Welcome!

Excellent job to you for making this step for a healthier YOU! Together we can and WILL lose this unwanted weight! Remember, you will have to work hard...so hard to get where you want to be...but I know you can do it!

Here are a few tips on how you can get started:

1. Write it down! Everything that goes into your mouth (even the tiny stuff as small as a Hershey kiss). Not only document your food intake, but also your water intake. Write down your workouts; this will be fun in the future to reference back to when you are achieving more than what you thought you could.

2. Watch your proportions. If you eat slower, it will give your stomach time to digest, which you may become fuller faster; preventing over eating. Think about what you are about to indulge in...do you REALLY want that cookie? If so, wait 30 minutes...if you still want it then...go for it...just don't eat all of them!

3. Park further away at the store! Who needs that preemo spot, you're going to walk around the store, right? What's a few more steps outside enjoying the fresh (yet cold in Ohio) air! Use the steps instead of an elevator...I mean, who wants to breathe in yucky air in the elevator- who knows who may have let one rip if it's crowded?!?

4. Measure. Yes, get out the ole tape measure....measure your waist, hips, arms (biceps) and thighs. This will help you for those days when you do EVERYTHING that week to lose weight and then, you see no drop in the numbers. More then likely, you've lost inches; and this is a GREAT way to tell. Also, another fun thing is to take a "Before" picture. Actually, I highly recommend this...no, you don't have to wear spandex shorts and a sports bra (for us ladies), but be sure that you have a full body front/side picture

5. Set short & long term goals. By this, I mean- instead of saying I want to lose 20 pounds, say...I would like to lose 1.5 pounds this week...and work for that. Sometimes setting the long term goals so far away...it's hard to see them so we lose track easier.

6. Make it known! Why be ashamed for wanting to live a healthier life? You should be proud for making this decision. Make it known to your family/friends that you have made this step so they can help you along the way. So, let some people know~who knows they may want to join you!

7. Ask your Dr if it's okay to begin a workout regimn...I am not one...nor will I ever be one that I foresee...

***These are just a few things to get us started. Finally, I ask that you leave a comment because in the future we will have entries, recipes, and contests...lots of fun stuff! So what are you waiting for- leave a comment & be sure to sign your name! :-)