Hi There

Basic stats: I'm 40, 5'4" and I just discovered I weigh 191.2 pounds. I've never been this heavy except during my last pregnancy thirteen years ago. Only I'm not pregnant. No reward for my ever expanding waistline except new clothes in ever larger sizes. I've steadily gained weight over the last four years, probably 30 pounds or so. Naturally I'm less than thrilled.

How much less than thrilled, you ask? I had 2 pumpkin donuts and a jumbo iced coffee with cream for breakfast and then I had an Arby's beef and cheddar for lunch. I'm off to a fabulous start with this new leaf, aren't I? BTW? The Arby's beef and cheddar? Was gross. Don't think I'll eat another one of those anytime soon, assuming I could even afford the calories & could tolerate the yuck factor.

Ok, so I've admitted I'm a short, roly poly woman entering middle age with serious cravings for all forms of starches and sweets. What are my goals? Eventually I want to get down under the 25% BMI for my height (less than 138 pounds, I believe). The plan is to do this slowly but surely while teaching myself to like veggies and coffee without sugar. Right now I don't have a specific diet in mind, although I've tried South Beach and it worked when I did it.

The other big component is exercise. For years I exercised three to six days a week often alternating walking and jogging or doing other forms of interval training. Four years ago I gave myself a very serious case of shin splints, serious enough that my doctor told me no exercise at all, even non weight bearing forms, for three months. Guess what? I've never restarted. And now I'm 30+ pounds heavier, completely out of shape and disgusted with myself. Yes, obviously it has taken me a while to get to the disgusted stage. I admit that.

More veggies. No starches. No added sugar. Exercise five days a week, 30 minutes a session. Those are ultimately the goals. I bought a cute little notebook decorated with ice cream related designs (to remind me of my overindulgence), small enough to keep in my purse when I leave the house, for my food diary. Right now I don't plan to count calories, but I will measure out portion sizes.