So here we are the first week of February, most resolutions are long gone and even the most committed were challenged on Super-bowl Sunday. 

Hey - me too!  But I’ll get to that in a minute.

This week I’m enjoying the Gaylord Texas Resort in the Big “D” - Dallas, Texas!  I’m here helping produce a conference for a major corporation - and help keep the staff working out, eating right and motivated to get through our 14 hour days. 

I have to admit - it can be a challenge.  Still - success is possible using a couple of simple tricks.

Stop.  Think.  Order… or exercise is a good start.

During events like this, we’re on the go all day long so keeping on schedule is difficult.  It really is an endurance challenge - and that requires making the best possible choices all along the way. 

That’s why I’m always asking the question…

How do I want to feel?

Well, with 14 hours days and little sleep it’s obvious that everything is already working against us.  Still, not only do I want to feel great, I must feel great to do my job… and that’s going to come down to how I fuel my body. 

The other key to feeling great and busting the stress is to make time for exercise. 

In my case, we’re starting work at about the same time the fitness center opens so that’s not an option.  No problem - I just arranged with some of the folks we’re working with to “cover” each other so that we all have a chance to workout in the middle of the day when we have the change.  A little cardio, a little resistance, hit the steam room and get back to work refreshed.  It’s magic.

Now - about that Super-bowl thing I mentioned earlier.

We finished up on Sunday just in time to drop into one of the restaurants for the second half of the game and hopefully some good food. 

There are three members on my team and we all eat well most of the time - but not this time.

It seems every restaurant in the resort had shifted to a special menu for the big game.  Chips, Pizza, Chicken Wings, Poppers, Cheesy stuff and more.  You get the point.  There was NOTHING healthy.  Making matters worse?  It was a buffet!  So what did we do?

Simple.  We ate and had some fun. 

Just because it wasn’t the best selection that didn’t get in the way of the fact that we really needed to get some calories in us.  So, all of us chose carefully and kept and eye on the numbers. 

No big deal.  No over eating.  No feeling bad the next day.  Just feeding our bodies.

Of course we could have planned better - but that’s not always the real world.  And of course, sometimes you just want to have little fun.

It’s all a matter of balance.

Today there’s no big game so the regular menu is back - and I’ll be hitting the fitness center a little later when I get the chance.  Ahhh… the balance is returning.

And to answer the question… “What’s Next?” Valentine’s Day is just around the corner.