It's time I bring it back

The good news is that I'm filling out my tops nicely. The bad news is that that is always the last and surest sign that I have long-since gained weight. And sure enough, as I "slipped" on a pair of pants this morning, which I haven't worn for a while, there was an uncomfortable moment when the button and hole were reaching toward each other with more effort than is usually necessary.

Hrrm.

I saw this coming, I new it was happening, I did nothing to stop it.

This past term was one of my least athletic of all. Only two of my classes were upstairs and those were only one story. And they were all right next to each other: no sprinting across campus. But I am an avid walker in general, and since school has ended I've been walking most days, but then, with one thing and another, my yoga practice has dropped off and I still only ever attend the Gentle Yoga class (it's just so nice and gentle!).

I think the main problem is my diet. More ice cream cones to combat the heat, more eating out to celebrate more time with friends, and, the most insidious change, more fruit juice all the time.

I have become addicted to this stuff and my stores keeps selling it to me, cheap. I drink it diluted but I drink it a lot and who wants to drink water when their taste buds have been spoiled by the many and various flavors of the tree and vine? And who wants real fruit when right there is the best part ice cold and conveniently packaged?

And that's another thing: our recycling bin is getting out of control and my guilt is mounting.

But, never fear!, there is some more good news. Now that I have some more time on my hands, to plan my day and plan my meals, etc., I can go back to my sure and fool-proof fitness plan (with a minimum of effort).

The fittest I've ever been was when I did a little muscle-building exercise everyday, ate throughout the day and had water or tea with every meal, snack, and bite of food.

It made me so much more aware of what I was doing/eating and kept me from drinking sugar.

I still ate Paul's' massive donuts on the regular and sat around most of the day but that little effort, which was totally enjoyable, by the way, made all the difference. In a couple months I was sliding my ever-shapely derriere into a size six which, let me tell you, is as low as I go: we are a bubble-butted people.

I felt great!

The problem is that it's harder to do without a regular schedule, and between Tom working strange hours and me working strange and changing hours in school, I've been eating and exercising irregularly and have been out of shape my whole marriage!

Now it is time for a change! I'm tired of feeling flopsy and flomsy and not fitting into my pants (though, as I said, I don't mind how I'm fitting into my bras - oh well).

It's Ciara time, baby.