by Kristen Bagwell

It's amazing how many topics this question can cover. For some reason, the "should I or shouldn't I" question has shown up all over my life in the past few weeks. In that spirit, I've hit a few general / repeating topics below. There are about a bazillion more "should I" questions, though, so make sure to leave your comments below this post.

Should you or shouldn't you...

Eat the last piece of cake
YES! Unless it's been promised to the birthdayer, graduate, etc...go for it. You only live once. If you're feeling super guilty, email and tell me what you're eating; I can guarantee you that I have an exercise/calorie-burning or healthy food equivalent for you. (Example: entire bag of candy corns = two hours of incline walking or jogging, or 3h30min of moderate walking. See?)

Eat the last piece of cake after 10pm
If you can go with just one bite, have just one bite. If not, paste it to your thighs, because that's where it's going to end up. There are scientific reasons for this which probably constitute another blog. It's been a while since we've done a fitness topic, actually...stay tuned.

Start your own business
Starting your own business is like getting a puppy. You have to understand precisely why you want this, what your 30, 60, and 90 day milestones look like, and what your ultimate goal is. For example: I am getting a puppy because my dog is whining constantly and clearly lonesome. In 30 days, I hope the house has not been torn to bits. In 60 days, I hope my daughter has fully embraced the responsibility of owning the second pet that she begged for. In 90 days, I intend for the house to be running smoothly again. Long-term, I want the new dog to be a happy part of our family memories.

A business is the same discussion: do you need a quick fix (bored, need cash) or are you fulfilling a passion? Will it be expensive? When do you expect a return on your investment of time, sweat, money, etc? I am a big fan of lists, and this is a great list topic. If you can't list your main reason for starting a business, and set some milestones or goals, you may still be in research mode.

Start your own blog
This one is a little easier than starting a business - it's pretty easy (and usually free) to choose a name, choose a topic, and put yourself out there. The goals discussion still works here, though: are you venting, or do you have a business purpose? Are you trying to reach a particular audience, and is your subject matter focused appropriately?  How often do you plan to blog? Is the blog in support of a particular commitment? Like any other plan, you should take some time to consider your purpose and your goal, and that will help you make a dedicated start as opposed to just throwing some words out there.

Quit your job
Oooh, this is a tough one! If quitting your job gives you the time you need in your life, and if you can survive financially, why the heck wouldn't you do it? Still, there are some factors to consider: what will you do all day if not go to work? Can you create and follow a budget if you need one? Is this temporary or permanent? If temporary, does your company offer a leave of absence or sabbatical program to protect your job until you decide if you really-really want to quit?

I'm a big fan of "life is too short" but I also realize that life is expensive, so really take the time to weigh the pros and cons, as well as your reason for quitting. Could you go part- time and get the best of both worlds? Do you want to quit because you hate your current job, or because you don't want to work anymore, for anyone? The list goes on and on...and you'll definitely need your partner to weigh in on this one.

Contact the *insert one: relative, friend, former co-worker* who you know you should talk to, but gets on your last nerve within the first 5 minutes
This is easy - of course you should. Life is too short to take people for granted. Regardless of how you feel about it, your call will mean something to the recipient. Besides, if for some reason it doesn't mean something to them, you'll never have to do it again.

Fad diet to lose the last 8 lbs
Depends on whether you want to gain them back. The only way to lose weight and keep it off is to take in fewer calories than you burn daily. If you eat ice cream daily (or drink a bowl of wine, ahem) then an easy method would be to have ice cream only one or two nights per week, and start exercising consistently, 4-5x per week (cardio and moderate weight lifting for maximum results).

If you need to drop weight for an event, hit the diet shakes for a few days and guzzle water like it's your job. Just don't be disappointed if the weight shows back up in a few weeks. Easy tip: squeeze lemon juice into your water glass, and try for a gallon of water daily (twice the recommended intake). Lemon is a diuretic, so it will move the fluids out. The water will flush your system from the inside. It does not flush out your belly fat or inner thighs, but you'll at least lose the water weight.

Dabble with the cute guy from *insert one: the office, the pool, the neighborhood bbq*
Ooh, tricky subject for some...how far can you go before flirting becomes inappropriate? It's may be easy to get sucked in, especially when someone shows up who makes you feel less like an exhausted mom and more like a sexy, engaging woman. In this virtual age, texting and instant message can go pretty far pretty fast, and once it's out there, it's out there. We are here to support and never to judge, so I'll leave it with "use caution, my friends..." You may also want to check out this blog from a local expert who has seen the before and after.

Schedule time for yourself daily, weekly, and monthly? (That's "and", not "or")
YES! As selfish as it can feel, scheduling time for yourself is as important as any other appointment or commitment in your date book. Remember, if momma ain't happy...and it's not like it has to be an afternoon or all day. Take an hour to have lunch outside, alone or with friends. Get a pedicure, for goodness sake. Something - ANYthing - to remind you that in addition to being a mom, you are still YOU!


What "should you or shouldn't you" questions are on your mind lately?