“A kick in the teeth is good for some,
A kiss with a fist is better than none.”
–Florence & the Machine, “Kiss with a Fist”

Miles Last Week:  47.5
Total Miles:  444.75

So, last week I decided that I was going to focus more on having fewer “rest” days and eating healthier.  Here’s how I did:

1. I only took one rest day, and I used it to see a stand-up performance by the hilarious Chris Hardwick. So, that could count as an ab workout, right?
2. My dad’s birthday was last weekend.

If you are in my family, you probably know what that means.  If you’re not in my family, you need to know that my dad’s birthday is usually around Father’s Day, and my mom always makes a family member’s choice dessert for his/her birthday.  We don’t even have to ask my dad what he wants on his special birthday/dad celebration–it’s always the same and has been for as long as I can remember.  My grandma even used to make it for him.

Italian Cream Cake.

If you haven’t sampled a bite of this cream-cheesy pecan/coconut goodness, you are definitely missing out.  Italian Cream Cake is considered so special in my family that my dad’s birthday/Father’s Day gathering is the only time a year we usually get it.  (Unless your younger sister was gone that weekend at Bonnaroo and your mom might be talked into making another one.  I mean, it’s still up in the air.)

You may think I’m overstating the deliciousness of this cake, but, let me assure you, I am not.  Seriously.  I found out today that my mom made this cake for a charity baking auction and it sold for $150. IT’S. THAT. GOOD.

So, how did I do on making healthier food choices?  There was Italian Cream Cake in my house–how do you think I did?  What was I supposed to do?  NOT eat the cake?  We apparently waste, like, forty percent of our food everyday, and call me crazy but there’s no way that I can stand for perfectly wonderful cake to be thrown away and not eaten by me.  YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND–DO YOU HEAR ME?

I may have a problem…  Hmm.  I should think about that later.

My diet philosophy through this 1,500 Mile Project is to try to achieve balance.  All things in moderation.  If I know I’m going to have something less-than-nutritious, I try to balance that out with having something slightly more nutritious.  Or, if I know I’m going to have to miss a day of working out, I try to do extra another day.

The best way I knew to balance out my increased consumption of cake was to likewise increase my fruit/granola intake.  Several of my lunches last week included apples, grapes, half a peanut butter sandwich, a granola bar, and Greek yogurt.  Then I didn’t feel too terrible about having a piece of cake after dinner.

I want to focus on balance and moderation because I believe that is the best way to maintain a healthier lifestyle.  I plan to stay away from extreme diets because eventually you come off the diet.  Because you haven’t focused on building better habits, everything comes back and you are right back where you started.  I want to change the way I live.

Did I make any progress?  Maybe.  I still have a lot of miles to go.