The Candy Monster Got Me!

It started out as a good week. I was eating until sated, didn't overindulge in anything (that was a 'Wow' in itself!), and the only 'bad' thing I didn't do was drink enough water. So I'm just a little bloaty feeling because of that- so you know getting on a scale is out of the question!

I had a friend fix last year's costume because the skirt was a little too big, and the top needed some work. The bodice of the costume was way too low, and now I feel safe in walking about without my boobs falling out. Cleaverage is one thing, flashing the neighborhood is quite another- and not something I would subject the world to.

I was the best dressed person in the schoolyard on Friday. I was the Queen of the Butterfly Fairies, and one of a small handful of parents that showed up in costume to pick up their kids. Much better than last year, when I was the only one dressed up! And with a little face paint, I looked awesome.

I also looked awesome when I took my kids out for Halloween. I got a lot of compliments (which I loved), and even a few snarky chuckles from some guys who had too much beer (which I ignored). It's when we got home that night that the Candy Monster got a hold of me.

My husband and I always separate the candy as we check it- one bowl for chocolate, the other for anything other than chocolate. Guess which bowl I'm drawn to?

My children will never see a mini Twix bar, because there were only two of them, which were promptly eaten. Milky ways were next, and I only had two of them before I pushed the bowl away. I snagged a bag of chips, ate them, then checked to see of there were any 100 grand bars, my personal favorite. To my surprise, there weren't any! So I sat back, licked the chocolate off my fingers, and pouted. I look forward to getting those little bars each year, and now I have to go out and buy my own to sate the Candy Monster, dagnabbit.

But the Candy Monster wasn't done yet...it whispered in my ear that the leftover candy might be on sale at the stores, and I can get a whole bag of 100 grand bars if I really wanted. At a discount. Like I really needed it.

Resistance is futile, it whispers, like the Borg looking to assimilate. (Yes, I'm a trekkie fan!)

Because of the candy Monster, I refuse to leave the house today. I will not give the Candy Monster anymore rope to hang me. And I am putting both bowls of candy away. Out of sight is out of mind (having a bad memory helps in some ways!), and though I won't deny a little indulgence once in a while, I also know myself well enough to not leave a bowl of candy within easy reach. Bad, bad, bad idea.

I have faltered, my friends, but I have not failed! We made a huge dinner the other night for a fellowship meeting, and we have a lot left over, so I don't have to cook. Really good stuff too, like homemade bread, veggie beef soup and chicken noodle- all good for you! It's always good to have chicken noodle around during the cold seasons, even if pasta isn't my best friend. I plan on eating more of the veggie soup anyway, since the kids love the chicken soup.

The kids are off tomorrow for Election Day, so I hope to get them out in the sunshine (once I check the forecast) and do a long walk in the park. At least I know there are no cacao trees in Pennsylvania to tempt me!

I'm getting back on track, and will weigh myself next week. It might be better for me to do this twice monthly anyway, so I'm not focused so much on the scale. I really don't care about the numbers as much as how I look- when I was in my early twenties, I was 170 lbs. (which some still consider overweight) and was a size ten! Now you know if I could be a size ten again, I wouldn't care what my weight was- as long as I fit into normal-sized clothing! Since that was my pre-kid weight, I would even be happy in a twelve- just so long as I felt good about myself when I looked into the mirror.

I'm actually pretty okay with myself now- I just don't like all that squishy stuff hanging about me. I'll lose until I'm just the right kind of squishy.

Just remember, a stumble isn't a fall- you don't have to go all the way back down the mountain before you can go up again- just start over from where you stumbled!