Do you give in to your cravings? Right now, with Mike away overnight, the America’s Got Talent final on TV, one cat curled up next to me, and the other one busily licking my hair in the hopes I’ll feed him, I can’t stop thinking about two things…the bag of barbecue potato chips downstairs in the pantry and the half-full (see, optimism) bottle of red wine in the kitchen.
I don’t need either one. I had dinner — a good one (roasted veggies & couscous/quinoa) — which didn’t make up for a rare splurge at lunch — Chick-fil-A, just because it was gorgeous today and I had a new haircut (just so I could get my driver’s license renewed — bye-bye hideous photo I’ve had for 4 years) and I couldn’t stand to go back home. I also walked for 5 miles after work instead of my typical 3 or 4 (again, it was gorgeous out). But still…I don’t need the chip calories or the wine calories.
But when is it ever about calories? It’s about a lifelong love of chips and a decades-long love of red wine. It’s about being lucky enough to have a cozy house, cute annoying cats, a big TV, and chips and wine at my disposal. It’s about wondering if, on my deathbed, I’ll be glad I didn’t have the chips or wine or wonder why the hell I didn’t.
And of course there’s a back story — beach vacation in a couple weeks (yep, we finally decided to go somewhere — Myrtle Beach for the first time. We’re excited.). Plenty of indulgence to come. Bathing suit to wear. Yada yada. I could just strap the chips bag and wine glass to my thighs and be done with it.
I guess I could ask myself WWJD?
I’m thinking yes to the wine on that one.
I could ask what would any health expert/fit person/skinny person do?
Run away. Or tell themselves they’ll only have 3 chips or 2 sips…and then actually do that.
And now, the more I think about it, we also have killer cookies from Sam’s, 2 kinds of Klondikes, and Edy’s coconut fruit bars.
What are the chances I end this post, switch on the Downton Abbey Season 2 DVD, and DON’T consume a darn thing?
Willpower or Won’tpower?
Food for thought is no substitute for the real thing.
~ Walt Kelly
Writing by Ear 
facie said,
Thursday, September 13, 2012 at 9:47 am
I almost always give in. Just this a.m. I had two off-brand swiss cake rolls. And I bet I won’t do much exercise either.
I think if you eat well and exercise, you should not feel guilty about eating other junk. Even every day. Who wants to eat only good-for-you foods?! I know some experts recommend eating a sweet food only once or twice a week, but I could never do that. I also cannot imagine how some “Hollywood” people workout two to three hours a day most days. That is nuts.
Hope you enjoyed whatever you decided, even if it was just cuddling the cat and watching TV.