Today Max had a Star Assembly where he got an award. This afternoon, he’s got a Poetry Café event. Going to school twice in one day wasn’t what the Hub and I wanted to do, but it means so much to Max, we don’t think twice.

The Hub traveled for a long time, so he missed many of Max’s events. Even though Max never vocalized disappointment, I know he felt it. Now when Papa shows up, I can see him beaming with pride.

It got me thinking about how the littlest things affect our kids. Like when we moved several times in a year. Max was a mess. He reverted, and it was hard to help him feel stable once we moved here. Throwing him in a French immersion program didn’t help with that. Now he’s well-adjusted and doing fine.

We have to think about how our actions as adults affect our kids. The ripple effect can sometimes go months or years beyond its source.

Photo credit: kgreggain

After years of trying to fit my square peg of diet and exercise capabilities into the round hole of various programs, I’ve come to a realization:

Knowing what I will and won’t do in terms of diet and exercise is directly related to my chances of success.

What I mean is this: we’ve all tried diets and failed at them. Some work for us, while others don’t. We’ve all tried different types of exercise, only to abandon them after a few weeks.

Diet and exercise are not a one-size-fits-all scenario.

Here’s what I’ve come to realize about myself.

1. Food is important to me. I’d rather step up my exercise than give up carbs long term.

2. I don’t like to sweat. But I’m getting over it.

3. I hate running.

4. I don’t like ball sports.

5. I love yoga. Too bad it doesn’t help me lose weight.

6. The no sugar no carbs thing doesn’t work for me. Mentally, anyway.

7. I’d rather work out at home than go to the gym.

8. I like the game component of exercising with my Wii.

9. I have to be willing to not let my diet rule my life completely and forgive myself when I get off track. (Like I did with that pizza last night).

10. I have to find a diet and exercise plan that I can maintain long term.

To that effect, I’m one week in to the Carb Lovers diet. I’m also stepping up my exercise and taking African Mango Extract supplements. I lost 3 pounds this week (but I’m still higher than I was pre-holidays )

I was too busy relaxing and doing nothing during our vacation to San Fran that I didn’t blog. It was your typical amazing live-in-the-city experience. Had a great apartment we scored on AirBandB. Ate wonderful food. Love that you can get any type delivered. Something sorely lacking where I live.

I’ll let the photos tell the story.