As I mentioned in this post, I have been off the diet wagon for some time. We have had more school delays and cancellations due to ice than I can count on one hand, and when it’s cold outside, I prefer not to leave my house. That’s why I will forever live in Austin- unless an opportunity to move to a Caribbean island presents itself, of course– It is warm here most days of the year. And by warm, I mean stifling, but after 105 degrees or so, it all starts to feel the same.

When it’s cold outside, I can easily overlook that fact that swimsuit season is right around the corner. All I want to do is eat calorie-laden food in my pajamas while snuggling with my little man. From pasta swimming in buttery cream sauce to enchiladas bubbling with cheese, nothing is off-limits.

After weeks of frigid weather, the mild temps indicative of a central Texas winter emerged once again. My days of hibernating at home were a thing of the past, I thought. I could shed my flannel pajama pants, venture out into the world, and embrace fruits and vegetables once more…

And then there was Valentine’s Day. Can’t a girl catch a break?

This was my candy bag after our V-day Party in 4th grade. The picture doesn’t really do justice to the sheer volume of candy and chocolate I received this year.

Have I mentioned that it is next to impossible to stay on a diet when you are an elementary school teacher?

I didn’t stand a fighting chance.

My husband and I are notorious for starting a new diet every Monday, and yes, I am aware that this habit that will do absolutely nothing to help either of us achieve our weight loss goals. It does ease a bit of the post-weekend gorgefest guilt, so, there’s that.

If only we could follow-through.

It’s another new week, and true to form, I have another new diet plan in place. After eating Mr. Gatti’s pizza all weekend long (literally all weekend long), I have decided that frozen dinners may be the answer to my weight loss prayers. Yes, they are high in sodium, but they’ve gotta be better than what I’ve been eating the past few weeks (which isn’t saying a lot). The convenience factor alone trumps the sodium concern, and you really can’t beat the built in portion control. Who want’s to spend their time measuring food and counting calories?

After a day with twenty-three talkative (understatement) fourth graders, one adorable six-month old baby, and two very needy dogs, cooking and cleaning seem to fall by the wayside more often than not. My husband and I finally broke down last week and had a maid come clean our house. It took the maid and her small cleaning army four hours to clean our 1,500 square foot townhouse, and it was worth every last penny. I simply can’t relax in a messy house, and I am too damn tired to clean it myself.

So, frozen meals it is… For this week, at least. Thank God for Kashi and Amy’s frozen dinners. I could live off of Amy’s bean and cheese burritos alone. And wine, of course, but that’s a given.

Perhaps that will be my new diet plan next week…

-Elleigh