Wow. Remember girlfriend, the glass is half full.

I haven't blogged anything here for forever.  And I read what I wrote, and I've done very little of it. And that's been since Jan of this year!  I know what the issue is: I have the 'oh, I'll just not worry about it today because there's a party (or going out to dinner for work, or working at a picnic, or a grad party, or WHATEVER), and I'm not only creating a healthier lifestyle, I'm making it worse.  I think I do this because I was able to lose weight before, and I treat it as a given.  And that's not the case.  It makes me sad in a way, but I'm also aware that many people would love to have a lifestyle where they have a husband who wants to go out and enjoy a meal, friends and famly that want to hang out, and so on and so on.  Things could be worse.  I have the keys to having a healthier lifestyle: it's in my hands.

SO I've laced up my shoes and have been walking more.  Next weekend is PTC, and that is very exciting.

Cari gets here in two weeks.  I'm having a birthday party in two weeks.  How do I fit all that into staying on course and not going into the 'Cari is only here for a while, so I don't want to worry about blah, blah, blah'...cause that's all it is.  An excuse not to care. 

I want to read my blog in two months and go 'right on girlfriend!'. 

Time to take it a day at a time, break down each day, and what will make it successful.  And success will change each day.  That's all right.

So for today, I'll be having breakfast with the family down the street.  I think I'll have breakfast at home, and just have coffee.  I have the preztel bread and lower fat sausage (350 for a breakfast sammy).  And I love that for breakfast, so that's good.

There's some of the veggie salad left, and that will be great for lunch.  I have to admit I did set folks up to eat well during the party.  I'm getting there.

No CAKE.  Yes, there's some left from the party.  No.  Mary may not have any (sorry Laney: you got to eat some last night and you enjoyed it. Now it's my turn).

I'll be manning the booth at the Cure JM concert today, so I'll drink lots of water, and take a sandwich.

And I'll walk this morning: that will set well with my health, and with preparing for PTC next week.

Should be a good day.

I've decided to get off my duff and get with the program.  What progam?  My own.

For the next 4 weeks:

I will only cook meals from the site below, and from Taste Of Home light cooking.
http://www.skinnytaste.com/
Lots and lots of vegtables.  Lots.
Less sweets: even those without sugar.  Need to curtail my sweet tooth.
Write everything down in the WW logbook I bought.  Review it each night to see where changes may be needed.
Exercise, exercise, exercise!!!!
Concentrate on creating cards, rather than so much baking.  Ensure baking has it's place, but doesn't overtake common sense and set me up for eating way too many sweets.
Update this page everyday for the next 4 weeks with the good stuff I did, and try to figure out how to fix issues that slow me down.  I can do it!!
DON'T MAKE EXCUSES!  Don't find them.  If I stumble, it ends there. 

Have fun!!!!

Happy New Year to me, and Happy New Year to Laney!

A new year. Always a chance for a new start.

Well, I'm ready.

I've called this blog 'Laney and me' for a reason. My middle name is Elaine, and when I was little my nickname was Laney. But when I went to first grade my teacher told me that I needed to go by my first name, so I did: Mary. End of story. My parents weren't happy, and now I wish I would have not been so good about authority. Oh well. Water under the bridge.

So as I grew I began to realize that Laney never left. She continues to love child like things: dolls, baby planters, colored pencils, stickers, and sweets. Oh yes, lots and lots of sweets. Even though sweets make the grown up Mary rather sick.

So, it's time to find a way to give Laney what she needs (because I DO NOT want her to go away), and give Mary the relieve of not having to deal with sour stomach due to eating sweets. Not gonna be easy. So need to keep it simple.

So I'm going to follow my friend Emmy's example: I'm going to do a day count off, starting today.

Today is day one of eating only 15 grams of sugar a day. I won't count milk products. And because the breads that I like, and are low cal and high fiber, have a bit of sugar in them, I'm going to leave some of the sugar in there.

And I want to have fun along the way. That's the only way Laney will come along.

I have a big ole crockpot full of soup in the fridge, filled with veggies and such, and I'm looking forward to having that for lunch. Good start!

I have snacks that are sugar free waiting to be chosen. I do have some leftover Christmas candy in the house: it will be removed by the end of the day, and it will not be eaten by me. It will just leave. And the funny thing is that in my house no one but Laney will care. Gee. How crazy is that?

I'm organizing my craft stuff, getting rid of stuff I know I won't do, and ensuring all the items I know I will do are together and I just have to go to 'the box' and find something fun to do. Colored pencils. Stickers. Pretty paper. Knitting needles and yarn. Drawing pens. It's time to write a book (oh no one but family and friends will probably see it: nuff for me), and the supplies for this need to be in my magic box. I'm excited just thinking about our box. Mine and Laney's.

SO, today begins Day 1 of 15 grams of sugar or less. My goal? To feel good. To feel like myself. To explore 2012 with an open mind and a willing heart.

And for Laney to express herself and grow. It's a win/win for everyone!!!

Happy New Year to one and all!!!!!