The good and bad of having a routine

I am a very routine orientated person.  I love routine and I thrive on routine.  And routine is what helps me stay on track with my weight loss and weight maintenance.

Being on vacation makes being in a routine very tough.  Though, if on vacation, a routine of sorts does start to form such as what time you get up, eat, go somewhere, go to bed.  In general, I'm rarely on vacation long enough for that to happen. 

So, after being on vacation for 4 days, it was almost a relief to get up for work this morning.  I have a very specific morning routine (and though I appreciate Hubby's help in the morning, if he steps in to do one or two of my morning chores, it will throw off my whole morning), a routine once I'm at work, an evening routine, and a bedtime routine.  I'm flexible with my routine throughout the day, nothing is set in stone so if something doesn't happen at it the normal time, I don't fall apart.  (Okay, with the exception of the morning routine, but that's more to keep me moving, get stuff done, and get out of the house on time.)

Over the years, I've found having a routine with my activity and exercise is key to actually getting it done.  If I run or workout, I do it first thing in the morning.  Even if I tell myself I will work out in afternoon or evening, it rarely happens.  I set out my workout clothes before I go to bed and when I get up in the morning I put them on and start working out before my brain registers what I'm doing.  Once I'm done with my morning workout, I usually have a pretty good day eating-wise.  I also try to walk three times during the day at work, on both breaks and at lunch time.  The times may vary, but it's a routine to get out do it.

Eating is very much a routine for me, but this may actually be a problem.  I have set times I eat, but the problem is, I think I have to eat at those times; whether I am hungry or not.  When I take the time to focus on my hunger level, I am not hungry when I think I am.  I just want to eat at noon because that's lunch time, that's when I'm supposed to eat.  I might not even be that hungry but I will heat up my lunch and eat it anyway.  This is something that I didn't even realize I was doing until about year ago.  I started writing down my hunger levels before I ate anything and realized I was eating because of the time, not because I was hungry.  I still do this (add this the long list of things I still need to work on) and it's been a hard routine to break because it's such an ingrained habit at this point. 

For a long time on my weight loss journey, eating the same foods for breakfast and snacks was a routine.  It worked for me.  Now that I'm attempting to maintain my weight, I want more variety in my meals and snacks.  I quickly become bored with the same foods day in and day out.  How I managed to go several years eating the same breakfast every morning is beyond me! 

Now that I'm back from vacation, back at work, and back to "real" life, I'm struggling to get back into my routine.  I'm trying to get back on a normal sleep schedule, eating healthier meals, waiting until I'm hungry to eat, and getting out for my walks.  Eventually I need to start incorporating a run or workout in the morning again. 

Unfortunately my routine will be interrupted again this weekend when I attend a scrapbook retreat.  Having a break from the day to day routine is a good thing, it's not getting back to the routine that is the problem.  At least, it is for me!