DIANA REPUBLIC

I have been trying to lose a couple pounds before weather gets really nice and the weather has been cooperative by taking its sweet time. Unfortunately I have only been doing part of what I know is necessary to drop the lbs. I have been eating reasonably well (with a little chocolate breakdown here and there), but I have completely fallen off the exercise wagon. This is due in part to the addition of a puppy to our household and partly because I have been fighting some kind of bug. As Goose gets a little older we will be able to crate him for longer periods of time, but for right now Pilates is not an option because I have to go straight from class to work and that is too long a day for his little bladder. As for this low grade Guinea Pig flu, I don’t know what the deal is there, but it has completely removed any motivation to spend quality time with the elliptical trainer in my basement.

I cleaned out my closet of all the pants that no longer fit, because they were taking up valuable closet space and mocking me. They were all hanging around gloating that they weren’t being worn and had no dog hair on them. And then they would scream at the seams when I tried to put them on. I did, however, leave one ill fitting pair of jeans behind. I think it was because they used to be my “fat” pants and were loose on me only a year ago. But in leaving them in the closet, I mistook them for the jeans that actually do fit me the other night. It was disturbing to see the outlines of the pockets so clearly and they were really uncomfortable. It wasn’t until I looked at the tag that I realized I hadn’t gained ten pounds in one day. I continued to wear them all night as motivation but really out of laziness.

Last summer I was in a different weight class. In a haze of high self esteem I planned to have a whole stack of slacks that were too big, altered. Procrastination being my middle name, I never actually got around to finding a tailor or dropping them off. In this case, and potentially only in this case, procrastination was my friend. If not for those pants I would have a really limited work wardrobe right now.

One can’t start a new exercise regimen on a weekend (it has been documented, look it up) so I will start on Monday. I am putting it out there so I can’t back out. Hamster flu or not – Monday is the day, no excuses. I am sure to feel motivated after Mother’s Day brunch and bathing suit season is fast approaching. If those aren’t motivating factors then my impending Alaskan cruise should be. My last Alaskan cruise involved a Danish binge that left my thighs chafed.