Here we go again...

Ugh. I'm finally facing the fact that I've regained 25 pounds in the past 3 years. It started when my accounting classes got really hard, and the candy consumption crept up ever so slowly as I slaved away in front of the computer. Even after I graduated in the spring of 2011, I felt like I deserved a break from being so anal-retentive about tracking my food. Before I knew it, I was in I-don't-give-a-sh*t mode full time.

I finally picked a primary care physician and got my first annual physical in over 10 years this summer. Which meant I was face-to-face with that number on the scale after not weighing myself for years. I just didn't want to know, and for good reason. 166! Ugh. And I have back rolls. Double ugh. But (worse) my total cholesterol level is 205 (should be below 200) and triglycerides are at 177 (should be below 150). I knew it was just a matter of time before my excessive consumption of sweets would start showing up in the blood tests. I can only imagine how much worse it would have been if I didn't exercise.

I know what I need to do. I've done it before--twice--and successfully. Once our August Staycation was over, this past Saturday, I said to myself, that's it. I've declared my intention to clean up my eating on Facebook (30 likes and counting), so now if I fall off the wagon, it will be in front of a virtual audience of 500 or so. Today (my fifth day) I downloaded the free MyFitnessPal app, entered my first weigh-in (165.0, better already!), and started tracking my food. Yes, it's tedious. But tracking is the only way that gets results.

Here's a "before" picture from last week.

I do already feel much better physically, and Paul is supportive, which really helps!