Road trip musings

As I write this, I am sitting in the last row of a Grand Caravan, along with four female co-workers as we make our way to one of our company’s offices to provide a training session.  The two women in the second row of seats are each perusing magazines.  To the left, we have Bon Appétit.  To the right, Fitness.  Isn’t that the ultimate struggle, really?  Food and our bodies?  To eat the way we desire and still look and feel our best?

I have battled this demon since I hit puberty.  In high school, despite my mother’s best intentions, I supplemented my diet with Funyuns, strawberry Twizzlers, and Dr. Pepper.  It was not a good idea.  I also spent those years rebelling against the idea of organized sports.  Who wouldn’t, when she had spent her junior high years picked last for kick ball?  I had found my niche—music and drama  (neither of these burn many calories).  I was setting myself up for a lifetime of clothing sizes with more than one digit.

I’ve lost weight once in awhile—just enough to buy a smaller set of clothes here or there.  Never enough to transform me completely and never for long enough to declare the battle over.  I also discovered that really working up a sweat on an elliptical or on a gym floor can be extremely fulfilling—nothing like the days of forced physical education.  When I make time to do it, that is.  It’s always been pretty easy to exercise for awhile--make that sweeping proclamation that I will always make time to do it, buy new shoes, get a gym membership… and then get easily sidelined by a head cold, a business trip, a load of laundry.

Of course, these days, my diet is very rarely Twizzlers and even more rarely Dr. Pepper and Funyuns.  The culprits are more likely to be some great crusty bread, prosciutto, and a glass of sauvignon blanc. Alright, two glasses. And throw in some smoked almonds and dark chocolate while we’re at it.  See?  Pretty easy to let a couple of pounds get tacked on here or there and the next thing you know you are no longer shopping in the “normal” clothes section.

So, one big goal for this “Fifteen to 40” is to reach a weight that is healthy, attractive, and makes for easier shopping.  Which brings me back to my current road trip. Gummy bears are being passed around. Wish me luck!