When in Rome . . .

So, I realized (a while ago) that there is a relationship between my diet, my level of physical activity and men. I call it the "When in Rome" Factor, as in "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."

Example #1: Sporty Guy and Workout Guy. Sporty Guy is the guy who stays in shape by playing a lot of sports. I am really attracted to this guy. In college, I was with a great basketball player; I LOVED watching him on the court. I would go watch him play at the gym and would get in a workout. I was very fit that year because he played a lot of basketball. Workout Guy is the dude who is just big on the gym in general. He takes vitamins and drinks protein shakes, too. When I'm with him, I'm big on the gym and vitamins. The last Workout Guy I was with, I worked out so much I dropped a size in pants in a couple months. (I also discovered that when you live with someone and they get on your nerves, the gym is a great place to escape to. So perhaps my level of physical activity in that situation was somewhat related to the fact that the last Workout Guy REALLY got on my nerves)

Example #2: High Metabolism Guy. Those are the bastards who can eat whatever they want and not gain weight. They usually have HORRIBLE diets, which usually means they eat REALLY GOOD food. And they also make me want to cook for them. When I am dating High Metabolism Guy, I am constantly making him cupcakes or brownies, and we are usually going out to eat a lot. Naturally, I GAIN weight with High Metabolism Guy.

There are exceptions to this theory. For example, Diet Guy. I HATE this guy. I usually do not date him for very long. In fact, I find a man who watches his weight VERY UNATTRACTIVE. I went on a date not too long ago to a soul food restaurant with a man I thought might be a Diet Guy. Here's how the conversation went:

HIM:I wonder how their salads are . . .
ME: You're going to order a salad at a place that specializes in fried fish? Are you serious? You better not order a salad.
HIM [after a pause]: I wonder how their shrimp is . . .

For some reason, I just think a man who orders salad for dinner (unless we're at Fresh Choice) or asks for a lemon in his water because it will speed up his metabolism, is just not really a man. Diet Guy doesn't encourage me to eat healthier, he just disgusts me.

I think that in the end, it's important for me to be with a man who is supportive of my healthy lifestyle, without being critical of it, and who practices a healthy lifestyle of his own. Oh yeah, and he cannot have attended a Weight Watchers meeting or own a Diet book.

Oh yeah, how did I do today?

Good:

• Drank a lot of water (no soda!)
• Ate breakfast
• Snacked on fruit
• Skipped the fortune cookie
• Did the stairs at Lake Merrit
• Had a vigorous step practice
• Took the stairs and not the elevator in my building

Bad:

• Chinese food for lunch
• Wine with dinner

The journey continues . . .