Like millions of Americans, I decided that my list would include losing weight. However, I did not start right away with the beginning of January. Sorry, but January 2nd is a little too close to the holidays to qualify as a good chance for me. At that point I am still having visions of sugarplums in my head and might still be a little drunk. So I waited for a while, mid January. I actually did really well for about a week and then completely fell of the wagon. This week I decided to try again. I have to admit that I am doing great so far this week, and I can see myself sticking to it more than last month.

The tricky part is that I am on a tigher budget than usual due to closing on my first condo. (Yay me!) This makes if a lot more difficult to start up a BIG BOLD PLAN. No extra money to buy fancy suppliments or diet food, no new gym memberships, tennis shoes or work out music from iTunes. I have to work with what I have. Add to that starting birth control, and the stress of buying a place and moving and I can tell you this is not goint to be easy.

Contrary to popular belief, I am starting to think that it might be a much better idea to start when you have a couple things going on. If we put off starting things until everything is perfect, we would all ending up Waiting for Godot. Nothing would ever get accomplished!

What have I discovered about myself so far this week?? I prefer Weight Watchers Smart Ones over Lean Cuisine, Quaker’s Weight Control Oatmeal does control my hunger, sugar free gum does not curb my cravings for sweets, and just like the title to this little entry…

FAT FREE RANCH IS THE MOST DISGUSTING FOOD EVER INVENTED!!!

The first week was incredibly hard. Everytime I jumped in my car I would reach for a phantom that was no longer there. The drive home had become my personal phone booth. (Those of you too young to remember: long before cell phones, people had to use what were known as public phones. They were found throughout urban areas and some were housed inside a small enclosed area known as a booth.) So you see, my car was a mobile, private place to converse with family and friends. Unlike my grey cube at work, there was no danger of someone overhearing me. Plus it was quite the time saver, being able to drive and catch up with my peeps at the same time. Suddenly I had to remember who I wanted to call and to make those calls before I left the office or once I got home. What a disaster, my parents and some of my closest friends started to hear from me less often, some were even worried.

The next big void was the “beard” that a cell phone can provide. When you are waiting for a date to show up at a bar or coffeeshop and you get there early, what do you do to avoid looking like a total loser? Why, you whip out the old cell phone and start texting you buddy about the your day, the weather, or the new Paris Hilton presidental ad. What if you are standing outside a movie theater or restaurant waiting for your friend to show up? Don’t want to be bothered by the staff to be seated? Pull that bad boy out of your holster and call your brother. You know, the one who you should call more often, but really only call when you need something, like a way to pass those agonizing 10 minutes alone. I suddenly find myself in all sorts of waiting situations when I have manage to look cool and collected without something to occupy my time. Plus, since I don’t wear a watch I am utterly clueless as to how long I have been leaning against the wall with one hand in my pocket staring thoughtfully into the distance.

By week four I was starting to adjust more, except for the fact that I forgot to call my father on his birthday!!!!! I’d overslept that morning and had no time to call before leaving for work. No phone to call him on the way there, no time once at the office, exhausted by the time I got home, I fell asleep at 6:30 PM. What a horrible daughter I am!! Blaming my dependance on technology for being so insensitive. I am assamed of myself.

Yesterday I did use my work cell phone to make a personal call, it was raining and I had it on hand in case something bad happened. Which was the original reason why most of us got a cell phone, remember? Not for texting, V-casts, MP3 players, online access, or e-mails. The phone call was actually for directions to my friend’s house, which I could have made from the Starbucks phone. But I chose not to. Hey, you’ve got to hand it to me. Any of you who know how much I used to use my cell phone (I had a 1500 minute plan that I usually went over on) realize that this is a big step for me. So, I can’t go Cold Turkey, but I am trying.

Tune in next month for an update.

Wondering who this person is?  Ask me.  There ain’t no way I going to post anything on here that could lead to my ass in a sling.

On a completelly different topic, we have a new employee in the office that is such a hottie!  I love to stare at him.  Of course he is too young and that whole don’t date people you work thing.

Now there are two of them running around!

This really pisses me off!  The guy’s beer belly was bigger than a woman pregnant with triplets!  It was so disgusting!  I hate that they think they can go shirtless just because they are a man.  YUCK!!  If you don’t respect yourself, at least respect your fellow earthlings enough to not make us look at that. 

This lead to the me thinking about other fashion and beauty choices that should be outlawed.  Here is my top 10.

1) Spandex bike shorts- unless you are Lance Armstrong or some other professional athlete.

2) Boys who wear baggy pants low enough to show crack or underpants.

3) Men who wear pants tight enough to show crack. Plumbers!

4) Camel toes.

5) Mullets, most of all on women.

6) Tank tops on men. Unless they look like Calvin Klein models.

7) Comb overs- and Donald Trump hair.

ANY outfit that shows ribs!!  Or being so thin that you show ribs.

9)  Eyebrow mis-caluations.  If you can’t figure out how to shape them, consult a professional.

10)  Crocs.

I’ve managed to have a wonderful, perfect stay at home weekend.  I definately could not do it all the time, but this weekend it was needed.

I got in two separate cardio workouts, a weight lifting workout and one yoga session.  I completely cleaned my apartment.  I watched a lot of shows on my DVR that I had been putting off.  I gossiped on the phone like a teenager.  I read a few chapters of both books I am reading.

Most importantly, I did my laundry!  I did 4 loads of laundry and managed to put it all away.  So I didn’t run out of underwear after all.

Whatever you want to call it, I will have a better life this year than last year.  No matter what happens, I will be able to move on and get past it because of promises I made to myself

I promise to listen to my gut first and other people’s advice second.

I promise to take things slowly and think about it before I decide.

I promise to have at least one night a week entirely devoted to myself. 

I promise to take care of myelf physically, emotionally, and medically.