Since I started writing this Lifecast, I’ve received numerous emails from readers asking me what my exercise routine is (above, a photo of my favorite form of exercise, courtesy of my husband, circa 2AM – and yes, I fell asleep in full makeup, apparently…helloooo gimlets). I understand that, as someone who writes about cooking, this is a natural tangent, but let me say this: ask anyone who knows me, and they will tell you that I am the last person to consult about working out…and the second-to-last person to go to with nutrition queries. I just do what I do, and I am not going to pretend that I am an authority on these matters.
The truth is that I don’t exercise per se: my general goal on any given day is to move as little as possible. That said, I live in New York City, and my primary modes of transportation are walking and the subway. I also live in a fourth-floor walk-up, which, when you have a dog, is basically a four-times-daily StairMaster.
Regarding nutrition, my rule is that I eat exactly what I want when I want to eat it (even if that means a sundae for lunch), and I stop when I’m full. I also cook most of my own meals (largely because it’s cheaper to do so and leftovers can be repurposed for the remainder of the week), which means that I have a good deal of control over what I put in my mouth (even though more often than not I choose…butter).
Obviously, though, I think that exercise and eating right are good things…even if I don’t always practice what I preach. My feeling is that each person should pay attention to what their body wants and do what works for them…because the answer really is that it’s different for everyone.