Loving Life...Perhaps A Bit Too Much

So, these four weeks since getting hitched have been great. Wedded bliss and all that - check. No ticking time bomb...er, clock...making me crazy - check.

Only problem is - without the wedding and honeymoon hanging over my head, I've found (inevitably) that working out and eating right isn't as easy a priority to keep as it used to be.

For the most part, I've been a very good girl. I'm still counting calories. I'm still working out.

However, I'm not as motivated.

And, when I cheat - oh, how I cheat! Beer, junk food, monstrous portions. Still, with the exception of some Combos (the Buffalo Chicken flavor is out of this world!) and some Ben & Jerry's (Strawberry Shortcake Greek Yogurt - I split a pint with the hubs), the cheats I've been making have been on days where I've either worked out crazy hard and at least have a hole to pile them in - or - they're in social situations (parties, get-togethers). Social cheats don't freak me out as much because I'm not bringing them into the house and thereby potentially re-integrating them back into my daily lifestyle. They're more of a one-off. There's something about bringing junk into the house for me, however, that's very very dangerous. It's like having a random cigarette at a bar when you're tipsy and the opportunity presents itself versus actually going out, stone cold sober and buying a pack.

I have decided to cool my jets a bit on the working out so damn hard and so damn much. I think I owe it to myself and my psyche. I've also decided that I'm going to try and maintain for a while as opposed to trying to lose more. I just need a break! It's been since November of '09 and the last 7 months involved getting ready for a wedding! The last however-many-pounds will be waiting for me when I'm prepared to take them on.

The problem is, giving myself any sort of a break is a slippery slope. First, I decided that 5x a week working out is fine - so long as only two involve heavy cardio. Now, I'm flirting with the idea of 4 workouts, 2 of which would be heavy cardio. Of course, for every day I take off, that first day back at it is a psychological struggle. My body responds immediately, so I know my fitness isn't suffering -- but boy oh boy, my mind just screams for the couch!

So, how do I stay balanced on this tightrope? Is it crazy of me to think I can hold my hand over the flame like this? Is that really what I'm doing? Am I just being too hard on myself and is this my fear talking?

I've lost most of what I gained on the Honeymoon and am holding steady to boot. It's not like I've gained back 150+ pounds.

Still, I don't feel like I have the handle on things that I once did. So, I'll keep at it til I find a mix that works for me.

In the meantime, I'm going to continue enjoying life as a significantly skinnier woman! And, if that means having a few extra beers and maybe even a slice of pizza here and there, so friggin be it!

Fessin' Up & Let's Go Jets!

Yesterday was a rough day for the diet and a great one for my inner sports fan. After a hellish working weekend filled with stress, little sleep and more stress, I decided that my boyfriend and I would go to Buffalo Wild Wings to watch the Jets game. Instead of the salad I should have had, my PMS-addled brain said, "OOOOHHH! Fried Pickles!" and then, about three beers later, it chimed in again and said, "Chicken Fingers! Nom Nom Nom!"

Considering how much we cheered and jumped around when Tom Brady got knocked off of his pedestal...I figure I burned off about two of the pickles and a bite of chicken fingers.

Oh well. It was a wonderful mental health day and even though the food was disgusting, it was also precisely what I needed.

Today, on the other hand, I've eaten a bowl of cheerios with a banana, a salad with tuna, tomato and Sundried Tomato Dressing, a Pumpkin Spice Flax granola bar and for dinner, I'm making Chili-Glazed pork with Sweet Potato Hash (366 cals per serving - thanks Real Simple!).

Glad the pendulum has swung back into productivity mode. Now, if only I can convince myself to work out at least four times this week...

Maybe I should make it five...the Steelers game is going to be a killer and there will definitely be beer involved.