Getting Bikini Read

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originally uploaded by Wisse

I've decided to use some of my savings this year to take a vacation. A REAL vacation. Far away. I grew up camping in the New England area. I flew on a plane for the first time last April when I went to Missouri. This year I'm determined to get out of the country, and what better place than a tropical destination?? I'm thinking the Dominican Republic. It's affordable and beautiful. One of those all-inclusive deals. If you have any experience with this type of vaca, suggestions are welcome! I'm thinking probably May. I can't wait!!!!! I'm going with my cousin Lauren and possibly the Dianas (sister and friend) and who knows if anyone else will jump on the bandwagon, but it's girls only!! As Lauren put it, palm trees, blue cocktails and cabana boys... woohoo!!

This of course means that I'll be embarking on my annual quest to get that totally hot body that I've always wanted. You know, every January those thoughts of "this year I'm going to get into the best shape ever!" enter my brain and usually are long gone by February 1st. Maybe, just maybe this will be the year. I was thinking about this on the train this morning, I'm kinda tired of telling myself the same thing every year and then not following through...

I love muscles. I started working out senior year of high school. I've had a membership to at least 7 different gyms. SEVEN. I've been working as a fitness instructor for the past 3 and a half years. I'm considering finally getting my personal trainer certification, just in case I need a backup plan this year. But that's beside the point. Muscles. When I started lifting weights regularly and felt the difference in my muscles it was awesome. I feel my biceps more than Arnold probably ever did. Well maybe not, but I love them that much. By 2007 I was looking awesome. I was at a weight I felt great about. Unfortunately I was getting sicker by the day, which was why I had lost so much weight, and I know I was losing my muscle mass as well. Then comes 2008 when I get put on steroids and pack on a quick 20 or 25 pounds... awesome. Well I'm at the point where the workouts are feeling really good and I'm starting to feel those muscles building back up. I just have to stop eating so much that there's a thick layer of fat covering up those beauties! I also need to eat the right foods that will feul these workouts and keep my body running clean. How many times have I said this before?? Too many to count. But now that my health is getting under control, I feel that I'm in a better place than ever before to actually achieve my goals. One of the ladies I work with has lost a lot of weight and every Wednesday when I see her it inspires me to get to work on myself. I know exactly what I need to do, I just have to do it...
I think that exact sentence is in a recent post... oh boy.

Comments

Allie said…
punta cana is supposedly where it's at!

i know 4 different groups of people that have gone there in the past year and they all got a great rate.

I emailed one to find out where she got her deal, I'll let you know!
Jen said…
Thanks Allie! We were definitely looking at Punta Cana. I'd love to hear about her deal?
Allie said…
hey -- she just told me she did it through a travel agent who was a family friend -- but you can check out deals through trip advisor here:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/SmartDeals-g147293-Punta_Cana_Dominican_Republic-Hotel-Deals.html
sallybranwyn said…
Do "all-inclusives" include food? I always assumed they did and that it wouldn't be ideal for people like us.

I've considered cruises, but had that same food issue. Anyone have any experience with either?
Jen said…
The all-inclusives do include food and this is definitely something that's been in the front of my mind about this trip. I'd be curious to hear from others about it. I've heard cruiselines are great about gf meals but not so sure about foreign hotels.
Tim said…
Exactly three weeks from right now my feet will be in the sand on a beach in Punta Cana.
Mike said…
We went to Cancun for our honeymoon and the resort we stayed at had three main food options: buffet, room service, and fancy restaurants. I wasn't off gluten at the time so I'm not sure how that would have gone, but at least with a buffet you can pick and choose your own food, though the downside of that is that it's pre-prepared. In general these places will bend over backwards for you though and I'd think that as long as they know what to do -- and they should, given the number of people that go through these things -- you should be fine. But it's definitely something to check on.

One tip: on the first day, when you feel like you've got all the time in the world there, they sit you down and try to sell you excursions. This gets you out of the hotel so they don't have to feed you for the day. They can be fun, but the time goes by faster than you think, so remember to budget time to just lay around; it's the best thing to do at a place like that. Also, make sure to hit the spa. Bah, now I'm jealous.
Lauren said…
Booking that trip sounds like the best motivation ever =D! I'm trying to get back into shape too, and it sounds like you've got all the motivation you need, and your love for muscles can't hurt =D!
Jen said…
I'm definitely going to contact the hotel before the trip to see what I can do.

As far as excursions, all I want to do when I get there is lather up in sun block and lay out on the beach. I lovvvvvvvvvve the beach. I better buy a tanning package to get a good base before I go...

Thanks everyone for the tips and help!!
Lynn Barry said…
Good for you! I spent an afternoon in Porta Plata when our cruise ship docked there so we could snorkel. The only thing we did was get off the ship, take a bus to the beach where we snorkeled and there were many children trying to help us carry our gear. In other words, they were begging for money. The snorkeling was great.
Good luck planning your trip. HUGS
Lisa said…
Jenny,

You are making me jealous! We went to Jamaica on our honeymoon. Stayed at a Sandals Resort. All inclusive definitely included some of the best food I've ever eaten. Of course, I wasn't GF then! However, I do remember that there was lots of fruit..some familiar and some I'd never had before. Mangoes, Papayas, Pinapples, Bananas...tasted great and very figure friendly! Of course, I also remember the dessert tables and the endless tropical drinks by the pool. Mmmmmmmmm.....

Lisa
Liz said…
This is super helpful for me to read, the A-man and I haven't figured out a honeymoon destination yet.

Our "get in the best shape" goals are around the same time. I'll keep track of you if you keep track of me :)
Jennifer said…
doooo itttttt

that vacation sounds AWESOME

You know, once you get into working out, you wonder why it took you so long to get started in the first place!

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