First Week of 52

My name is Rita. My health has not been the focus of my life. This was me on Tuesday March 3, 2015. I was not healthy on this day, although I was happy. My happiness came from knowing that this would be my "before" picture (and because I was visiting my oldest daughter and her two children, they always make me happy.)

I have a plan to change my life. This blog will follow the changes.

The first real change I made was to THINK about my life. There were/are many aspects of my life with which I was/am dissatisfied.

Since physical appearance is usually a major factor in the way people assess each other, the first change I felt/feel I had/have to make is to lose the excess weight that I have been carrying around for over twenty years.

I know that I need accountability to help me stay focused, so on Wednesday, March 4, 2015, I joined my local TOPS chapter. They weighed me and took pictures. I have documentation of just how bad the numbers were. I am not really comfortable putting those numbers out here just yet, but I will tell you that my size 20 clothes are uncomfortably tight and when I bend over to tie my shoes I can not breathe.

Over the last 30 years I have read lots of diet books and actually tried some of them for short periods of time. My personal plan for reducing my weight is a combination of the three "diets" that have worked for me. However, what I most want to concentrate on is food as nutrients. For too long I have used food as a reward or as a drug and that mentality will be hard to overcome.

I welcome encouragement in this process and would enjoy company on the journey to health. Your comments are appreciated (please keep it clean.)