Carbohydrate confessions...

Over the weekend, I was enticed by three of my most guilty pleasures...homemade bread, pizza and brownies. Determined my will-power would get me through, I (embarrasingly) found myself scraping the bottom of the ice cream container Monday night trying to scavage enough sweet, creamy goodness to crown the top of my warm, moist brownie. Three days of gluten-laden gluttony, and the scale slowly creeping up. By Tuesday, something had to change!

My husband would say I live life on a roller coaster. When I'm up, I'm up! (And you can't be up without good wine, chocolate and ice cream, can you??) And, when I'm down, I'm down, squelching my instinctual cravings of the fine things in life, I stick to a regimented diet of greens and lean meats, and inflict such miserable amounts of exercise on my body, a flogging monk would look on me with envy (if he's permitted sich vice).

No, seriously. I struggle. I'm an "Exercise Physiologist", and I struggle. People often look at me and think, "Oh, she's got it easy. She's a Personal Trainer. She teaches exercise for a living. If I had her life, I'd be in shape, too!" (Maybe that's not what YOU'RE thinking, but I certainly wish you were! ;) But, in my mind, I'm not in that great of shape, and the shape I DO have, is only a function of how I feed and exercise my body.

Living a life of health is no easy task. At times, it's FEAST for me!! Quickly followed, of course, by times of famine... (unless I want to end up looking like that fattened pig that we barbecued the ribs from the other day!) Joking aside, life - and health - are all about moderation. Sure, I could be the fitness Guru who only eats greens, lean meats, no dairy and abstains from all alcoholic beverages, but can I really enjoy my life like that? What about psychological health? What about emotional health? This Franco-American girl has got to have her wine, cheese and chocolate! But, with those days of gustatory bliss, I also know I will have to cut back on days that follow, and/or increase the intensity of my workouts. In this economy of "calories in, calories out" I usually choose to buy first, pay later. As long as I can maintain a healthy weight, a postive outlook on life, and enjoy good food with great friends and family, this Personal Trainer says give me chocolate, or give me death!!