And so it has come to pass, another year of me swearing I was going to lose the weight, and another year of me not doing it. I don’t feel like a failure, though, not this time. I finally found the key to some success and I simply need to stick to it and build on it. I have zeroed in on the thing in my diet that unknowingly was causing me the biggest problem. Now, I know what I have to do.

January 1 is always the cliched day of the kick off party for all of us fatties getting our shit together and diving head first into a (yet another) diet and exercise plan. I never see New Year’s Day as a cheesy cliche, though. I have always loved and embraced to concept of a new year, a fresh start, new beginnings, new journeys, endless possibilities. I know I have the power to chart the course of my life any direction I want, what I always lack is the stamina in the motivation department. This time around, though, I will be getting a lot more support in my home — and this is going to be HUGE for my successes! My husband and 2 older children are stepping up there healthy eating and exercising games along side me…the younger two, well, I’m lucky if I can get them to eat anything I make at all so there is not a snowball’s chance in hell that they’d do it!

Today went swimmingly! I started off with a great, protein-packed brunch (I was up until 1:30am,after all, to ring in the new year, there was no getting up early today!). I prepared a celebratory meal for my first diet meal of the year with steak and egg tacos with salsa and jalapeños along with a side of my most favorite type of apple on the whole world — the coveted Ambrosia apple, mmmmmmm. I also had some hot lemon water (as seen in the “Nope” mug).

Since there really wasn’t a lunch today, I had a second Ambrosia apple, sliced and dipped in peanut butter, for a late afternoon snack.

Dinner turned out great, I tried a recipe from a new cookbook I begged for and got for Christmas. I tried out the Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Chili from the Skinnytaste Fast and Slow book. All who tried it in this house loved it! Lots of protein, very little fat, very light on he calories…overall, a very diet friendly recipe.

I am feeling extremely optimistic for this year, yes, even if it is only day 1. I can’t shake the feeling that life is going to change a lot over this next year, and it’s about time. I have been stuck in a rut for so long, it has seemed like an insurmountable task to make even the simplest changes. Big things are coming, I can feel it…❤️ Nighty night, all.

~~ Amie