Red Dress redress (a.k.a. regression confession)

I think the key to successful blogging—and many things in life—is to “Just do it.” I don’t always have enough time to compose a clever, witty, wonderful post. It feels that way tonight, anyway. But if I don’t keep at it…well, it’ll fizzle (fo’ shizzle). And I don’t want that to happen.

And just in the process of writing those 52 words, I answered my own question: Should I start over with my 100-day weight-loss venture? No! I should simply persevere. And so I shall! To quote Dory, the neurotic-but-loyal and loveable blue fish in Finding Nemo: “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming…”

Confession: I have totally reneged on my no-sweets “commitment” I had made through Sept. 6th. My slide started last Tuesday. I was attending a birthday party for a 1-year-old that was really just a good excuse for a get-together for family and friends of my lifelong chum who lives several states away. She doesn’t get back to A-Town very often—especially this last year, because her baby was born prematurely and had severe health problems—so, since she was here, her sister hosted a bash for a bunch of us. (The baby’s doing great, by the by.)

Anyhow, the birthday cake. The super-sweet woman who made the cake was at the party and everyone was partaking and I just decided it would be rude not to try it. It was no ordinary cake—not in looks, not in flavor. The frosting was…well, unusually smooth, milky and marvelous. Not too sugary. I asked Mrs. Cake Maker about the recipe. It had been her mother’s. And she proceeded to describe the ingredients and the careful, multi-step process required to achieve this fabulous frosting. And I knew I had made the right decision to eat the cake.

I could have stopped with the cake. I should have stopped with the cake. But I didn’t. I’ll spare you my litany of other indulgences from the past several days. By some sweet-tooth standards, my mistakes were modest. But there was definitely a Domino effect at play. I ate the cake conscientiously. Then the next day, I justified another sweet treat (or 2) with barely any justification. The next day, it was even easier. And I was even queasier. And so on, until tonight. Until tonight!

A Facebook friend (a former neighbor) posted the following inspirational quotation:

“Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’”—Mary Anne Radmacher

I am going to press forward as planned, with a little more planning and a little less procrastinating. Starting in a few moments when I head to bed early enough to get a full night of fat-fighting sleep!

But I know you must be wondering about the title ‘Red Dress.’ I bought it at the thrift store about a week ago: 5 bucks! It’s slightly too small. I’m gonna guess about 15 pounds too small. And by shedding that weight by Oct. 31, I’ll get to be a prom queen for the trick-or-treaters! It’s these silly little prospects that keep me going. I’m an artist—I need visuals! And I need sleep. ZZZzzzzzz……………………..

Image: “Red Dress I,” by Tara Gamel (AllPosters.com)