Skinny Tuesday

In an effort for self-improvement this Lenten season, I am embarking on a life changing journey. I am fed up with being BIG and lazy! So, I have started Nutrisystem because clearly nothing I was doing was working. I feel very excited about the program and like the idea of prepared, prepackaged food that I don't have to think about. I am very committed to doing this and be successful, it is an awful lot of money to throw away! Two of my friends have had success with this so I know the program can work. It adds the element of discipline to my life while making it virtually easy to eat right. There is no question about what to eat or not eat, and you add in fruits, vegetables, protein, and fats to balance out. I don't have to count points, carbs, or figure out anything - just a little measuring to see what a true "serving" is. Today was day one and it went really well. Not hungry and I felt satisfied and actually enjoyed what I ate.

So I know that it is typically Fat Tuesday, but for 2 reasons I changed the name. 1)Putting a positive spin on my official start date, and 2) went out last night to indulge (and have been pretty good all last week) before I began this change, so yesterday was Fat Monday! Now, I apologize if this post is a little off, but I was out until 2 am (closed 2 places!) and for a thirty-something mom of a toddler, that is virtually unheard of! So, I am a little tired today to say the least. And it was a busy day. But I started and already feel lighter - in my head, I am sure, but I will take it!

I am working on an exercise challenge (starting Monday) and other various self-improvement activities (flossing, taking supplements faithfully, skin brushing, going to bed at a decent hour, etc) throughout the period of Lent. Also some parenting stuff because I found that I have strayed a little too far off center in ways that I feel are important. Ever since I traveled home last fall, I have not been able to get it together and that is my goal. When I came home it was the holidays, company has come once or twice, I have battled a 2 month plus sinus infection, teething toddler, and work stuff. I took a backseat, and thus, my body, my self-esteem, my self has suffered. During Lent, I want to take the time to establish some good habits to carry me through for after. A sort of stepping stone, per se. I look at it as God gave me this person so I better take good care of it! You know, your body is a temple and "be all you can be" and all that jazz.

I am doing this with a good friend, and so far everyone else has almost shocked me with their support. I expected it, but it feels so good to be so lifted up and encouraged. There is an element of craziness of the Nutrisystem thing to me, and also some embarrassment. Why couldn't I do it on my own? Well, I clearly could not, and want to take drastic measures so I can meet my goals. I need something this drastic for me to stick with it. A shock to my system to retrain me in the eating arena. As for the other goals, as well as this, I will elaborate more as I continue down this path I am sure.

I did not tell my family and am trying to time a visit home after results are noticible and I feel firmly entrenched and comfortable in the program. I have given up drinking for at least this month because I want to see just how well the program works if you follow it to the letter. I will tell my family, but I kind of wanted to surprise them and "show" them it works without too much "insight" on their part.

Prior to this, I have been living a life of indulgence - lunches out with drinks, dinners, more drinks, good food, etc. Going to all my favorites one last time (3 times over in some cases!). I know that supposedly diets are bad because it leads to all this binging beforehand, but I really think there was an upside - I can feel the effects on my body and don't like it! I am burned out on it all really and sooo ready to leap forward into this program.

Again, I will analyze the program more, my progress toward all the goals, and other insights as I go through. But my eyes are closing and I NEED the bed right now. But in summary, on this Skinny Tuesday, I start the journey of positive changes of my lifestyle. Here I go, I am on my weigh...