Guilt-free VICTORY!!

Posted on 11. Jan, 2010 by Becky in Love Your Body

So, here’s the good news.  You know how I constantly preach not to worry about those extra 2 pounds that you can’t seem to lose and that ruin your mood anytime you foolishly decide to step on the bathroom scale?

Disclaimer:  I am about to reveal my hypocrisy.

So here’s the deal.  After a Christmas vacation in Wisconsin with my family, replete with dinners out, chocolate mousse truffle, Christmas cookies up the wazoo, and Mama Mia’s garlic bread to boot (picture a french baguette soaked in so much butter that wrapping it in 12 paper sacks still soaks through onto your leather car seat), I was expecting the best-case scenario to be weight maintenance over the holidays.  And I’m fine with that.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I didn’t stuff myself silly all week, nor did I quit working out.  But, I certainly did not worry about what I ate.  I ate what I felt like when I felt like it.  I stopped eating when it I was full.  No stress, no guilt.

I worked out 5 times over Christmas break listening to some great running music, not because I felt stressed that I had to, but because it was precious bonding time with my sister, who lives in Italy most of the year, and because we both enjoy it!

So, after my no-stress, no-guilt approach to the Christmas holidays, you’d think the last thing I would do is step on a scale.  I am one of those who rarely weighs myself–that number is so defining!  But for some crazy reason, curiosity won out, and on I stepped.

To my utter amazement, as the digital numbers flickered in the fluorescent glow of my bathroom, a number appeared that has eluded me since the birth of my darling Chloe.  I had broken the 2 pound barrier!  I muttered to myself in disbelief, “You’ve got to be kidding me,” stepped off the scale and promptly returned for round 2.  Surely, there must be some sort of mechanical error going on.

But sure enough, the scale showed me the glorious victory sign again.  YES!

So why do I share this story?  To have someone to celebrate with?  To reason as to why such a stupid little meaningless detail in my life would put me in such a fabulous mood for days on end?

Actually, I share to encourage YOU to stop worrying, planning, and generally feeling anxious about what you put into your mouth.  I truly think there is something inside our bodies that won’t let go of that weight the more we worry about it.  Relax!  Be active!  Choose good foods that make you feel truly good.  Live your life!  Enjoy your friends, your family, your relationships, and life’s celebrations with all their culinary greatness.  The less you stress, the more your body will find its best place, and so will you.