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Introduction Text "It's never too late to become what you might have been." - George Elliot -- For the first time in my life, I don't "feel" I'm on a diet. And for the first time in my life, I "feel" I'm making significant, sustainable changes to my health. On October 20, 2008, I committed to adopting a plan to lose weight once and for all. Following many failed, guilt-filled attempts at dietary "cleanses," raw veganism, and the like, I decided to make things easy on myself and adhere to the tried-and-true formula: if calories out exceed calories in, then weight will decrease. While I have a sedentary job, my lifestyle tends to be fairly hectic, especially when classes are in session. So my "plan" consisted of three small, grab-and-go meals a day, ensuring a caloric deficit. A typical day included a Mott's Fruitsations snack cup for breakfast; a Lean Cuisine flatbread melt for lunch; and a more classic Lean Cuisine for dinner. I was taking in roughly 800 calories a day, lasting all of ten (days, that is). This is, of course, discounting the occasional (read: 80% of the time) sugar binges to which I succumbed whenever someone brought donuts, brownies, cake, cookies, or candy to the office, which is generally quite often. I learned of SparkPeople via the blog of someone to whom I'm subscribed on YouTube, who happened to be starting a diet plan the same day I was. A commenter linked to the site, and having never heard of it, I clicked out of curiosity. And was, of course, immediately indignant. In hindsight, I don't know what it was that made me join despite my determination not to take part in an "online fat camp;" perhaps I was simultaneously put off and prompted to action by a latent admission that I am indeed fat. Either way, I'm glad I did so as early in my journey as I did, lest I'd have subjected myself to six months of starvation, deprivation, binging, guilt, and a complete and utter lack of change. It wasn't long before I was creating a profile, chasing SparkPoints, and hunting for friends. Much like my introduction to Facebook (to which I'm now of course addicted), giving it a chance changed my stubbornly dogmatic mind. Shortly after beginning to browse I came across the article that would rock my little diet's world: Dean Anderson's blog titled "Finally! The Diet to End All Diets!". It made so much (common) sense that the truth of it was unavoidable: why engage in a lifestyle you wouldn't even see yourself sustaining once you get to where you're trying to go? In fact, why not just live now as if you're already there? Of course I knew I wouldn't be living on Lean Cuisines forever; I just figured I "had to do what I had to do" for a quick fix. But I know from my own experience that nothing worth having comes easy. That, and I believe strongly in the power of suggestion: in order to be the part, think, talk, walk, act, and *eat* the part. For whatever reason, though, I hadn't applied that to my personal pursuit of fitness. Much like a wayward child, if I broke down and had one brownie, I'd figure I may as well have another, as well as a handful of candy, a soda, chips and dip, and steak fajitas with all the fixings while I'm at it. After all, I'm already in the trouble zone, so I'd better take advantage of the opportunity to "be bad" since it'd already presented itself. Now that I've begun to "live fit" and rendered null and void The Diet, however, I'm no longer a victim of the give-up-when-you-mess-up mentality. Now, I recognize that I probably will have a brownie ever so often once I reach my ideal size. But knowing that I exercise enough to counteract the occasional treat will eradicate its guilt. And, as such, I won't have to drown myself in more sugar to assuage it. I don't claim to have the perfect plan; in fact, I don't claim to have one at all. There will undoubtedly be days when I emotionally eat and feel regretful. More often, there will be (and have been) days when I realize I've learned and progressed from where I began. In a pinch I can reconstruct leftovers into a balanced meal, eyeball appropriate portions at a restaurant, and withstand the allure of office potlucks, all sans Lean Cuisines. Every day I get a little better at this than I was before. Such is, well, life.

- To receive for every 15-lb. loss a schedule of rewards including speech, sewing, voice, piano, & bass lessons. - To receive additional "milestone" rewards including: -- a spa day for weighing in under 200 lbs.; -- a "night out" for a dress size below 14; -- new piercings for a waist size under 35"; -- cycling and/or running shoes for leaving the overweight BMI zone; -- a custom corset for attaining a waist size under 30"; -- swim classes/attire for attaining a single digit size; -- tumbling classes for body fat below 20%; & -- an international vacation for the ultimate goal of a dress size ¡Ü 6 & a waist size under 26". - To attain measurements as close as possible to 34D-25-37 by May 6, 2014. - To become a certified fitness instructor and/or personal trainer by a date TBD. - To complete a triathlon by a date TBD. - To compete in a fitness contest by a date TBD. (Maybe.)

I will not count calories. I will rely upon what has worked in the past--that is, a moderate diet primarily consisting of water, vegetables, and lean protein; a little conventional wisdom; and common sense. I will cease all eating, snacking, and related activities no fewer than 2 hours before bedtime. I will strive to attain at least 1.5 hrs. of physical activity 4 days a week. I will encourage myself. I will not quit when I falter. I will succeed. -- Current fitness plan: MTRFS (am) - interval walking MF (pm) - LB strength circuit & cycling w/ yoga cooldown TRS (pm) - UB strength circuit & swimming/rowing w/ yoga cooldown -- Next weigh-in: 7/30 Next reward goal: 8/27 (sewing lessons)





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