Dieting.

This may be the most personal blog I've ever written. So with that in mind, tread lightly because this is a sensitive topic.

I weigh too much. How much? I'm not comfortable putting a number on the internet. Let's just say my BMI puts me into the "Obese" category, and I'm determined to change that.

With small steps.

One of my goals before I turn 23 is to lose 20 pounds. To be honest... I had considered putting ten. That would've been easy - but I'm hoping to go above and beyond 20. My goal is actually to lose 100 pounds. If I lost 100 pounds I would be considered a "healthy weight."

How am I going to do this? Here are a few things B-man and I are using:

1. We're walking the dogs. Every morning. Further and further. We started out with a 30 minute walk, but eventually we'll get up to jogging. I really need to work on building up strength in my hip - which keeps my from wanting to go jogging for fear of weeks of pain.
   


2. I bought a book. A cook book. A diet book. I don't know. It's by Taste of Home magazine, and it's called the "Comfort food cookbook diet." Here is why this works for me:
   


It all looks delicious!
It does not depend on fish or other seafood to get the low calorie count.
It does not depend on bell peppers for the flavor. This is a big one as bell peppers give me the worst heart burn ever. EVER!
It's easy.

And lastly? It has 6 weeks of meals already planned out for you. You just have to buy the ingredients and make it. And these recipes aren't just some thing a chef came up with, but tried and true recipes from people who have had success with this diet.


3. We're using the above methods in combination with The Hacker's diet online. It's just an easy place to keep track of your progress and goals, and it gives you a good idea of how many calories to cut out in order to lose "x amount" of weight a week.
   
   
4. That's the fourth thing. We're calorie counting. It sounds scary, and crazy. The only thing that makes it easier is that every recipe in this cook book is already counted up!
   
So... any "diet cookbook" that includes donught



And pizza pockets...



Is okay in my book!

I get the impression that people think I'm a confident, capable young woman. In most cases, that's true. But really - I hate the way I look. I hate the way my clothes feel. I hate the number on my pants. I hate the way my heart races when I walk up a hill, or the way my hip hurts when I'm just sitting down. I look in the mirror and see some one who is fat, and ugly, and I am going to change it.

Weight has always been emphasized in my family. Diets and work out plans and relatives telling me "You'll never find a husband if you weigh that much." Ridiculous. I'm not doing this for them, I'm doing it for myself. Because I want to like myself.

The End.