Why do I do it?
What is it about women and learning from our mistakes? Why do we repeat behaviour that only leads to one place… Trouble, with a capital T… I am not talking world shattering or life changing errors, I am reflecting on ‘diet’… Let me qualify… I have been a bit of a baddie… I have been over indulging myself in the finer things of life and suddenly I have a not-so-sweet little addition around my middle to remind me… a 3kg BF that seems rather fond of me… How does this happen? I do know better?
Wine + Bread + Cheese = Disaster (maybe add a croissant or 3 into the equation…)
I am going to blame France… not my greedy self. It is her fault she bakes all those baguettes and bottles all that wine. Her dairy industry just needs to call a halt… no more Brie, Chevre and Camembert… and those patisserie chefs must get out of the kitchen… what on earth are they thinking? They are causing me grief… and they need to stop!
Seriously… the truth is that I do know the dietary perils of living in France… What have I done about that?… Have I learned from my previous over indulgence? No, absolutely nothing… Every morning I wake up bright and bushy tailed with the very best of lean intentions… no more bread, less rosé and absolutely NO cheese… I make it to lunch… extraordinary, aren’t I… and then all my self discipline evaporates as my taste buds water and my hands hover over the bread basket… Yesterday I had lunch with my lovely friend Heather… I drove to Saint Rémy de Provence to meet her, promising myself that a light salad and much still water was all that I would partake of… The excitement of seeing her got the better of me… What did I order? Grilled warm goat cheese on thick crusty sour dough bread… seriously good… and… green salad on the side… What did I wash it down with?… You guessed it… the most delicious rosé… I am a lost and un-disciplined cause! Monsieur Dukan and Mr Atkins would be horrified.
My behaviour got me thinking. Why do we loose our control when we know that we should take a pull? Why is it so hard sometimes to say no? I think for me it is the summer and it’s the time I relax and enjoy all the offerings that France so openly shares. I know these languid, lazy and rosé flavoured moments aren’t forever… as the days shorten I can feel summer slipping away and real life sneaking up.
That’s my logic… or excuse more likely… and not a very good one… seeing that I am here more often than I’m not… and knowing that the bread, the cheese and the wine are constant temptresses… Moderation must prevail if 3kg doesn’t become 5 doesn’t become 7… Time to stop talking and start moving.
Do you know what I mean? xv
