The week following the Christmas holiday is the worst in terms of sticking to any regular routine.

So I don't. The past few years I've stopped fighting it, pretending I can eat my balanced meals and hit the gym with the intensity I traditionally try to do, thinking I will curb my alcohol intake this year. It just doesn't happen. There are treats that I really and truly only get to have this time of year - cookies, my sausage stars, JP's ham sandwiches ... the list goes on. And there are parties - last night's parties alone I had mulled wine AND martinis, not to mention a mini cheeseburger. I am a sucker for miniaturized food. And last week there was tapas with pata negra and Manchego and bacon-wrapped dates.

Bacon-wrapped dates. For God's sake people - bacon-wrapped dates. Those are two of the most glorious food combinations ever. It is the marriage of awesome and amazing. And I not only had it when we went out for a friend's birthday party, but also at a party we were at last Saturday. Don't get me started on the organic scotch at Thursday's party, or the sour cream dip. I mean, it was one of those tastes that, if I think about it long and hard enough, I can still taste it in my mouth.

My point is that this kind of nonstop, constant bacchanalia of food is what happens this time of year. Partaking in it doesn't make me "bad" or "good" or "naughty" or whatever. It's just what I'm eating.

And so one of the ways in which I combat all of that negative self-hatred is to just give myself a break and not get my stomach twisted up in knots for the extra cookie or the extra martini. Everyone is indulging a little bit more this time of year, no need to hole up in my house, hating myself, promising myself a detox in a week, because I had pizza three days in a row. Better to just smile and enjoy it, and head off to ice skate with my friends because 1) it's a nice way to get some exercise outdoors in the wintertime and 2) because there promises to be wine and cheese after we're done.

So in this week, I challenge you to enjoy the holidays. Go take a long walk in the snow, looking at lights, with your iPod on and a few podcasts of This American Life. Go take some Bikram, and then kick back with a glass of eggnog. Meet your friends out for some cocktails and good cheer, and cheese. I always recommend cheese.

But most importantly, I challenge you to give yourself a break.

Posted by Erin at 01:55 PM | filed under: Random