Resolved.

This year my new year's resolution was pretty simple: give up Dr. Pepper.


I gave up Diet Coke in the spring--aspartame creeps me out a little--and I figured since I didn't drink DP at home, one here and there would be fine. I might have had one every two weeks. So I was basically giving up something I didn't indulge in much anyway.


All in all, a pretty lame resolution.


Then two weeks ago my husband came home talking about this diet one of his friends had started. He emailed me the plan. And a sample menu. He was seriously considering starting this journey. We both had gotten sucked into watching "The Biggest Loser," and the reality of what we really needed to do--for our health, for our kids, for our overall well-being--had begun to sink in. It didn't hurt that we're planning a huge family ski trip for next December. Also on our "to do" list is baby Reed #3...and I definitely don't want to start out that pregnancy here.


But we didn't just jump in head first. We took the rest of that week to plan and think and research. The diet itself was constructed by a friend of ours who knows his stuff when it comes to nutrition. There wasn't one single aspect of the plan that seemed unreasonable. Lower calories, less sugar, more fiber, lean protein, healthy dairy, lots of water, green tea...moderation. Nothing seemed gimmicky or trendy. It made sense.


So we jumped in with both feet.


We started on Monday, before we got our own individualized plans, but we covered the basics. We cut our calories. We drank our tea. And water. I became very familiar with the locations of all the restrooms at school.


This journey has incredible promise. Until this week, I'd never put much thought into food. Eating. I've been on diets before. I've had success before. But I tried my best to take all the thought out of it. This isn't an easy fix. We have literally spent hours planning our meals. I almost did a happy dance in the middle of Brookshire's because I found a cereal low in calories AND high in fiber. I am constantly thinking about ways to vary our meals so that they are healthy AND appetizing. I find myself reworking recipes I see in magazines. Every day is like a little puzzle of food that I put together ahead of time. In order for the plan to work, I have to know exactly what I'm putting in my mouth.

We have spreadsheets.

I am embracing the sugar withdrawals. My new best friend is named Splenda.


Of course, the real moment of truth came Saturday when I stepped on the scale on Saturday.
I lost 4 pounds! Kevin lost 7!! Yea us!

I spent Sunday evening watching "Brothers and Sisters" and planning our menu for the next week. I am happy to say the process, while still quite a process, is getting easier. I don't have to plan so much for breakfast and lunch if I already know what dinner is going to be. Again, think food puzzle. Or, if you're like my husband, think competition.

Game on.