious of my body and my mental thoughts helps a lot.

I’m not sure if everyone’s brain works this way, but I tend to forget easily. I find myself not liking what my body is doing RIGHT NOW and forget how far I’ve come. This morning was a reminder; we’re currently camping, and I showered at the camp bathhouse. I used the handicap stall because, in the past, I’ve needed to sit down. Standing and walking, especially on hard surfaces, is painful. I didn’t need that, today — I had no need to sit. And that’s a very good thing.

We’re doing a lot of camping this summer, and every time out is just a tad easier. Even though I haven’t lost weight, things are changing for me, and I find I’m in more control of my world. I’m also changing how I’m eating when we’re on the road, because every camping trip meant an uncomfortable weight gain, usually from water weight. I am a salt *fiend* and it’s meant giving up my salty snacks, but water retention means I’m miserable, and who wants to spend vacation time that way? Not me.

I’m also more comfortable. I’m sitting outside right now, in front of a fan; it’s currently 88 degrees with a heat index of 98, but I’m dry and comfortable. Taking off a great deal of weight has helped my body temperature in extreme temperature ranges. Being outside and enjoying the view is far better than sitting inside in the air conditioning; I’m a child of the outdoors, and (almost) always prefer outside to in. (I detest cold and won’t stay outside in the cold, if I can help it.)

From the banks of the Arkansas River — to you!

We used to tent camp, but bought a (gently) used pop-up camper about four months ago. Just getting into it would have been nearly impossible for me, before; if you haven’t been in one, they’re pretty tight on space. I can get around fine in ours, but at 371 pounds, that wouldn’t have happened, especially getting my posterior up onto an elevated bed, or on the bench seats in the dinette, or just fitting through the narrow galley.

It actually amuses me when my friends turn their noses up at camping; I honestly enjoy it, even if it can be a hassle at times. I’m not capable of doing everything in a campsite, just yet; not this year, but maybe by next year, I’ll be able to do just about everything. (I’m sure my husband will be amused to read this.) And by that, I mean actually towing the camper, leveling it, erecting it, pulling out the beds, raising the door — I help at those things, but I’m not to a point where I can do everything, yet.

I need to keep testing myself, pushing myself, challenging myself — it’s the only way my brain will accept my body at its current size and condition, so I’m able to move on and achieve even greater things.