Our Own Worst Enemy

How is it that I can work out to the point where my shirt is drenched, my face is red, my heart rate is up and I feel so good afterwards that it carries me through the day – but yet I can still succumb to the chocolate chip cookie?

Unlike others, for me the hard part is not the working out part. I have no problems heading to the gym 3 times a week and doing my workouts. I enjoy them and if I skip a day or am out of my normal routine, I feel out of sorts.

You would think that after schlepping to the gym and busting my butt that it would be easy to turn down temptations. I could say to myself, “I just sweated out 2 miles on the treadmill. Is that ice cream really worth it?” Most of the time, I am able to do the right thing and remember no matter how much or how hard I work out I can easily eat my way through any calories burned in one sitting. I can also say no a lot of the time, as this is what enables me to maintain my weight loss.

I do try to pick and choose my indulgences. If I am in a situation with tempting foods, but I am not hankering for it, I can say no. I was at a kiddie party today and there were a ton of desserts besides the birthday cake. There was brownies and my favorite chocolate chip cookies, but I decided not to indulge for 2 reasons. I know myself by now that I can be an all or nothing type eater. I know my motto is “real food in moderation,” and that you can indulge on occasion. But I know sometimes, especially when it comes to desserts, that I can be a binger. Most of the time I would rather just say no if I feel strong then have a little that may or may not set me off to wanting more.

I am also going to a baby shower tomorrow and I know if I started eating poorly today, it would just carry over to the shower and I would go way overboard. So, I got through a very tempting situation but yet felt like I was snacking the whole rest of the day. Ed was out and I decided to take the kids to McDonalds, as it has a play area to kill the evening. I ate a healthy soy burrito before we left and considered that my dinner. Why after being so proud of myself for behaving at the party do I start eating their leftovers? As well as their ice cream and a chocolate chip cookies?

I always say you have good days and bad, but I do sometimes feel I am my own worst enemy. I work so hard with the workouts and can be so strong most of the times then others it doesn’t matter how many hours I was in the gym, if I want to eat that cookie or pizza, then it’s going in my mouth. I choose to forgive the slip ups and try to enjoy my indulgences instead of beating myself up. I know that I am only human and this is my battle for the rest of my life.