The goal for this week is to be intentional. To be in the moment no matter what I am doing....so often I graze while watching TV or a movie. I'm not aware of how much I've eaten till all of a sudden the popcorn bowl is empty.

So here are some suggestions to help with this problem.

1. Say Grace before eating. It sets the mood for a level of mindfulness. Anything approached with reverence is less likely to be abused.

2. Get Hungry. Do I ever really experience hunger? Learn to recognize my body's hunger signals. Don't eat when I'm not hungry.

3. Food is Not Love. I don't need to overmedicate myself with food. It is not a substitute for comfort, security or love. Food is not an emotional crutch.

4. Food is not background music. Stop the constant flow of unconscious eating. Be aware of what I put in my mouth.

5. If it doesn't taste good, don't eat it. I will resign from the "clean plate" club. I will put my fork down between bites. I will actually taste my food.

Daisy Dilema: Can I focus on my food without obcessing?

Mood: Tired

In a brave gutsy move yesterday I packed up all my fall fat clothes and gave them away. I am determined that I am not going to be "that size" again. So this fall I will reward myself with a new fall wardrobe or I will be very cold!

We have way too many clothes. Half the items in my closet don't fit correctly or I don't like them. Seems like I resort to wearing the same handful of outfits over and over again. I do the same with the receipes I make. So I transferred my summer clothing into my closet, bagged up my winter items and took them to the mission.

We have so many clothes upstairs in the attic that I need to go through also. I don't know why I'm holding on to them. So I want to start going through them and get rid of them. They aren't helping anyone in the attic.

Goal of the Day:

1. Weigh myself in the morning
2. Eat a healthy breakfast
3. Pack a healthy lunch with snacks
4. Fill my water jug
5. Do exercise video
6. Plan a healthy supper
7. Write down what I ate
8. Stop eating by 8 pm
9. Get a good night's sleep
10. Stay away from my red light foods.

Daisy Dilema: How many times can I keep starting over?

Mood: baby steps!

Ok, I admit. I've had some really rocky starts, lots of stops, and many many detours. I realize this desire to lose weight is just a wish till I actually get serious about it and change my eating habits.

I did a few things right this week. I did get lots of exercise planting our garden. I did weigh in with my friend at work and this Thursday will be our first offical (did you lose any weight and why not?) weigh in.

I am recording what goes into my mouth (ok, so I started today....but at least I started!) I'm looking at portion control, high protein, good carbs, and no sugar. I do better if I cut out bread and sweets altogether. I don't miss them if I don't have them in my system. A little bit of sugar makes the cravings more intense and the next thing I know I've eaten way too much.

So for now they are definitely red flag foods. I agree with Leslie Sansone's quote:

When our energy is good, we're all capable of making good food decisions. The slips happen when we're tired, starving, rushed, or simply overwhelmed by temptation.

So here's to a good start this week!

The Lord our God said to us in Horeb,

You have dwelt long enough on this mountain. Turn and take up your journey and go to the hill country of the Amorites.....Behold, I have set the land before you; go in and take possession of the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. Deuteronomy 1:6-8

Moses points out to the Israelites that it was only an 11 day journey from Egypt to the promised land, yet it had taken them forty years to get there. I have dwelt on this mountain long enough....it's time to move forward.

Daisy Dilema: Do I have the courage to move out of my comfort zone?

Mood: Deliberate

Here I am planting my vegetable garden. Soon I will have so many fresh vegetables that I will need to either can or freeze them or set up a roadside stand.

I love fresh vegetables and they don't come much fresher than stepping out your front door to the garden to fetch "a mess of green beans" or gather crooked neck squash; tomatoes or fresh lettuce for a salad.

We planted tomotoes, bell peppers, eggplant, cabbage, cauliflower, squash, zuccini, cucumbers, lettuce, green beans, spinach, and herbs. It was a lot of work so I got all my exercise points in for the entire week. I certainly found lots of muscles that I never knew I had that are screaming at me today.

I haven't canned in years so it will be a relearning process. I may even have to come up with a whole new arsonal of receipes to showcase my lovely veggies. I so want to make some fresh salsa, and spagetti sauce.

Daisy Dilema: Can you really have too many vegetables?

Mood: Hopeful of the" fruits vegetables of my labor!"

Today went well in diet world. I got up with a positive attitude. I approached life with zest and worked hard in the gym all morning. Lunch was lovely as we ate outside on the picnic table. The view was great and the company (Mr. Wonderful) was good also.

This afternoon went well. I even excerised on the stationary bike on the porch this evening. We had stir-fry chicken with veggies. I drank all my water and if I had gone to bed it would have been perfect.

But, unfortunately I didn't go to bed. I stayed up and was over whelmed with the desire to eat bread. I could have done many things to divert myself away from the kitchen and thus the object of my desire but that would have been way to simple. One slice became two and two became four and the next thing I knew I had eaten way too much.

Daisy Dilema: What did I learn from this experience? I learned that I can't be trusted around red flag foods. I either need to substitute better choices or go to bed.

Mood: Confused by my lack of will power.....or should I say "Won't" power!

Monday starts in just a few minutes. Yes, this is That Monday that I start eating right, drinking my water, exercising and focusing my mind on healthy things. I want to be healthy, have energy and feel good. I'm tired of looking like him.........>

Just got through talking with my friend Sandy about Weight Watchers. She goes , weighs in and leaves.

I've not been in long time. Chirpy finally got to me. Just too much perkiness for "my weigh of thinking". Still I believe in accountablity (apparently not enough to spend 11 dollars a week to have some one weigh me!).

So we have decided to do our own WW program. We will continue to weigh-in on Thursday's and I promised to start listing everything I put in my mouth and let her look it over. I'll do the same for her. So .....built in accounability!

I need to have some one looking over my shoulder saying, "Well, I see you got into the chocolate chips this week. How's that working for ya Sparky?"

What I have been doing (nothing but wishing!) hasn't brought about the desired results so a change is definitely needed.

Daisy Delima: Atkins? Weight Watcher? Moderation?

Mood: Stressed

Who is that Fat Lady sitting on the bench over there? It looks like my Mr. Wonderful but who'se that with him?

It's me!

Here I am in a beautiful setting (the New York Botantical Gardens) and I'm bigger than life and taking up most of the bench!

Time for a action plan.

Daisy Dilema: What's the plan for now?

Mood: Determined

I have been so busy traveling lately that I've not really paid much attention to this blog. We went to Savannah and had a marvelous time but I also ate everything known to man. I gained four pounds......the same four pounds that I have gained and lost so many times before.

I lost the four pounds only to find them again in New York. I don't regret my food choices. They were wonderful. I do know this has to be hard on my body......the gaining and losing, gaining and losing.

So once again......now that I'm home for a while I will get serious about losing some weight. I want to be on top of my game and in the best shape I can possibly be. I loved taking pictures of our adventures but wow......who is that fat lady?

So with new resolve I start again. Today went well. I was actually hungry today. I drank my water and was really active. I need to start my exercise program again. I got a good start walking all over Manhattan.

Daisy Dilema: What do I try now?

Mood: Hopeful