The Thick and Thin of Things

When I first returned to Montana, someone noted that she thought it would be a change for me because "people here don't take care of themselves the way people do in big cities."  She was referring to looks (this person's favorite focal point) and clearly had never been to Milwaukee.  She is a fitness fanatic, and the comment made me laugh.  In my opinion there is very little difference in the relative weights of people here versus those in Chicago.  With one notable exception--me.

I have never been particularly good at maintaining a workout schedule.  Such is largely (pun intended) the case because I didn't have time.  When you're working 80 hour weeks, the last thing you want to do during those precious few free (and sober) hours is exercise.  And so I figured that having more time would mean that I, naturally, would become Giselle within weeks.  So, am I now a supermodel?  Yep.  One from 1982 who has spent the past 30 years locked in a Hostess factory. 

I guess I can see it.  Much of my free time is spent baking things.  Cookies, brownies, pies--you name it.  And, as my son is not exactly a human vacuum when it comes to food, I thereafter eat the (carmelized) fruits of my labor.  Moreover, in a city you definitely walk a heckofalot more than you do outside of one.  Plus, I lived on the fourth and fifth floors of a walk-up.  One that did not contain an elevator.  Lugging a child and the billion pounds of crap he/she requires up four flights of stairs will keep you from being 50000 pounds. 

And so, I must either do something about my ballooning waistline, or I must resign myself to becoming the cliche of which the woman spoke.  Any suggestions?  Hold on, I need to get a brownie before I read your response.