DAY 2

It doesn’t take long to realize that when you diet, the world does not diet with you. It’s day two of my new healthy lifestyle and already I’ve been faced with an invite for breakfast (pumpkin pancakes with peanut butter cups), lunch at McDonald’s, and yummy, buttery, salty popcorn at an afternoon gathering (it’s fall break time-kids are out of school in Indiana). Feels a bit like sabotage, but really it’s just the way of my life.

As I contemplated how I would coordinate getting in on the social fun without sabotaging everything I had pledged to just 48 hrs ago, I thought about the days ahead and realized that most every day, and every week will be one faced with food challenges and choices. Saturday is Halloween, Sunday is my birthday (mom invited me for breakfast and my family is taking me out for dinner), Tuesday is Pub Club (more on that to come), and so on. And so it is. But here’s the thing-other people manage to live and be healthy at the same time. They even appear to be happy…surely I can do this too!

So with a great group of family and friends on my side and knowing that with every pound lost I (we actually if you’re sponsoring me) am contributing to a great cause-this is enough. It’s enough that I managed to skip the pancake breakfast, eat lunch before I went to McDonald’s to hang with my friends, and passed up on any popcorn-and I am here to tell you, I wanted that popcorn! But, for today, I made it through. Tomorrow…you know what, I’m not thinking about tomorrow! Today was enough!

Day One

WHAT: My idea to lose weight and raise $$ for charity all at the same time.

WHY: Good question! I don't know-this idea came to me in the shower.

WHEN: Now-December 23rd. 8 full weeks to get healthy and make a difference for some kids in need-really in need...

WHERE: Me? I'm in IN...the kids? They are students of Christel House. Christel House is a charity with a mission to break the cycle of poverty. A lofty goal for sure, but one that Christel House is achieving. Christel House has 5 schools worldwide-3,000 impoverished kids are being given an education, healthcare, nutrition and more-all because of Christel House. It's one amazing charity-check it out at www.christelhouse.org.

HOW: I am collecting sponsors to donate X (x being up to the sponsor) amount for every pound I lose. My goal is to lose 10 lbs by Christmas. I will do it the really boring, really old-fashioned way; through diet and exercise...Can I do it? How can I not?

DAY ONE.

To be honest, I am sort of regretting this decision...It's 10:32 pm and I did really good today! But now, now I am ready to be done...I ate my healthy foods, counted my calories and did 30 minutes on the eliptical at the gym. So, after all that, now I'm feeling ready to reward myself. With food. A bit of dark chocolate, a nice little glass of pinot grigot...now doesn't that sound like a lovely way to end the day? So, I'm feeling a bit sad here. Maybe even a little lonely. The kids are tucked in bed, the hubby sacked out on the couch, and it's just me..me and my water. So, I'm kind of wishing I hadn't just asked everyone I know to sponsor me on this venture. Thinking that maybe I shouldn't have been so bold...Thinking it's a whole lot more fun to not be accountable.

But no way-not doing it. Will.Not.Give.In. Nope, I will stick it out. I will not give up on day one. I will instead, go to bed. That will ensure I make it until at least day 2!

Night all, Tracy