That one time I wasn’t late to the gym

As I was turning the corner into the parking lot, I craned my neck and searched the rows of cars.  Cars were zipping in and snagging spots right and left.  The gym is a popular hangout at 5:30 p.m.

“Mommy, do you know what her car looks like?”

“No, baby, but she said she was parked in the back.”

As I maneuvered my obnoxiously large vehicle through the crowded lot, I finally gave up and called the old co-worker I had arranged to meet.  She kindly stepped out of her car and I parked nearby.

It’s amazing that you can go from seeing someone five days a week for nearly 14 years to not seeing them for over a year and it’s like that time in between never happened.

After a hug and greeting, Laura opened the trunk to to her car and handed me the bag.  The bag that prompted this little reunion.

For over two weeks, our schedules didn’t connect.  I prayed that she had somehow forgotten that it was earmarked for me–until I broke down and asked for it.

And here we were, me–anxiously looking around at all the people getting out of their cars and heading into the gym, feeling like the buyer in a drug deal. And her, apologizing because she is a busy working mom (which I totally remember being so no apology needed.)

I slipped her the twenty.

She slipped me the bag of cookies.  FIVE boxes of cookies, which I promptly hid inside the car as I grabbed my gym bag and phone.

Looking down at my missed texts, I see a string of texts from my workout partner, “I’m hungry and lazy.  Are you going to the gym? I’m about to go before I change my mind.”

And I say, “Dude I am already here.  Just pulled into the parking lot.”  

Then I walk into the gym, deposit the kids in the kids club, and hop on a bike to warm up, like it’s the most normal thing in the world for me to show up thirty minutes before my workout partner.

“I can’t believe you’re here so early.”  (Because I am ALWAYS late!)

Yeah, it’s funny how five boxes of cookies can get me to the gym on time to work out.

And this folks is why I don’t believe in strict dieting!  When I deprive myself completely then I start to crave sweets.  I want them so much that buying them feels like a betrayal.  Paleo, low carb, whole30, gluten free or whichever diet you choose, don’t let guilt and deprivation become the driving factors in your life.  A little cheat every now and then isn’t going to hurt you.  It’s the overall big picture that matters for most of us fit mom wannabes.  If you aren’t training for a show, have been told to lose x amount of lbs in x time by a doctor, or have a similar big goal to meet, then will a cookie really matter if everything else you eat is “on plan” or “clean”?

Yes, I joke about wanting to be “swimsuit ready” but since I swim in my backyard behind a privacy fence, what is there to be ready for?  The kids want to swim.  They don’t care if I don’t look like a fitness model in my suit.  Do you have a set cheat day, meal, weekend?

P.S. I alleviated my girl scout cookie guilt by deciding to send two of the boxes overseas in a care package to those that are missing girl scout cookie season while serving our country.  I ate one box but it was okay because they were dosidos and have peanut butter in them ;P . The kids ate another box and I am saving the last box for later!