Alert Level: High

It's been a long day, but I'm feeling incredibly successful. I made it one more day without snacking. It's 10:30pm and I'm not missing my typical evening treat. It may seem silly to some of you reading this, but it feels like a huge accomplishment to me. A bowl of ice cream or popcorn after the girls go to bed is like an evening ritual - one that I was really dreading giving up. Praise God it hasn't been that difficult.

I promised myself that I would only weigh-in once a week so I wouldn't become obsessed with every tiny fluctuation, but I checked today as a means of motivation and found that I've already lost 3 pounds. :o)

So, the week is nearly done and I'm looking ahead to the weekend. I've raised the alert level to high - it seems like weekends and overeating go hand in hand around here! I'm going to stay focused on avoiding snacking and portion control. We'll be eating out at least once this weekend and my plan is to listen to my body and not "stuff" myself. Not once this week have I felt that "Oh I ate too much!" feeling and I'm planning on making it through the weekend without feeling it as well!

I'll keep y'all posted and let you know how it goes!

Feeling Snacky

I'm blogging because I'm in the kitchen making dinner and feeling "snacky". I've realized this is one of my weaknesses - I tend to snack while I'm cooking. This isn't like testing the soup for flavor or eating a piece of pasta to check for doneness. This is full blown snacking: chips and salsa, a granola bar, peanut butter toast - you name it. If it's in the kitchen I will eat it. I don't "count" any of this as a meal, but the caloric intake is probably comparable to what I'm eating at dinner - it's like a pre-dinner dinner. Maybe blogging during dinner prep will keep me busy and less tempted to forage for food? Let's hope so!

Welcome to Our Journey

Okay, so it's no secret that James and I could be contestants on the next Biggest Loser Couples. We have both continued to gain weight steadily over the last 11 years. Each of us has had momentary successes with weight loss, but neither of us has stuck with it and followed it through. That's all going to change right now. Between the two of us, we have a combined weight loss goal of 200 pounds. There are going to be no more excuses or "future" start dates. The time is now. If you follow our other blog, you have seen how quickly the girls are growing up. We want to set the right examples, be good role models, and better parents before it's too late.

You're probably wondering - why blog about it? We decided to start this blog to share our journey with you and provide ourselves with some accountability at the same time. Feel free to keep up with our progress as we post before and after photos and blog about our victories and challenges. We would love your feedback, encouragement, and advice.

And finally, I thought I'd share the story that is truly the catalyst behind this new journey and this blog. This past Sunday during Mass, an elderly lady sitting in the pew in front of me, smiled sweetly and said "Peace be with you...and your baby." I smiled back, not knowing whether to laugh or to cry. I can't blame her though - I weigh nearly as much now as I did when I was nine months pregnant with Olivia! Needless to say, that single experience lit a fire under me. The next time someone comments on my "baby belly" - there better be a baby in there! :o)