Motivated by Macaroons

This is sponsored content from BlogHer and The Laughing Cow.

Here's what motivates me to exercise: cherry almond scones, big slices of birthday cake, wine and cheese parties, Coca-Cola from the fountain, dessert menus, macaroni with béchamel sauce, movie theater concession stands.

I don't enjoy these things on a daily basis (usually not even on a weekly basis), but when the opportunity arises I certainly don't want to have to turn down the world's best-ever almond croissant or a slice of sticky pecan pie. If macaroni and cheese is on the menu, I want to be able to order it. If I'm celebrating a birthday, I don't want to ask for "just a teeny-tiny-itty-bitty piece, please." I want the corner piece, the one with all the extra frosting.

And I definitely, definitely don't want to feel guilty about eating something. Who wants to eat some buttery caramels or crème brûlée just to feel guilty about it? Doesn't that just ruin the whole experience?

So here's what I do: I exercise. And I add up all the exercising in a little bank account in my head, which I then get to spend on things like milkshakes and cheesecake. Sometimes I slack (okay, often I slack) and my bank account ends up in a deficit--in other words, there will have been way too many goodies and not enough exercising. In which case, I just increase the exercising and decrease the goodies until I am back into a positive credit territory.

(When my "bank account" is running low, I also work extra hard on eating right. For the past couple of weeks, I've been bringing Laughing Cow Light Wedges to work, along with some crudites or apple slices. Together these items make great snacks--and help keep me out of the office candy jar which is NOT an easy task.)

***

A few weeks ago, my friend Lauren and I were texting about a 5k we were planning to run. We had been sending each other text updates on our training and I made some half-joking comment about not being able to finish the race.

"That's okay," she responded, "there's a great cupcake shop on the route and we'll just detour if we need to."

Seriously, ALL THAT RUNNING AND WE WILL HAVE EARNED IT. What's a Girl Gotta Do for a Cupcake? Run 3.1 miles, give or take a mile.

***

Share any funny story, video clip, picture etc in the comment section and you will be entered to win $150. Please keep your comments G-rated as any profanity or offensive content will automatically disqualify you from sweepstakes entry. You should also Visit Daily Laugh Hub on BlogHer to read funny content each day and for weekly chances to win $100 at the “Play For Laughs” game. If you share something really funny, we may even use it in The Daily Laugh!

Rules:

• No duplicate comments.
• You may receive an additional entry by linking on twitter and leaving a link in the comments.
• You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.
• This giveaway is open to US Residents aged 18 and older
• Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail.
• You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

Check out the official rules, too, if you like that kind of legal stuff.

Comments

[Kirsten]

My one and only time on the giant exercise ball actually landed me in the doctor's office. I was laying there draped over it and couldn't move. No one was in the room with me and I was yelling for help. They had to get me a WALKER and get me into a car where I was taken to the doctor's office. NO more exercise balls for this girl. In fact, the site of one sends shivers of fear down my spine! LOL

[carol y l]

My granddaughter asked me why my teeth were yellow. LOL

[April]

My husband and two friends and I were visiting a local theme park that had tiny zoo-like enclosures throughout the park. My husband and I were standing at a fence admiring the flamingoes when an older man walked up, took a look at the flamingoes and said to nobody in particular, "Well I'll be doggoned, they've got red chickens!" We had to get away very quickly before we fell into a puddle of laughter.

[Liza]

When my little brother said, "my daddy toots every morning," in front of my grandparents. They were not impressed.

[Brandy B]

Even though my hubby says I'm beautiful and sexy just the way I am, my mom called me "big boned" not too long ago. Ugh! Now here come the painful workouts.....

[Brandy B]

Tweet: https://twitter.com/mrssquigg/status/1475821017505792

[Chrysa]

Why did Santa's little helper feel depressed?
He had low elf esteem

[Chrysa]

tweet http://twitter.com/LuckyJinxy/status/1481867593256960

[kimbly]

About the only thing that I run away from.. is exercise :/

[Geoff K]

I've found a key to staying on track with my workouts is to plant my stationary bike in front of the TV in the living room and watch lots of Food Network shows and "Top Chef" to remind me of some of the good food and decadent desserts I might treat myself to on the weekend if I stay on target for the entire week. So far so good!

[Geoff K]

I tweeted: http://twitter.com/guettel78/status/1502505041141760

[lilshuga2001]

My boss yells to me " I knew you could do it" its cuz you are MEXI-CAN!!! :)

[Sand]

While in NYC we walked just about everywhere so as not to feel guilty for indulging in everything!

[janet]

A neighbor and I played badmittion in a cirle area by my drive and another neighbor lady in her 60's backed way into the circle and drug my net down with her car because she didn't want her hubbie looking out their front door watching us as we played in the evenings. lol I was so mad:( needless to say we played without a net and lost some weight anyway that summer. Our hubbies got a good laugh.

[R Hicks]

I try to workout at least twice a week maybe 3. I do aerobics, stretching, and light weights.About a month ago, my two cats were more than frisky one morning. No matter what I could not get them to leave me alone while doing some situps. I then proceeded to do leg stretches and lo and behold there they were thinking it was play time. I decided I would hold one in each hand and used them as weights. It only lasted less than a minute and they must have thought I was nuts.

ardy22 at earthlink dot net

[R Hicks]

tweet

http://twitter.com/Ardy22/status/1532401008246784

ardy22 at earthlink dot net

[Cookin' Canuck]

Here's a silly anecdote from our family: My 5-year old son asked if we could visit a lighthouse. When I responded, "Maybe we can someday. Why do you want to do that?", he said, "So I can meet the president." Apparently there was a little confusion between a lighthouse and the White House.

Good luck with you 5k and enjoy that cupcake!