This is almost funny...

Starting over AGAIN.  I'm tellin' ya, it's not easy.  Yes, the decision to lose weight is simple, but then you have to follow through and overcome bad habits in order to do it - THAT, my friends, is not easy.  Most days it sucks.  I detest being hungry.  I hate exercise.  Yes - there are fast ways with specialty diets and designer foods to shed the pounds (I've done it!) but eventually, the bad habits can creep back in, because you've not done the REAL work of breaking those habits and establishing healthier ones.  And what are those healthier habits?

Proper diet and regular exercise.

Imagine that!

Ugh...

Well, as I always say to my children, who complain when I ask them to do something they don't want to do - "I didn't ask if you wanted to, I asked you to do it."  It's time for me to take that advice and just do it.

2 weeks

As promised by reducing my caloric intake by 1000 calories per day, I'm down 4 pounds - that's 2 pounds per week! But I have to admit, it's getting harder. Temptation is everywhere, and it's too easy to say "Oh, I'll just eat this and eat less of something else later." Bargaining isn't a good habit to get into. Back to basics, and I'll just have to deal with the fact that there will be times I feel a bit deprived. It's OK. In the end, it's all good.

I need to eat better, not just for my weight, for my health! I don't want to be the 46-year-old sitting in a beach chair the whole day - I want to be running and playing with my kids.

So I just finished a lovely ham sandwich, and I was able to eat it without mayo. I LOVE mayo, but it's just not good for me right now, until I can learn to have it in moderation. Same with cheese, and potato chips. Gotta just put them aside. It's OK. It's all good.

Day 11

Wow! I'm still doing this! I'm amazed I've kept up the counting for 11 days now, and as promised...I've lost 3 pounds so far. Not bad! Starting to exercise, too, now that my ankle is feeling better. I'm encouraged.

Day 5

I've stuck to using a food log for 5 days now, and I'm keeping the number of calories I ingest to between 1400 and 1600, which if calculated correctly, means I'm supposed to lose 2 pounds per week.

I'm doing this because I need to be healthier than I am now. I'm feeling very old, and I'm only turning 46 this year.

Writing everything down has been helping. So, here I am starting again. I've dropped 1 pound so far. I'm on my way.

I'll never use fabric softener again

Ever since a friend, who's an appliance repairman, told me that fabric softener was essentially scented pig fat, I've been thinking about alternatives. Plus, my son suffers from chronic eczema, so I'm open to anything that might point to the "smoking gun" regarding his skin problems.

Then I read this article from Organized Home.

In particular, this part about simple (and cheap) white vinegar: "White vinegar is a natural deodorizer, absorbing odors instead of covering them up. (And no, your bathroom won't smell like a salad! Any vinegar aroma disappears when dry.) With no coloring agents, white vinegar won't stain grout on tiled surfaces. Because it cuts detergent residue, white vinegar makes a great fabric softener substitute for families with sensitive skin."

That's all I needed to read and I was substituting white vinegar in my next load of towels.

Guess what. It worked. My laundry smelled...well, clean. My towels were still soft. I did one more load with my boys' clothes - perfect! I'll never go back.

Now I'm wondering what other chemical cleaners I can get rid of...

Food Diary 4/3

Breakfast:
2 oz. Monavie Active
1 cup Cheerios
1/2 cup whole milk
coffee w/milk

Mid morning:
Coffee w/milk

(I drink a lot of coffee, apparently)

Lunch:
6 boneless hot wings w/sour cream dip
1 apple
ice water

Snack:
1 Hersey's kiss (ha!)
coffee w/cream

Dinner:
2 oz. Monavie Active
Slimfast Shake
Water

I have a show tonight, so I tend not to eat much on show days. I'll probably have a glass of red wine when I get home tonight, and a few crackers w/cheese.

Jillian Michaels

I went out and bought her 30-day shred DVD, and then signed up for 30 days of online coaching. I figure it's the next best thing to having her live in my house and kick my butt in person. My little weight loss counter is posted to the right, so you all can track my progress! I'll also be posting what I eat every day in order to stay accountable.

The formula is easy - calories in minus more calories out equals weight loss. The best way for me to get calories out is exercise, something I've been putting off doing for years. If I don't start soon, I'm just not going to be any good to anybody. I want to be active with my kids while they're still young.

Hopefully my journey will inspire others to make a commitment to a healthier lifestyle. Living healthy is paramount. Weight loss is just a bonus.