Daily Journal
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I've been on a constant diet for the last two decades. I've lost a total of 789 pounds. By all accounts, I should be hanging from a charm bracelet.

~ Erma Bombeck ~

Erma sure had that right!  Of course, the depressing side of it is that no matter how much I've lost through the years, I've also managed to gain it all back with some extra!  I'm not even going to contemplate the math on that.  I am determined to make it different this time.  I'm really trying to think of this as something other than a diet.  I’m changing my “life style”.  That sounds better, but no matter how you dress it up, I’m on a diet.  I’m taking the first step on a long, long journey.  Blah, blah, blah.  Honestly though, starting a diet is much easier than sticking with it.  Quitting is easier, yet.  One reason I’m doing this blog is in the hope that it will help me stick with it.  But, I can’t do anything until I start, so this is it.  Here is what I ate today: 

 Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through him who
strengthens me.

I've been on every diet in the world.

The best one is the BBC diet: Buy Bigger Clothes.
~ Gary Owens ~

Oh, if only it were that easy.  I don’t think anyone can blame me if I say I hate clothes!  I mean, I’m not going to walk around without them, but I hate looking at them (I know they won’t look like that on me!), I hate shopping for them (This is where I get confirmation that it won’t look like that on me!), putting them on to wear later (because I know they don’t look that good on me, and hanging in my closet hasn’t changed it!).  Thus having to admit that “hey, maybe it’s not the outfit, maybe it’s me!”  Boy is personal responsibility a pain in the “you know what” (which also doesn’t look all that great!).  I know I’m fat (not chubby or overweight, but fat), I hate being fat, I’m tired of hating that I’m fat.  Well, I’m doing something about it.  I eat too much and don’t exercise (read that move, I’m a slug) enough, so that’s why I’m here.  Feel free to join me!  Misery absolutely loves company! Here is what I ate today: 

2 Tim 1:7 (AMP) - For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

Have you noticed when you go on a diet, the first thing you lose is your temper.
~ Robert Orben ~

So, today I’m going to talk about skinny people.  They just make me so angry!  I once heard a preacher talk on this topic.  Basically, he talked about dieting, and how it always seems there are all these people around who eat all the time and never gain an ounce.  You know the ones.  They are oh so slim and eat like it’s their last meal, at every meal.  It appears that they can just eat anything they want and it doesn’t make them fat!  They have a metabolism that just doesn’t seem to produce fat.  Well, the upshot of the sermon was simply that I’m not one of those people and moaning about them wasn’t going to take off the weight!  There’s that “personal responsibility” thing again.  Envy is an ugly thing.  While it is hard not to wish that I was one of those skinny people, being upset at them doesn’t help me to burn off any calories.  Guess I’m just going to have to ignore them and move forward with what I have to do!  J  Here is what I ate today: 

Proverbs 14:30 (ESV) - A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.

Diets are for people who are thick and tired of it.
~ Jacob Braude ~
 

 If you're not going to play to win, you might as well hold the Olympics in someone's back yard.
~ Jessie Owens ~

Boy was today a test.  I knew going in that some days would be harder than others.  I accept that and believe I am up to the challenge that I am facing.  It is hard not to get discouraged when the progress is slow.  I know I didn’t get here overnight, but it was a lot easier to put the weight on that it is going to be taking it off.  I blame the big mirror in my bathroom.  I was taking a shower a few weeks ago when a sudden movement caught the corner of my eye.  Just for a moment I wasn’t sure what I was seeing and the thought flashed through the mind that someone had walked into the bathroom.  I couldn’t for the life of me figure out what that naked fat lady was doing in my bathroom.  Of course, I soon realized that I was that fat lady.  What a rude awakening!  So I’m set on my path and will not falter!  Here’s what I ate today:

Romans 1:17 - And Jesus said unto them... "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you."

Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow ye diet.

~ William Gilmore Beymer ~

Have you ever notice how much easier it is to eat food that isn’t healthy? My food choices have been a bit limited this past few days. I’m working on it, but I need food that I can take to work with me and eat at my desk. I’m trying to eat with the family at night as much as possible, just skipping the extra fattening stuff. I can get my full 1200 calories, but I don’t want to eat them all at one meal. I need healthier stuff. I am trying to put together a variety of easy things to take to work and plenty of little “snacky” things so I won’t start eating candy bars. I have a weakness for chocolate and ice cream. The yogurt with fruit seems to be working well. I like it and it seems to satisfy my ice cream craving. I love carbs: bread, pasta, cookies, cake, potatoes, etc. I also know that the surest way for me to lose weight is to cut down on the carbs and up the protein. This may not work for everyone, but it really seems to work for me. The Green Giant vegetables for one (comes in little individual microwave trays) seems to be a good choice and a healthy one. Going to go shopping tomorrow and see what else I can find. Maybe I need to hit the fresh veggies and fruits a little more. Here’s what I ate today:

In order to succeed you must fail, so that you know what to do the next time.
~ Anthony D'Angelo ~

Well, the first week is over.  I weigh in tomorrow and will see the results of the past weeks effort.  I hope to see some results.  Even if I don’t, I’m not going to quit.  I have a goal and I’m going to stick with it.  I hope to lose 1 – 2 pounds a week.  If I can average 1.5 pounds per week, I will be where I want to be in a year + 1 week.  Since my first week is over with now, I only have 1 year to go.  A year from today, I will be where I want to be.  I have 80 pounds to lose.  That is a lot, but others have done more and I can do this.  I think I have done the Eat, drink, and be merry part.  I’m up to the diet part now.  I will succeed in this endeavor.  Here’s what I ate today:

I’ve lost 2½ pounds!!!! I can personally verify that success is the greatest motivator of all time! This is actually working. I know that 2½ pounds may not seem like much when I have so much to lose, but I am absolutely thrilled. I’ve been on fad diets where I’ve lost more than that in the first week, but they always seem to come back just as fast. I’m aiming for 1 to 2 pounds a week with an average of 1½ pounds per week. I’m in control of my weight. Boy, does that feel good. I don’t feel particularly deprived or anything. I had a couple of days where I felt unsure, but now I’m off and running. Ok, I’m off and crawling. I’m keeping the turtle and the hare story in my head. I’ll gladly be the turtle, since that is who actually won the race! Here’s what I ate today:

The surest way not to fail is to determine to succeed.
~ Richard Brinsley Sheridan ~

You know how sometimes you start to do something and way back in the back of your mind you have doubts about success, and end up failing? Then there are times that you really, sincerely, inside believe your will success, and then you do? I’ve been contemplating success and failure lately. I have failed a lot and I’ve had some success. I think one area of my life where I have definitely failed is taking care of me. It’s been much easier to put it off and worry about it later. I really don’t want to have to do this again. I’m not sure why this time is different, but it is. No reason. My health hasn’t suffered, yet. I just really want to feel better and have more energy again. I’m tired of being a slug. Maybe this is the first time I’m doing this completely for me. Maybe that’s why I really believe it’s going to work this time. Something to ponder, anyway. Here’s what I had to eat today:

Proverbs 16:3 - Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.