I know I'm the only one that starts "diets" with unbridled enthusiasm. Excited to start fresh. Get your eating under control. Sugar? Who needs sugar?! I love salad. I really do. Grilled chicken is probably my favorite protein to eat. I feel so good after I get a workout in. Sweat is my fat crying.

This is the new start to the new me.

I’ve been doing the new start to the new me on and off for 6-ish years.

This time is different. <---- I’ve said that time and time again.

THIS time I promise myself:

I will take it one day at a time. I will concentrate on making good choices just today.

I will not justify eating poorly. I will own it. I know that my daughter’s 17th birthday is this month. I know we will take her out to eat. I know there will be cake or some other celebratory dessert. Cheesecake or Tres Leche cake more than likely. I will make a choice to eat something healthy, with a to go box ordered with the meal. I will partake in the dessert, with a reasonable portion.

I will not beat myself up for a “bad” day.

I will not stop.

Here’s the thing. I do love salad. I hate to prep. I hate how quickly fresh produce spoils, then I feel wasteful. So, I will shop smaller. I will suck it up and chop it up. I can buy a premade salad here and there. I received some really good advice from one of my personal trainers YEARS ago. You can make anything into a salad. I shared this with my almost 17-year-old daughter. She put it to the test. One of her new favorite salads is romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, onion, bacon pieces, and a slice of PIZZA. Now, this being said, my daughter is 5’7’’ 120 pounds. She’s athletic and very healthy. To help combat any wastefulness, I will simply make any meal into a salad. You eat hard boiled eggs in a salad? Why not scrambled?

I do love grilled chicken. I now live in Kansas, Thank you USAF. It’s freaking cold here. (Texas girl talking) I recruit the husband to grill. Problem solved! LOL I would suggest bulk grilling and freezing for future meals, but the Mr. says it tastes funny after getting froze and thawed. I don’t taste a difference personally. I did it for years before we married. SO he gets to grill. It’s 20 degrees out right now.

Working out. Sigh Here’s the thing. I used to be addicted to exercise. Everyday I was at the gym. My routine: 30 minutes cardio warm up, on an elliptical or treadmill, one-hour Weight lifting class (Body Pump), one-hour Zumba class, followed by one-hour of yoga. If for any reason my classes were canceled I would do the alternate class. I would stop by Burger King EVERYDAY after the gym, get a grilled chicken salad, with an extra pouch of chicken. (I was unaware of sodium at the time)

I had two children. I was in my early 20’s. Endless energy.

Today, I have 5 children. Very blessed I know. I’m in my mid 30’s. Energy is a luxury I no longer have. I’m up all throughout the night nursing my 9-month-old twins. I run around keeping up with very busy teenager’s schedules. I promise myself this: I will make myself a priority. My health is important. I do not have health issues right now, I want to keep it that way. If I’m healthy, I can crawl on the floor with the babies. I can run around with my older kids to whatever they have in store for me that day. I am overweight. I am changing that, starting today. I will start again tomorrow, and I will start again the day after that.

One day at a time.