Sweet Temptation

"One pound on. Can you think of any reason for that? Anything different you've done this week?"  

"I know why I've gained," Tracy said, as she stepped off the scales and put her shoes, cardigan and watch back on. "It was someone's birthday at work and they'd brought in a box of cakes from that new bakery in town. Oh Michelle, the cakes must be about a billion units each, but they're gorgeous!" 

Michelle jotted Tracy's weight in a booklet and handed it back to her.  

"Okay, just don't beat yourself up about it. One bad week doesn't have to spoil how well you've done so far. Just get back on the plan tomorrow, right?" 

Michelle had been a Group Leader at Star Slimmers for three years. She loved it, and the people who came to her evening classes loved her. Having dropped four dress sizes herself when she joined the club, she knew how much every pound lost mattered to her members, and was committed to helping every one of them achieve their goal, whether that was to wear a certain size dress for their son's wedding, or just to get an old pair of jeans on again. 

During the meeting, it became clear that the newly-opened bakery might have been responsible for one or two other members' disappointing results on the scales. 

"There's nothing wrong with a little treat every now and again, as long as you count the units," Michelle told her class. "However, while no food is banned with the Star Slimmers plan, if you do think you couldn't stop at one cake it might be better to have an alternative, like summer fruits with some natural yogurt." 

"Hmm, it's hardly the same as one of Sweet Temptation's Raspberry Choux Delights though, is it?" Tracy grumbled, which was met with murmurs of agreement. Another member replied, "Yeah, they're good, but have you tried their Butterscotch Cream Meringues? I'm telling you, they are better than..." 

"Okay everyone, let's leave it there for tonight," Michelle said quickly. "Right, are we all going to have a successful week?" 

"Yes," the class chorused, somewhat unenthusiastically - probably because for more than half of them, tonight's weigh-in had taken them a step further away from their targets. 

 

 

That night, Michelle slept badly, when she slept at all. She kept thinking about what Tracy and the other members had been talking about. She had visions of Raspberry Choux Delights, Butterscotch Cream Meringues and another one someone else had mentioned whirling around in her mind. Cake had always been her downfall when she'd been overweight herself; nowadays she recognised it was her trigger food and wouldn't let herself go back there, not even on her own birthday. 

She didn't want to, but she knew that going to Sweet Temptation was inevitable. 

A quaint, old-fashioned bell dinged as she entered the shop. The owner, dressed in a traditional black and white waitress outfit, smiled at Michelle from behind the counter. 

Michelle allowed herself to take in the bakery's seductive offerings. It was easy to see where the shop got its name from: everywhere she looked, there was something to test the willpower of the most determined dieter. Whether your passion was cream, caramel, pastry or chocolate, everyone's tastes were catered for in this sugary den of temptation. 

"Oh, hello Michelle." It was Pat, one of her members. She looked suitably embarrassed to have been caught Red Velvet Cake-handed. "What are you doing here?" 

Michelle thought quickly. As a Star Slimmers leader, there was no way she could give her real reason for being there. 

"Well, after everyone was talking about this place, I decided to come and see for myself," she said, looking across at the owner. "I might see if I can estimate how many units are in some of these cakes, so people could have the occasional one if they really want to." 

"Oh, right," Pat said, her cheeks turning almost as red as the cake she was holding. "Well, I'm just buying this for... someone else. My boss. He loves the cakes here. It's not for me, I'm being good, promise!" 

"Glad to hear it, Pat. It'll be worth it next week," Michelle said, knowing full well that Pat was lying and wishing she'd just leave. Now she was in the shop, Michelle hated herself for what she was about to do, but she knew she had no choice. 

As Pat left, keeping up the pretence by holding the cake-box almost at arm's length, Michelle smiled at the woman behind the counter, who laughed.  

"Don't worry, Michelle, your secret's safe with me. Now come on, your amazing cakes won't bake themselves." 

"No, I guess they won't," Michelle said miserably. "If I didn't need the money..."