A girlfriend of mine was telling me the story of a recent breakup. She was having a bad day, and needing some extra coddling, so she turned to her boyfriend and said: “You love me, right?” Of course, she was asking the question rhetorically. Which is why she had to ask him to repeat what he’d said when he responded: “I think we need to talk.” Ouch. Needless to say, they broke up. She said a month later. I probably would have thrown him out that moment, but I digress…

We’ve all been there, in some way or another. You ask your boss for a review and you’re told “Actually, we need another skill-set.” You ask your old pal when the wedding is and he stutters: “This is awkward. You didn’t make the cut.” Whatever your scenario, you’ve asked a question only to receive the very last answer you wanted. And yet, don’t these moments tend to simply expedite the inevitable? Sure, if you hadn’t asked, you could have spent another month in that job, or another month in a relationship. But, by asking, you took control of the situation, stood up and asked where you stood.

Once you’re in the know, you can take control of your destiny. Sometimes it seems easier to live with the status quo than to question what’s up. But if your gut instinct tell you to ask, you might want to ask yourself why you’re thinking about it. What if you could be happier? Moving on is only as scary as you make it.

I think the future looks bright.

The million dollar question faced by most of us at some point during the year (most prominently after holiday seasons) goes something like this:

“Do I lose 5 lbs, or buy a new wardrobe?”

While the “gut” instinct tends to favor the latter option, one’s pocket book and common sense collaborate to encourage weight loss.

I’m not talking about a huge change – I’m simply talking about the 5 lbs that stand between you and the button on your favorite jeans.

The funny thing is, that little bit of holiday flab was probably acquired by drinking more frequently than usual, spending too much time relaxing in a sedentary fashion while snacking, followed by festive dinners with 9 courses – all things that you generally can’t do in your “real” life anyway.

And yet, the thought of restricting yourself in any way is downright painful:

“You mean, I’m going to have to make dinner, and I can’t just pick up two burgers, onion rings and a poutine on the way home?”

“You want me to WALK the dog?”

“What do you mean I have to go back to work and can’t spend all day eating?”

“Why can’t I have a case of beer with lunch and the entire bottle of wine with dinner?”

Maybe the thought of losing weight after holidays is so painful because it’s really a reminder that the vacation is over, and all the stresses and obligations of real life: Family, work, finances, etc… – are about to kick back in. That little flab around your midsection is your body’s way of spelling relaxation, and giving that up is downright painful.

So, I haven’t decided which way I’m going yet, but as summer draws to a close and the fall season sets in, the days in which I can wear my forgiving flowing skirts are running out. And while I can squeeze into my favorite jeans, I sure as hell can’t sit down in them!