It’s that fat time of year again.

You think I’d learn. You think that I would maybe, at some point, figure out that I get fat in the winter. And you think that I’d actually do something about it. You think after all these years I might even have the willpower to prevent it so that I don’t have to go through this yet again.

Especially this year. I haven’t been able to run because of my still frustratingly bad back so packing on the winter tummy-roll should have seemed to me a sure thing. Yet here I sit. Up over 10lbs from the summer and resorting to my comfy Lululemons just a bit too often. I feel crappy and I’m sure it shows.

But now I refuse to let it go on. This too is a bit of a theme. Once my pants become snug at the waist I decide to take action – sometimes effectively and sometimes not. But this time, because I can’t run myself back into shape and I abhor the gym (I try, I really do) and because I have somehow convinced myself that eating icing out of the fridge and a giant cookie with my daily Starbucks latte is A-okay. Because of these things I have gone back to old faithful – I have joined Weight Watchers.

Yup, I dusted off my post-baby Lifetime Membership card and went to my first meeting. I was relieved to see that, despite the winter weight gain, I am still within my range but not too happy to see how far I’d let it go. To motivate myself I’ve made a bet with a friend that I’ll lose 10lbs before she can. Also, I’ve promised myself that I will be comfortably sitting in my currently too-tight pants on the plane for my trip to England in April.

So, here I go again. I’m on Day 2 and determined. When will this cycle ever end?!