I have to say I'm feeling the pressure to lose weight after such a big loss the first week. I hope I will lose again. The last couple of days have not gone the way I thought they would. Or, maybe I'm just not a good time manager and didn't control my time the last two days . . . .naaahhh. That can't be it, right?

Ok, I have a little endorsement. I had one of the very best salads I've ever had Monday at Longhorn. I believe it was called Grilled Chicken Strawberry Salad. It had (obviously) grilled chicken and strawberries, and grapes, mandarin oranges, paper-thin red onions, feta cheese, and candied pecans, over that really healthy lettuce that is dark green and purple with all the stems, topped with Raspberry Vinaigrette. It was SOOOO good. It was probably a lot healthier too than the seafood, cheesy dip that I REALLY wanted. :-))

I am also working on making the switch to Diet Coke when I can't get water or unsweet tea. I am a Coke girl---NOT Diet Coke. But, how has that been working out for me? Well, obviously not too good. Otherwise, I wouldn't be trying to lose 100 lbs. So, the REAL THING has to step aside. I'll miss you Coca Cola Classic. I'll be drinking your sister, Diet Coke, but I will always love you.

I also have discovered Milo's Tea sweetened with Splenda.(Thanks to Angie) Its very good. I can honestly say I don't miss the sugar. That's not to say its exactly the same. Its not, but its an excellent substitution. I like it much better than the Diet Coke, but you can't get Milo's tea with Splenda at the movies, or the drive thru window.

Still no exercise this week, but I PROMISE to do some sort of exercise today or tomorrow. (This blog is so good for keeping me accountable. It really works) See you soon! Have a good day!

Week 1 **Weigh In**

Y'ALL!!!! OMG! I lost NINE pounds!!! That's right! NINE!!!! I weighed 3 or 4 times to be absolutely sure I was reading that right. I still can't believe it. WOW!

I am asking myself what I did that would lead to such a big number. Obviously, my diet was TOTALLY different this week. I haven't eaten that much fruit in months. Brian & I also grilled a lot, and ate many more vegetables than we normally would have. But, I did not exercise daily. In fact, I only went walking one day. I think giving up salt probably led to some water weight loss. My diet this week also had much more fiber in it than normal. That's much easier for your body to process.

This week my goal is to continue to eat healthy, and to add exercise. Hopefully, that will get my metabolism going. If you don't know I HATE to exercise . . . . but I LOVE what it does for me. And, I always feel really good about myself when I finish. So, that is a habit I must form. Once I'm in the habit I won't mind so much. Plus, you feel so much better for it.

I am still in SHOCK over this--but its a good shock. However, now the pressure is ON for week two. I have watched MANY seasons of Biggest Loser, and the second week is often a lot different on the scale. So, say a little prayer to the weight-loss Gods for me. See you soon!

Day Seven

Ok, tomorrow morning is weigh in! I am all excited now, but if I don't lose weight it could be bad! Naaahhh. I won't do anything crazy (like eat a bag of chips with some yummy dip). Although, I do worry I won't lose much. Everybody keeps telling me I'm getting older and it will be harder to lose weight (thanks for that, by the way). I guess we'll know tomorrow.

Today was good--mostly. I saw Diary of a Wimpy Kid with Madelyn & Stephanie. Then I officially got my first listing! Yaaaaaaaayyyy!!! However, when I got ready to leave my car wouldn't start. So, tomorrow I have to try to get that fixed. Bummer! I wanted to buy new shoes for walking/exercising, and now I'll be spending my money on car repairs. Oh well. Hopefully it won't be terrible. Life knocks you down, but you can choose to get back up.

Next week I must start exercising. Its a must. I did go walking Friday, and I very much enjoyed it. However, I know I must do something EVERY day. That will be the goal--to move toward daily exercise. Keep your fingers crossed for the weigh-in. I'll let you know how it goes!

Day Six

Well, week one is almost complete. I am proud of my progress. To say my diet this week has been different would be an understatement.

Wednesday Brian & I ate dinner at Logan's. I had Grilled Salmon, Broccoli, and a grilled veggie skewer. (It really was a plate full of healthy) Then, Thursday night we grilled Mahi Mahi, and ate corn on the cob--oh yeah, and a salad with the healthiest looking lettuce you have ever seen. (you know the type--a bowl full of stuff that looks like you walked in the yard and gathered it up. Why can't good ol' crunchy iceberg lettuce be real healthy?) Last night everybody else had pizza from Pizza Hut (a personal favorite of mine), but I had a grilled chicken sandwich and baked tostitos with salsa. Not bad, huh?

I also exercised--ONE DAY IN A ROW! Me and a friend went walking in the park. I did not want to. I may NEVER want to, but I know I must. So, I walked--and I really enjoyed being with my friend. It definitely helps pass the time. And, let me say, there was the HOTTEST dude walking the path @Charlie Daniels Park. GIRLS!!!! The scenery was good, very good. But, I digress. My shoes were NOT so good. I have a new pair of shoes, and let me just say, they will NOT be my walking shoes. I have been informed they are actually RUNNING shoes. I do NOT run. You don't get a body like this by doing a lot of running. (If you ever see me running--keep watching. There is probably a grizzly bear chasing me.) These damn shoes just about crippled me. OMG! Seriously. I love them, but they are AWFUL for walking. So, all that to say I must get new shoes.

I went to a Mexican restaurant today. Definitely a challenge. However, I got flour tortillas to eat the salsa with, as they are not fried. (WAY lower in fat) Yesterday I went to a movie. This normally equals a gallon of Coke and a tub of popcorn, dripping in butter. Instead, I got a small popcorn w/no butter, and a small diet coke (ugghh) That's what the skinny people do, right?

Ok, lets talk about SALT. I eat a lot of salt. I'm not saying its good for me, but I eat it. (AND, I don't want to hear you say, "you shouldn't eat that. It's bad for you". I KNOW its bad for me. Shut up) Anyway, I have a new rule: I do not add salt to anything unless I just absolutely cannot stand it without the salt. This seems to be mostly tomatoes and potatoes. I know this is a positive change, and I'm proud of myself for making it.

That's all for now. Two days 'til weigh in. I'll keep you posted.

Good Morning all! I didn't post last night because it was "Biggest Loser" night. Let me just say, last night they had a "temptation". It was a room full of food--GOOD food-- hot wings, french fries, pizza, donuts, chocolate cake. You get the idea. Now, I'm a big girl on day two of a lifestyle change. I've eaten more lettuce and fruit in the last two days than I have in the last two MONTHS! I have to tell you, they were killing me with the cheeseburgers and hot wings!! OMG! I was so DAMN hungry! But, again, I did what the skinny people would do--I ate a damn orange and went to bed hungry!

My new challenge seems to be exercise. I'm doing pretty good with the food thing, but I have not exercised. (Unless you count the walk to the bathroom--lots of fiber in my new diet. My body may be in shock from all this "healthy" food) I HAVE to start exercising EVERY DAY. I know that about myself. Once I make the habit, it will be fine. But, making the habit may be very difficult. However, I AM a Reed, and I do NOT give up easy. (have you met my parents?) So, stay tuned, I will keep you posted on my progress with exercise.

Well, I'm off to eat another orange, and pack my lunch full of salad and fruit! We are having Grilled Mahi Mahi, grilled asparagus, and corn on the cob for dinner tonight.

Well, so far Day One has been pretty good. I was COMPLETELY off schedule today--literally from the time I got up. BUT, that's good in a way too, because that is my normal life. Its completely off schedule and full of the unexpected.

I left much quicker than planned this morning. This equals NO BREAKFAST--never a good thing, especially on a diet. At lunch time we were in Cool Springs and needed to be in Mt. Juliet showing properties. This equals DRIVE THRU FOR LUNCH & EAT IN THE CAR--also not good for the diet. But, instead of getting the cheeseburger combo, I got a salad. It was pretty good--not nearly as much dressing as I would have liked, but skinny people don't eat 1/2 a bottle of dressing on their salads, now do they? (So, I choked down that dry-ass lettuce, because I knew that's what the skinny people do) Tonight for dinner we are having veggie burgers on 100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Rounds, and pasta salad.

So, while I realize I may/may not have received Dr. Oz's approval for my food journal today, I can promise you this was a MUCH healthier "food day" than normal. I will continue to improve and eat well. I will also work on the exercise portion of this new, healthier lifestyle. We did not walk today as I had hoped. Maybe tomorrow.

Ok, YES I do realize that it has been DAYS since I last posted. I've been busy. What can I say? BUT, I wanted to be sure to post tonight because I plan to weigh in the morning, and begin my weight loss journey.

Because I have lost weight in the past (and gained it back), I realize that I will never be "cured" of this weight burden. Its almost like alcoholism. I will always be a foodaholic, but hopefully from today forward I will be in control of this addiction. I know that I have to eat healthy for the rest of my life, so I don't want to say I will NEVER eat certain things again. However, I do want to begin this healthy lifestyle with 21 days "cheat free". This means I can't eat anything good for the next 3 weeks. If you encounter me during this time, tread lightly--I could be in a delicate (aka CRAZY) state :-))

I have a fridge full of salad and fruit. I plan to walk tomorrow, and possibly go to the Y. Like I said, the next 21 days will REALLY be a change for me. But, in the end, it will definitely be worth all the hard work. I will keep you posted on my progress. Thanks for your interest!

Hi everyone! This is my very first blog post. I'm not sure why I'm starting a blog. I am computer illiterate, and certainly blog illiterate. I hope to learn though. Ugly Betty has a blog. Brea has a blog. I don't know. I just decided I should start a blog. I wanna be like Brea & Ugly Betty(who is going off the air, btw).

I understand you are supposed to blog about a particular thing. Since I don't want to break any bloggin' laws, my main topic will be my quest to lose 100lbs. Does anybody know Bob & Jillian from Biggest Loser? Could you have them call me? Actually, they kinda scare me a little. WHEN (yes, I said WHEN not IF) I lose this 100 lbs, my mama (affectionately referred to by me as Judith) is going to take me on a trip. I don't know where yet--an Alaskan cruise would be great! I'm always up for Hawaii!! She had better start saving!

Please know I am not dieting today! You know a good dieter is always going to start tomorrow! I will also confess I stopped at Publix on the way home, and got some Haagen Dazs! How's that for the first day of my new diet blog?!!! LMAO Hey, I had a stomach virus yesterday--I need a little treat.