I have been reading a lot of blogs about weight loss, healthy living, and exercise. Some have been inspirational, some sad, some funny, some just a bit odd, there are those that are very popular and some not so much. After reading them, I thought hey, I can do that, I can keep a blog/weight loss journal where I can also vent about the stresses I like to put the blame on for me not losing weight. Because hey, lets face it, I'm not the one who is to blame, or am I? My hope is that it will help me stay on track, especially if I have some friends reading it as well. Who knows what will happen. So, here I go, here is the beginning of my weight loss journey.

     So, I will be the first to admit I loathe dieting. Yes, to me right now it is called dieting, not a lifestyle change. You want to know why that is, because I eat healthy for the most part, sure I like to stop in at McDonald’s for an occasional fry or sandwich or have some DQ, but rarely do we eat at any fast food place. Rarely do we have any junk food in our house that I eat. So, for me this is dieting, plain and simple. I was so proud of myself for losing 35 pounds, now, I’m not so proud of myself; I have gained 20 back. Really. Yes, really. I am so angry at myself, I could just go eat a box of Girl Scout cookies, yes I said GS cookies, we still have a few boxes left, see I have been a good girl. I have found that the weight hasn’t really come from my eating unhealthy; it has come from not exercising. I am not saying I don’t eat too much, just not the too much of the bad food. I will be the first to admit I am an emotional eater, I get stressed I snack. Okay, so maybe I am not being very honest, with the healthy food, I eat mostly healthy, I love my chocolate and that is what I eat when I am stressed. I love eating out, which for a spell my family was doing it entirely too often (too often for us is 3 or more times in one week). 

     Now that I have established dieting sucks, now I need to decide what I am going to do about it. I have gained 20 pounds and my dress for my sister’s wedding, which is in 3 months, does not fit. I am not entirely sure that is my entire fault, I weigh the same now as I did in April (woo hoo, at least I am good at maintaining!!). What am I going to do about it? That is the question I am asking myself, as I think about the McDonalds value meal I just ate and the regular coke I just drank. (Insert pity party here). Okay, enough.

     What I am going to do about it is start over. I started exercising a bit, but I am going to have to ramp it up some to lose some weight. My long-term goal is 45 to 50 pounds, my short-term, hopefully 3 months, is almost 20. Can I do, sure I can if I stick to the plan and do not deviate. Counting calories sucks, I do not mind exercise; it helps me. I read a quote that sticks with me and I need to post it so I do not forget it, “The only people who really hate to count calories are those people who don’t want to admit how many they are actually eating” (Leigh Peele). That is exactly why I detest the thought of counting again. Do I really want to know what I am eating? Honestly, not really. I love being oblivious to that. But, for my health and to lose weight I need to stick to it.

     Counting calories and The New Rules of Lifting for Women by Lou Schuler with Cassandra Forsythe and Alwyn Cosgrove here I come, along with some spin and treadmill. I will do this. Don’t try, DO!!!