Wednesday, August 17, 2011

There goes my 6-pack...

Being a southern girl from East Texas, I was taught to love food as much as I love to cook. It’s hard for a girl who loves food to stay skinny. What?!? I can’t eat cheese on everything? I can’t have ice cream with my peach cobbler? What do you mean I am not supposed to fry everything and cover it in gravy? Psssh. This girl eats what she wants.
I love food. I admit it. I have a problem. I eat when I’m bored, hungry, and while I’m cooking. “I bet you can’t eat just one” should not only apply to potato chips, but also cookies, bread, and anything delicious. I love all food. I do not discriminate.
Since I love to eat, working out must be a part of my life too. Working out so you can eat what you want; now there’s a concept. However, I do believe this is where the problem starts. In the back of my mind, I know I burned 1,000 calories during my morning workout. So, I think I can eat 2,500 calories of anything I want. Why? Because I earned it, that’s why! Does anyone else think this way??!??! There goes my 6-pack!
I try to be good, and eat a little bit every few hours. After awhile, I think it just becomes a habit. Am I really hungry, or is my brain taking over??? My brain always wins, and I have a granola bar or whatever I have hidden away. Lately, I am addicted to a piece of wheat toast with a tablespoon of peanut butter spread on it. Mmmmm. Just thinking about the warm toast melting the peanut butter makes my mouth water. Oh shoot, there goes my 6-pack.
Not only do I love to eat, but I am a fast eater, which typically means I eat too much. I have tried putting less food on my plate, but my brain knows and remembers this. My brain then tells my stomach it’s still hungry and I should go back for seconds. (Have I mentioned that I have no self-control?) By the time I have had seconds my stomach is laughing at me. I am stuffed. There goes my 6-pack. Back to the gym I go, so I don’t get 6-rolls.
Birthdays, holidays, anniversaries are all celebrate by eating. This is our culture. We go out to eat for everything. I think I left my 6-pack at the bottom of the chip basket at my favorite Tex-Mex restaurant 20 years ago. You see, it’s a never ending cycle. I will one day give up the idea of having a 6-pack and settle for my lil’ ‘ol 2-pack. But for now, I will continue to fight the battle because I refuse to say, ‘There goes my 6-pack!’ ever again. Well, at least until my next meal.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

It's just you and me against the world...

Thinking back over the last 10 years…wow, has it already been 10 years since I graduated from high school? Okay, maybe it HAS been 10 years, but I’m still not a day over 26. Yup, that’s the age I decided to stay, well, for at least until it’s obvious I am NOT 26. Okay, so back to what I was originally saying… Looking back over the past 10 years… there has been failed relationships and new ones, deaths, births, more graduations, new jobs, let’s not forget weddings, and many, many new friends, hobbies and interests. Would the ‘me’ 10 years ago even recognize the ‘me’ now? Well, I would like to think so…
Today is actually our 2-year ‘paperwork’ wedding anniversary.  What is a ‘paperwork’ wedding you ask? Well, it’s when you go to the JP and get married on paper. Yes, I was very, very clever to make sure I had 2 special days to celebrate: our 'paperwork' wedding and our 'ceremony' wedding where we were married on the beach in front of our family and friends. With the ‘ceremony’ wedding anniversary fast approaching, on June 5, I am reminded that time continues to go by faster than I would like. A lot has happened in the past 2 years. If you know me very well, you know that the fact that life is unpredictable makes me nuts. I would rather chart, plan, and make itineraries for my life. Okay, maybe I am not that crazy about things… OKAY, maybe I am.
I have my plans and ideas for how the next 10 years should go, but I guess I will have to wait and see how it all turns out. Until then... It’s just you and me against the world.