Cheating & Getting Back on Track.
Jan
16
Guided through controlled turns and steps back and forth working up a sweat, I was in a little piece of dance heaven. Friday night, two birthday parties and two salsa clubs later, I felt like I was in a safe space for my boy detox that I considered a no-cheat zone. After all, while I love salsa dancing, I never really had a thing for Latin men. While the stunning dark features of them appeal to most women, I always found it feeling slightly incestuous to date one being of Latin decent myself. However things went a little different than planned which begs the question, what happens when you do cheat and find your hand in the cookie jar?
I blame the dress.
…and no, it’s not as bad you think.
After salsa round #1, I made it to the second club running across town to see friend #2. After noticing that my options for dancing partners were limited to men wearing shirts unbuttoned to an illegal degree, I decided to strike up conversation with my best friend’s cousin. Several glasses of wine later and a stop off at a local greasy spoon had me diving into veggie chili that I thought would be a healthy bet (although truly, it should have been quarantined). And the rest of the night? It ended with a kiss and I went back up to my apartment…alone.
So this whole cheating thing got me wondering about food and the guilt associated when we slide off our plans and eat a cookie. The punishment and the self-deprecating feelings of being fat or not good enough is enough to drive anyone insane. This doesn’t mean cheating can become a scapegoat; it simply acts as a wake up call to get back on the bandwagon and why you set that goal in the first place. So what, you ate a cookie and I kissed a boy and I liked it.
It’s time to get on with it.
The worst part is many of us don’t. Our feelings attached to food are one of guilt and the idea of good and bad. We abstain, then we binge and we become wrapped up in gluttony. Where’d the balance go? Thankfully my body image initiative, Remodel Sexy is coming and I’m excited to host the teleseminar of some pretty kick ass guests that will help us go beyond skin deep. Not to mention, my first online cookbook will be making its debut and will help you emotionally eat the right way and find love as close as your kitchen…without the guilt. Want to know more? Sign up to the Red Couch Confessions and stay informed…
So…hand stuck in the cookie jar? I won’t tell, just don’t leave it there.
Yeah I always wonder what it is with us North Americaners and our concepts of abstaining from things 100% for health (being someone that has done boy cleanses and too many food cleanses to count). I almost feel that it’s unnatural and stems from our prude Puritanical past. (After all, didn’t the puritans leave Europe to set up North america? Don’t the Europeans think these things are ridiculous?) I feel like we set these unrealistic, maybe unnecessary goals for ourselves regarding abstaining from things. It’s a worthy pursuit and good to re-visit those goals as you said, however I almost feel that it’s a cop out. I dunno, I’m undecided really. There is definite benefit to taking a time out and re-evaluating, be it boys or food, but I think in the long run a cop out for having to actually deal with these real world phenomena.
My best friend and I are doing a 7 day mostly raw food and juice cleanse. But we’re also cleansing our thought process and saying only KIND things about our bodies. Focusing on the positive. It’s been incredibly helpful. A little kindness goes a long way