I'm Going To Do it This Time

I am going to do it finally. I have been resisting for months because I’m tired of failing, but it’s time to try again. I can only hope for the best. What is it? A DIET! Dum dum dummmmmm. Sigh. I have quite a bit of weight to lose. A couple of years ago I was nearly at my goal weight. I was on a plan called “Lean for Life”. It was one of those lower carb ones. Not no carbs – low carbs and low fat. I was on it for nearly a year, and it worked well for me. Then the summer came and I started having mocha slushes and going to barbecues, and the weight came back. Not quickly, but once I allowed myself some treats I continued. I remember telling people how I was afraid I was going to gain all of the weight back when I was at 5 and 10 pounds up. So, on some level I think I sabotaged myself. I’ve tried to get back on the plan several times, and haven’t made it past a week or two.

This time I’m going to try Bob Green’s plan. He was just on Oprah. Normally I don’t rush out and try the newest diet or whatever, but I really like his premise. I went out and got his book, “The Best Life Diet” and he has a website dedicated to the plan. It’s about making changes gradually. It has three phases, and in the first one you don’t even change WHAT you eat, yet. You mainly focus on getting moving, drinking water, and not eating 2 hours before bed. It’s during the second and third phases that you begin restricting calories and certain foods. Even then he says that you can eventually add them back. You see, I think that it’s unrealistic to totally ban certain foods. As if I’m never going to have birthday cake, pizza, or hot dogs ever again. Give me a break. When I’m over for a playdate with my kids at someone’s house, and they offer lunch to us, what am I supposed to say/do when she serves Kraft Dinner and hotdogs? Obviously, moderation is the key.

I also love his approach to exercise. There are five levels. Zero is where you do not exercise at all and five is where it’s a major part of your life. Find which level you fit into now and just move up one level. He’s not asking you to exercise everyday right off the bat. This morning, I walked on my treadmill (yes, I have one that I’ve barely used – Adrian has been using it a lot lately) for 15 minutes. I’d like to work up to 30 minutes everyday, but I’m going to take it slow. On that note, I have to go to a foot doctor. I could have walked longer today, but my feet were killing me! I don’t think that’s normal. I already know that I have issues with fallen arches.

The last couple of nights I didn’t eat 2-3 hours before bed. Bob Greene says in the evening when you get that nagging “I could eat something” feeling, that’s when fat burning is taking place. I did not know that!

So, here we go. I want to have this weight issue of mine under control. I'm tired of worrying about it. This time I WILL succeed because I'm not concerned with how long it will take me. I'm doing it for me and my health. Wish me luck.