Here we go!

So, here it goes.  Today is Friday, August 27th, and I am turning a corner in terms of my health and well-being.  

I got on the scale for the moment of truth-- I didn't want to see it, but there it was, staring me in the face.  209.5 pounds. 209.5, I will never see you again.  Don't let the door hit you on the ass, thankyouverymuch.

I have thought long and hard about strategy.  What will make this time different than the other 300 times I have tried to lose weight?  Motivation has always been a struggle for me.  This is all about baby steps, this time around.  I'm not going to bite off more than I can chew (no pun intended) and I'm making smaller goals.  The first is to get out of the 200s.

One of my big challenges in all the years I have done Weight Watchers is that despite the fact that I have stayed within my points range for the day, I haven't necessarily made the healthiest choices.  Sure, I would count that can of Coke, but it's a can of Coke.  12 ounces of sugar.  Not good for my body.  So I have decided to count calories using Sparkpeople.  It's FREE and it tracks calories, fat, carbs, etc.  I really want to have a good overview of what I'm taking in.  It's going to be a challenge to start thinking in terms of calories, but I'm willing to give it a whirl.  I have been so inspired by reading Kevin & Amanda, who calorie counted with Sparkpeople, and also a new blog I came across yesterday and LOVE, Mama Laughlin (she is hilarious, and has a very inspiring 60-pound weight loss.  Go check it out for inspiration.)

So here's what I'm thinking, in terms of my first guidelines I'm setting forth for myself.

- Stay within a 1,200-1,500 calorie range daily, and track EVERYTHING I put in my mouth (that's what she said.)

- Drink at minimum 64 oz. of water daily

- NO MORE TONIC, which really means soda, but I'm from Boston and that's what we call it.

- Also, no diet soda, because aspartame gives me headaches.

- Blog daily, no excuses

- No eating after 7pm

And there you go.  Do I have other goals? I sure do, but I'm not going to implement everything at once.  This is a gradual change over to a new lifestyle.  Not a diet.  A lifestyle.