Turning a Leaf

I'm re-turning over a leaf. It's not a new leaf. It's an old one that has been turned and over-turned far too many times to count. It's the "exercise-more-frequently-and-eat-right-more-frequently" leaf that I've had a continual battle with. In my recent quest for clarity, here are a few truths I've come up with:

1. Exercise is the hardest addiction to acquire. Once I'm in exercise synch, it's truly necessary for my well-being. Once I'm out of the habit, it's the hardest thing for me to go back to. Why? I think there are a lot of reasons: "I won't be able to run even one mile...I used to be able to do three or more without stopping....," "I don't have any cute exercise clothes....," "I'm so exhausted. Having two kids has taken everything out of me....," "I'm totally too busy....," "A gym membership is too expensive...," blah, blah, blah. I've been going to the gym for almost 3 years now--with the exception of illness, vacation, and post-partum recovery, I've gone about 3 days a week. Now I'm finding that I aim for 3 days, and I end up going 2. That's a problem. I'm not making progress. So the first of my new goals was realized this morning: in addition to my MWF workout plan, I woke up and went at 6:30 today (and I plan on going on Thursday, too.) I feel great. I'm exhausted now, but what the heck--I'll adjust! I think I'm coming back to addict status.

2. Even pudgy people are happy. Take Ina Garten for instance. She is adorably pudgy--and seems very happy. She has fabulous dinner parties. She has a house in the Hamptons. She has her own t.v. show. She has a perpetual special occasion justifying her use of heavy cream, twice as much butter as necessary, loads of sugar, and all other most beautiful and fattening trappings. I'm generally pretty happy, too, but not satisfied with the status quo. Either way, it's good that I've learned that you don't have to be thin to be happy.

3. BUT: Thinnies have more fun. I should actually say that In-Shapies have more fun, because I don't really care about being skinny. As Dr. Katz of Comedy Central fame would say, "I've got a sister.....she's big boned..." It's been my lot since June 28, 1976. The big-boned sister. That's O.K. So I've given up skinny. But, when I'm "in shape"--when jiggling is at a minimum--shopping, looking in the mirror, dressing up, dressing down, getting down, getting busy (read into that whatever you want)----it's all more fun.

4. Healthy foods really are the most delicious. (With a few small exceptions: the dessert genre--see below) Today I checked out my neighborhood fruit/vegetable stand for the first time. It's called Farmer's Wife, and while it's no Pedricks, I was delighted by my take homes: a $3 flat of "blemished" heirloom tomatoes in the most terrific rainbow of colors, 2 baskets of strawberries, 6 kiwis, a honeydew, carrots, celery, green onions, purple onions, yellow onions, and a red pepper. YUM! I came right home and started researching what I can do with these multitudinous heirlooms in the next 12 hours before they become juice. So I just removed a pan full of roasted heirlooms from my oven. I think I'll combine them with whole wheat pasta and fresh basil and parm for a delicioso dinner. I also made a quick batch of hummus in my attempts to get Leah eating a more healthy variety of foods. Last night we had Tuscan White Bean Soup, Salad, Organic White Cheddar and Garlic bread from TJ's, and soft and chewy ginger snaps. Usually, the simpler the better! Healthy, healthy, healthy...yummy, yummy, yummy.

5. Desserts in moderation are fabulous. If there was a DA (Desserts Anonymous), I'd be the charter member and poster child. There are few things more satisfying than a delectable baked good--or 5. I could easily go without ice cream for the rest of my life, but baked goods? No WAY! I've tried cold turkey. Can't do it. So moderation has to be the key. How am I doing? Well, let's just say that I've only had one gingersnap today. I'm going to go with it.