Many people would probably tell you that they try to live their life with no regrets. This probably means if someone offers them a big opportunity, they take a leap of faith and dive right in.

But I like to think that I “live with no regrets” on a much smaller scale. In my everyday decision making. [And of course you knew I was going to relate this to food and exercise!]

Take this scenario: It’s early in the morning and the alarm goes off. I am tempted to roll over and skip my workout. I ask myself Which would I regret more, sleeping in or a workout? Let me tell you, I have never regretted a workout!! There’s just nothing like starting the day refreshed. Sometimes it just takes 10 minutes of convincing myself that before I get up. But there have also been times when I’ve been really tired from tossing and turning all night or a sickness and I let myself sleep in. And those times, I didn’t regret it.

Have you ever regretted:

• Walking to your compost
• Eating cake on your birthday
• Having seconds of yourvery favorite food
• Getting up early to run on vacation on a beautiful beach
• Browsing a farmer’s market
• Going on a walk
• Drinking champagne on New Year’s Eve (OK, maybe if you had 5 glasses!)
• Bending like a noodle in yoga
• Enjoying a slice of buttercream cake at a wedding

Some things I have regretted:

• Having 4 slices of buttercream cake at a wedding (= sickly!)
• Not walking to my compost pile because the trash can was closer
• Skipping the farmer’s market for wimpy veggies at the grocery store
• A third glass of wine when I hardly remembered drinking it
• Driving instead of walking
• Mindlessly eating handful after handful of something at a party
• 5 glasses of champagne on New Year’s Eve…

Most of the decisions in this second list are choices that are very easily changed. They don’t require an overhaul of lifestyle – just a little effort and moderation. Not only do I try to make decisions that I know I won’t regret, I also have been working to avoid making the ones I do regret. There is a difference! I am working to live life with intention in everything I do – large and small.