6 holiday parties down, none to go.

Well, I have certainly had my fill of holiday fare. As much as I have enjoyed myself, I'm glad the orgy of rich food is (mostly) concluded. So long, swedish meatballs. Goodbye, finger cookies. Adios, liquor-laced egg nog. 'Til next year...except next year, I won't eat like it's going out of style.

With this impending January 2nd sugar cessation deadline, I have been running unchecked...which is somewhat flawed logic, but it felt like a fitting bon voyage. Frankly, I'm excited at the challenge of no sugar once again. I did it before, and I can do it again, dammit! The only thing that has me twitchy in the slightest is giving up the alcohol. I really and truly don't drink much, but when I do...boy, do I enjoy it. Oh, white wine...sweet white wine, how I love thee. (sigh) She'll be missed. And I'll be a cheap date, once again.

I'm anxiously awaiting my return to the swimming pool, as well. Swimming makes me feel so, so good. Sometimes, after doing the freestyle for an hour, I get out of the pool and have to just kinda hang out in the locker room for a while before driving away...I guess it's the same as a runners high. Any which way, it's somewhat intoxicating, and it makes me feel giddy.

My goal is to look as good as Mariska Hargitay in a tank top. Granted, my bat wings will either flap away forever, or I'll have to have them surgically removed, but I'll still look hot with my toned arms and my ripped back.

2010...it's the year for Big Changes, Big Moves, Big Accomplishments. I can't wait. Bring it, '10! I'm ready for ya.

Here We Go.

Hey pals,

So I think in an effort to pay necessary attention to my caloric intake, the amount of exercise I get, and how much water I drink, I'm going to use this space as a daily food journal. I would encourage you all to do the same! This is a method that has been proven to assist in eating less...having to write down everything that goes in your mouth, much less share it, is supposedly a wonderful deterrent to eating too much.

I really think this is shared blog is a great idea, and I know that we can all accomplish our goals if we help each other along the way!

December 15th, 2009:

Breakfast:

1 banana

1 cup Chex cinnamon cereal

Lunch:

Diet Coke in a can (1 calorie, praise Jeebus)

2 servings Reduced Fat Wheat Thins

homemade pimento cheese--since I made this, I'm going to estimate 500 calories, and like 30 g. fat. Not so great, and I'm hooked.

1 serving Oikos greek yogurt with honey

1 packet of Lance Reduced Fat PB crackers
Dinner:

1 1/2 cups my moms butternut squash soup.

Treat:

Two cookies that I baked. I haaaad to test them before giving them away, and they are only 1 inch around. I can't believe I just justified a cookie. This is working already.

Water: 2 liters, approximately.

Exercise: 30 minute brisk walk with my 80 lb. resistant weight of Tonka.

So that's a total of about 1500 calories...not bad. Sugar and fat needs to come down, but still...not bad. I'm angling for 1200 calories a day, ultimately, but I refuse to eat Lean Cuisine for lunch. That shit is like cardboard with sauce on top.

I found a calorie counter database at http://caloriecount.about.com. I'm not gonna lie...calculating was a little bit of a pain the ass, but I think it will likely be worth it, in the long run. Any takers? Y'all wanna join me in this tedium?