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.
