My Healthy Journey for Better Living

I went away for an awesome vacation with just my sons and me. Our first stop was to my mom who lives 2 hours south of us. We had a great time hanging out with her and her S/O. We stayed with her from June 29, to July 1. I ate relatively healthy, as we ate homemade meals prepared by my mom. Her S/O did spring for some ice cream, and since that was free and my weak area, I took him up on it. We did a lot of walking around and most everything was on a hill.

We then left there, and drove another 7 and 1/2 hours south to Pigeon Forge, TN, were my brother and his family, my sister and her family, my dad, and my sister-in-laws parents were awaiting our arrival at this AWESOME cabin my brother rented for us all. This thing was HUGE! 5 floors, 6 balconies, 6 bedrooms, a movie theater, an indoor pool, hot tub on a balcony, and nestled in the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains! We stayed there from July 1 to July 5. In those few days, my boys and I hiked some great trails in the mountains. We climbed up to Clingmans Dome which is located at the highest point of the Smokies, and was located in North Carolina. We then traveled to Cades Cove and drove through the flat land with the beautiful mountain ridges in the background. As we were traveling to our final destination, Laurel Falls, we stopped off at one of the little side of the road parking spots, and the boys got to go swimming in the river. They had to climb down a small rock wall to get there, but it is an experience they have never had, and will not soon forget. We then headed to Laurel Falls and walked the path to the beautiful 80 foot water fall. It was so worth the walk. The boys got to go on several different types of go-carts; we walked the strip in Pigeon Forge, saw some bear in a gift shop, had a late night snack at Happy Days Diner, and retreated home with a 9 hour drive.

The walk to Clingmans Dome, I would not have been able to do if I were my former self. It was quite hilly and steep angled, as it was I had to stop several times on the way up, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that I DID it! We hiked for over 90 minutes and I burned almost 1,000 calories doing it, which is a successful day for me!

I think I may have gained a pound, but it is hard to tell right now. Why? Because whenever I travel, I retain a lot of excess water, and I am still getting rid of all that. I didn't track my calories or really watch what I ate while we vacationed, but really the only horrible rotten thing I did was drink 5 Budweiser Margaritas in one evening while relaxing in the hot tub. I'm okay with that, because that day it was worth it!

Me at a rocky area on the path to Clingmans Dome (July 3, 2014)

My Boys at Laurel Falls, Great Smoky Mountains (July 3, 2014)

Clingmans Dome 6,643 Feet up - highest point in the Smokies-

Cades Cove- Great Smoky Mountains