wear (and feel confident in) size 8 pants

Well, since I’ve accomplished nothing (and I do mean NOTHING) since the last entry, it’s time to reassess, and mitigate the damage. I’ve actually gained two pounds, which, considering the things I’ve eaten (everything) and the exercise regimen I’ve had (exercise?), is a good sign, I suppose.

So today I start the South Beach diet…again.

I’ve done it before, and it does work, especially the first two weeks. Why don’t I stay on it, you ask? Fine question – when you figure that out, please let me know. Once you get past the first phase, it’s really rather a normal healthy way of eating. The restrictions are sensible, so it’s the first two weeks that will be the problem.

sigh

There’s nothing more motivating that sitting around in your own rolls, dammit.

Okay, here’s my list of things to do every day:

1. Take the dog for a brisk walk.
2. Weigh myself (not to see results, but rather to remain mindful of where I am and what I want to achieve.)
3. Drink 64 oz of water.
4. Get a good night’s rest.
5. Walk around outside at lunchtime.
6. Stretch.
7. Skip dessert (maybe chew gum instead?).
8. Brush my skin.
9. Take my vitamins.
10. Start the day with a smoothie.

I’m currently a size 14, weighing in at 175. It’ll be interesting to see what a couple of months of this can do!

I recently read an article (on MSN or something…?) about some of the differences in the way men and women tackle the both the physical and psychological aspects of dieting. Aside from lifting more weight to build muscle faster, and to not beat myself up when I slip, the most valuable piece of information was the following: the 80% rule. The 80% rule is basically this – as long as you do an average of 80% of the things you determine will help you towards your weight goal, you’re doing fine. The idea is that some days you’ll do more, and some days you’ll do less, but overall you’ll be doing more than you would otherwise, and you’ll quiet the counteractive self- criticism that sabotages many of us.

So I’m instituting the 80% rule. I’ve got a list of 10 things that I want to do every day (some big, some little) that will help me towards my size goal, and if I can knock out an average of 80% each week, then I guess I’ll be doing great. I’ll certainly be doing much, much more than I’m doing now!