With that rationalization in mind, Ashley picked up the phone and placed her order. While she waited, she scanned through the TV channels, looking for something to pass the time. She stopped on an old sports game, feeling a twinge of nostalgia as the players she used to look up to ran and jumped across the screen. Her thoughts drifted to her own days of athleticism, and she felt a pang of regret for what could have been.
The doorbell eventually rang, snapping her out of her reverie. She hobbled over to the door, her knee still aching, and took the warm bag from the delivery guy. The heavenly aroma of fried chicken filled the apartment, making her stomach rumble in anticipation. She carefully laid out her feast on the coffee table, her eyes gleaming as she saw the crispy pieces of chicken piled high next to the greasy fries.
Ashley tore into the food with gusto, savoring each crunch and bite. The taste was as divine as she remembered, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort wash over her. It had been too long since she'd allowed herself this indulgence, and she wasn't going to waste a second feeling guilty about it. Her eyes flickered to the TV, now playing a commercial for a new workout program promising fast results. She scoffed and took another bite, the grease coating her fingers.
Her phone buzzed with a message from Melissa, asking if she wanted to grab drinks after work the next day to celebrate the end of the quarter. Ashley's initial thought was to decline, knowing that she needed to get her diet back on track, but something about the tantalizing aroma of her dinner made her feel rebellious. "Why not?" she texted back, feeling a thrill at the prospect of letting loose for once.
The next evening, after another long day at work, Ashley found herself at the local pub with Melissa and a few other colleagues. She sipped on a sugary cocktail, feeling the stress of the week melt away with every sip. The laughter and banter around her was infectious, and she couldn't help but indulge in the greasy appetizers that were being passed around the table.
Melissa nudged her with a knowing smile. "You're looking a bit more relaxed tonight. Did you get in a good workout?"
Ashley laughed, hiding her half-eaten chicken wing behind her napkin. "You know me, I'm all about balance." She took a sip of her drink, the sweetness of it contrasting with the salty chicken. "How about you? Did you hit the gym today?"
Melissa rolled her eyes dramatically. "Please. You know I save my cardio for running after the ice cream truck on weekends." The group erupted into laughter, and Ashley felt a twinge of jealousy at her friend's ability to joke about her fitness without a care in the world.
The next couple months at work turned into a blur of late nights and high-calorie celebrations. Ashley found herself ordering in more often, her fridge filled with Tupperware containers of leftovers from the office's frequent catered meals. The occasional workout became a distant memory, replaced by the comforting hum of the office microwave.
Her once tight-fitting work clothes began to strain against her growing waistline. Each button she undid at the end of the day was a silent acknowledgment of the pounds she'd put back on. Yet she pushed the thought away, focusing instead on the immediate relief of escaping into her stretchy pajamas and collapsing onto her bed.
Her workout gear gathered dust in the corner of her room, a stark reminder of the commitment she'd made to herself. Every time she saw her sneakers, she felt a pang of guilt, but she quickly shoved the feeling aside with the promise of "starting fresh" on the following day. That day, however, never seemed to come.
The waistband of her favorite jeans grew increasingly tight, a constant reminder of the indulgences she'd been allowing herself. When she tried to button them one morning, she had to take a deep breath and suck in her stomach, and even then, she could feel the fabric straining against her. With a grimace, she switched to a pair of looser yoga pants, telling herself that it was just a temporary solution until she "got back into the groove."
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