\”Perestroika\” is a term I remember from the former Soviet Union under Gorbachev. Its meaning was given as \”new beginning\”. That\’s certainly me when I\’ve blown my diet big time the previous evening. Perestroika as in try, try again.

I don\’t know what was going on, but last night I totally lost control. I devoured as much candy in a few hours as I had in the previous week; and maybe more.

Possibly I was plain old hungry without realizing it. Could it have been stress? Yesterday morning I had to go downtown for a doctor\’s appointment; and after that, I had to go to work. That wore me out.

On days when I don\’t work from home, I have much less time for preparing and eating breakfast. On top of that, I have to drag along lunch and snacks. I never seem to be sure exactly how much food I need to bring with me; and if what I bring isn\’t enough, I end up eating junk food. On the other hand, I don\’t want to bring too much, and end up throwing it away.

We as cyclists also seem to be making new beginnings, over and over. If a big event is on the calendar, we work out a training plan: what aspect of my riding most needs improvement? Pace? Climbing? And we take it from there.

When the calendar is chock-full of events, after one event is past, it\’s time to recover a while; and then begin working towards the next thing. I\’m glad that I don\’t have that kind of stress. My primary reason for cycling is the pleasure in movement.

But when Tour de Cure is over? Start something new!