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I Swam In The Ocean

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This past summer when we had to skip our annual family beach trip to put energy into the bakery, I was really, really sad. I LOVE THE OCEAN. The beach. Everything about it. I always feel calm when waves are in sight, and a year without touching the ocean breaks my heart. Those emotions are partly to blame for booking this Christmas-week vacation (although my family is sad not to be here with us!)

Four days before the new year, I dipped my toes, then ankles, then whole body in!

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It was glorious, and I loved this mat and the mild waves that allowed me to float for an hour.

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Well…almost ; )

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[This is also about the time where Matt saw a sting ray and I raced back to the shore in fear!]

Before we hit the sand, we enjoyed an amazing buffet lunch. It’s no different than a Whole Foods salad bar here! They have sweet potato salads, bean salads, fish, and tropical fruit that I piled on top.

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Mango sorbet to finish!

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Then there was a whole lotta this:

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And this:

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And this:

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And sips of these:

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Late afternoon we had had enough lounging and we ventured over to the sports complex where I took a SPIN CLASS! How fun! It felt so good to be exercising again. Exercise is definitely on my list of relaxation techniques.

Balanced by cocktail hour:

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For dinner we dressed up and enjoyed four courses: crab dip with sweet potato chips, salads, a seafood calzone and entrees: blackened mahi-mahi for me and steak for him. Desserts were banana bread pudding and a coconut chocolate pie! The portions here are really small, which is a blessing because even after all of that I wasn’t stuffed – just satisfied. The lighting in these restaurants is SO dark I resorted to flash – something I rarely do. But it helped clear the fog!

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A walk on the beach..some evening entertainment..

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And a run-in with El Tigre’s cousin!! Wish we had some Discovery Channel night vision cameras to capture him : )

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See ya when I sea ya!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. Linde says

    Hi Kath!

    I’d like your opinion on something I’ve noticed when it comes to making the right food choices.

    When I’m at the heavier side of my weight spectrum, I tend to choose the ‘wrong’ foods much more easily compared to when I’m already a little thinner and losing. It‘s like when I lose weight, I gain willpower :-).

    Do you recognize this from your own experience with weight loss?
    Do you consider it easier to make healthy choices now that you’re already at a healthy weight?
    So overall, do you think maintaining your healthy weight is easier than it was achieving it?

    To the both of you: have a great vacation!

    PS: excuse my English, not a native speaker!

    Reply

      • Roxanne says

        I guess she does comment, sorry, I thought she said before she left that she probably couldn’t comment but she would READ all the comments…. my bad!

        Reply

    • Jen says

      Hi Linde, I just wanted to pipe in and say I think you may find it easier when you have lost the weight because you will have developed healthier habits and will be more used to it. It’s not so much ‘willpower’ as it is just continuing the changes you’ve made. Also, you may feel more motivated once you’ve lost weight. In contrast, once you start gaining again, you may not feel as good about yourself and more likely to revert to old behaviors.

      Reply

  8. Hillary says

    You just reminded me that I also haven’t been in the ocean in nearly a year—which is total blasphemy since I grew up in Rhode Island! Glad you’re soaking it up (literally).

    Reply

  12. katie @KatieDid says

    I feel the exact same way about the ocean. I grew up a 5 minute drive from beaches in Massachusetts and missed it this past summer when I lived up in Vermont. Looks like you two are really soaking it all in, thats awesome, enjoy your stay!

    Reply

  15. Amanda says

    Your vacation looks lovely. I also love the ocean, but I would have been out of there so fast if I saw a stingray! I’m such a wimp when it comes to fish swimming near me.

    Reply

  17. Jo says

    The ocean looks lovely. Biologists say that generally stingrays are NOT aggressive; they DO NOT attack humans unless threatened, so you probably didn’t need to scramble back to shore!

    Enjoy your holiday!

    Reply

  21. Maria @ Sinfully Nutritious says

    I am so happy for you both. I know it is selfish, but I am so glad you are blogging on your vacation. I feel like I am there. Being in the bakery business myself, we work 300 days a year. There are no vacations. Occasional overnight camping trip is the max.

    Have a great day. I just love seeing the updates! 🙂

    Also, the food looks to die for. I think I will buy a coconut and mango in your honor.

    Reply

  25. Elisabeth says

    Looks like a fabulous, relaxing vacation – so jealous here in northwestern Ohio…with our high today around 29 degrees! Enjoy the ocean 🙂 (bathing suit is adorable by the way)

    Reply

  28. Susan says

    Glad you are enjoying some much deserved time off!! Just a note on the stingrays, unless you step on them there is really no threat. I live in Florida and schools of them frequent the shallow water. We do the ‘stingray shuffle’ which is just shuffling your feet when walking in the water as opposed to stepping. They will scurry out of the way. If you step on them you will likely be stung with the barbed tail. They are really very timid creatures. Enjoy!!

    Reply

  29. Sonya says

    When you get a chance, PLEASE share which resort you stayed at! It’s perfect for me! I’ve been to Jamaica just once and the place we stayed at was a tiny joint. Thank you! P.S. I just noticed the check box to confirm I’m a real human! Ingenious.

    Reply

  30. Jen says

    Lol about the sting ray 😉 You look like your glowing from the relaxation and fresh air! Jamaica seems to serve some great, fresh food.

    Reply

    • Jill in Chicago says

      Hi Kati! i just saw your name and wondered why it looked familiar — I’m also a CMU Grad and saw your story in the recent issue of Centralight. It’s fun to see you ‘lurking’ around the same blogs I read 🙂 Fire Up Chips!

      Reply

  33. Jill in Chicago says

    Looks like an awesome vacation and what amazing food to have at a resort! You’ll have to tell us where you’re staying.

    Also, it was fun to see your name and nutrition suggestions in my copy of Every Day with Rachael Ray that came in the mail yesterday!!!

    Reply

  38. Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says

    You seriously must have a cat magnet somewhere on you! How you can find them all (and they all look the same!) is crazy!
    This place looks to die for. I’m literally sending my husband this link and saying once we find out where this is, I want to go. 🙂

    Reply

  39. Katie @ Arugulovers says

    Sooooo jealous 🙂 Your photos remind me of my honeymoon in Hawaii this past September! I wish I could go back….

    p.s. I bought a $2.99 milk frother at IKEA this past week and I’m SOLD! My coffee will never be the same.

    Reply

  46. Victoria says

    I recognize that resort from the pictures. My husband and I stayed there a couple of years ago. I am glad you’ve had a good experience with the food because it was an abomination when we were there. Absolutely horrific, even at the “nice” restaurant. We did love the athletic complex, though!

    Reply

  50. Jodi S says

    I am so happy that you are in my country – Jamaica! I hope you are having a wonderful time – we are a warm, friendly people and I want you to know that you have a fan here in Jamaica who enjoys reading your blog every single day. Have fun mon!!!!

    Reply

  52. Sarah says

    Gorgeous – these posts are making me long for a beach vacation! I actually learned to swim when we went to Key West a couple years ago, the shallow, calm water + the added bouyancy from the salt water gave me the extra courage I needed to give it a shot, and by the end of the trip I was swimming around the fresh water pool at our bed and breakfast. Nothing like floating on the ocean!

    Reply

  55. Karen says

    Glorious!! I too to have always been infatuated w/water, which is why I love living a few blocks from Lake Michigan. Water represents tranquility in my mind and calm overcomes me at the sight of it (though 80 degree temps work this trick better than the current 35 degree Chicago temps 🙂 ) Hope you guys continue to have fun recharging!

    Reply

  56. Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says

    Everything looks wonderful, Kath! Swimming in the ocean….just yesterday I was doing that and right now I am freezing my butt off and yes, it’s “warm” in San Diego compared to say Fargo but it’s still a shocker to me after not being in anything other than flipflops for a month 🙂

    Thanks for posting the great vacation pics so I can keep the vacay vibe going!

    And using flash…just the fact that you’re taking pics in a restaurant while on vacation is appreciated. Who cares if there’s flash 🙂

    Reply

  78. Claude Fullinfaw says

    Hello, I happen to fall upon your blog today while I was researching some online work for a project and what was to be a very short visit turned out that I spent a good 20 minutes on your site. You have a way in sharing your life which is so enjoyable.

    You certainly have created a site around pictures, making each picture tell a different story, yet each photo shares what you have been doing in a sequence which is like a picture book. What a great way to share passing moments with friends. I use a flickr.com account and this has given me an idea on how to share my journey through life in pictures on my blog too. Thank you for this beautiful experience today. Claude Fullinfaw.

    Reply

  81. Jealous says

    Couples Resorts are wonderful. We’ve never stayed at Swept Away where you’re at, but we’ve been going down the past 6 years in a row and have visited the other 3 and they’re all amazing. Make sure to do the trading places day trip over to Couples Negril, it’s a great resort.

    If you want an amazing picture, go to the bar and ask them for a couple of “Bob Marleys.” Be sure to also get a reaction photo as soon as you’re done drinking it. You’ll see. 🙂

    Reply

  84. Blue says

    I love both your sun hat and your sundress/bathing suit cover up in this post! Can you share where you found them, please? Thanks!

    Reply

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