Dieting in 2008

I started dieting yesterday in hopes of losing about 20 lbs before my niece's wedding in August. I figure that is plenty of time to lose the weight. I actually would love to lose more like 30 lbs to get down to my pre-marriage weight, but realistically I want to set a goal that is reachable!

In the past when I have been dieting and exercising, I lose about 10 lbs and then I hit a brick wall. I still diet and exercise but no weight comes off. That is when I get discouraged and give up. I spoke with a friend who used to be a personal trainer and she said when that happens I should change my exercise routine and/or go back and do like I was at the beginning of the diet and take out a lot of things, go low carb high protien type thing or reduce the calorie intake for 5 days, those types of things. She told me that sometimes when we get down to a weight we have been at before our body gets comfortable as if to say "Oh. We've been here before. We're good." so what you need to do is jump-start the metabolism again to start losing weight.

This morning I did a workout video at home and then had a half of grapefruit for breakfast. Then I will have a small morning snack of a low fat yogurt. Then for lunch I have some low fat Progresso Chicken Noodle Soup with bottled water. Then my afternoon snack is a few almonds. Dinner is a low fat turkey chili (without crackers and cheese *wahhhh*).

I am feeling like I am off to a good start and I hope I can maintain this! Dieting is so hard with kids -- AND A husband who can eat a stick of butter and not gain a pound! I can do this and will feel better about myself for it!!! *fingers crossed*

I just read on Money Saving Mom about a website similar to weight watchers only it is FREE! It is SparkPeople.com so I signed up there and maybe that will help keep me motivated?? Maybe!!