HI Everybody...hope you are all coping with the rush of the holidays and the extra expectations. It is a difficult time to maintain weight, let alone lose any, but it does help to crystallize my resolve to start some new habits this year. Rather than start a diet (again), I am going to try some new habits and see how they affect my life. Here are my 10 daily habits:

1. Drink 8 glasses of water a day.
2. Start the day off by looking in the mirror and complimenting myself about something I am accomplishing.
3. Walk for one hour a day (this will be my favourite thing to do).
4. At the end of the day, write down 5 things I am grateful for having in my life.
5. Eat at least 5 vegetables and 3 fruits a day.
6. Remain professional and positive at work (even if everybody else is grouching, complaining and black)and try to leave work knowing it is better for my efforts.
7. Post something somewhere on this website.
8. Read a good book, uniterrupted, for 30 minutes.
9. Write about my day in a journal.
10. Calculate my calories and fat grams at the end of the day.

I know if I do these things daily I will lose the 15 pounds which have been plaguing me for the last 7 years. I am grateful for your support, encouragement and inspiration. Best wishes for meeting your goals this year!

Hi Artsy! You go on with your bad self!!! With an attitude like that, You are bound to succeed!!! Best wishes to you

phatgirl.

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Sounds like a good plan of action, Artsy. Best of luck to you and we'll be here to encourage and support you :)

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Good thoughts be with you! ICQ# 733405
Robbie

Looks like a great plan ahead of you! Good for you, you can do it!!

Welcome to Diettalk! :D

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~Here's to eating right and living longer!~
Massielita

Hi Artsy,
I hope you don't mind, but I have printed out your plan and intend to stick it on top of my new calender which I got to chart my exercise daily,(another idea I stole from a DT'er) I have never in the past had anything to motivate me and I love all the great ideas people here come up with.
Good luck to you,
Regards,
Joan

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Thanks for the kind words of support, everybody. I think I will bring Perrier water to the New Years party I am going to this evening...I will definitely need help with the 8 glasses of water! So far today, I have read a good book for thirty minutes and complimented myself for starting this new course of action. Yesterday I went for an hour walk with my husband and dog, and wore off a few calories pushing through the deep snow on the trail. My cheeks were rosy after that escapade. I have to get a journal to start writing in. I am definitely a stress eater. I lose weight when I am under lots of stress or very happy, but I gain weight when I am under moderate stress. I eat to feel comforted. When I exercise, it helps me to feel relaxed, so the one hour a day walk should help with the stress eating. It will be good for my dog, too. He could stand to lose a few pounds.

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