I've been looking back over my last few (incredibly sporadic) blog posts, and I'm noticing a trend: promising myself I was going to get back on track, and then not following through.

I did so well before. I lost fifty pounds--FIFTY POUNDS--over the course of just less than a year. I was exercising nearly every day, watching and tracking my calories, and being very good about making healthy, intelligent food choices. It was easy, because I'd made it into a habit, and habits are easy to continue. Life was good, and I was feeling pretty damn good about myself.

Then I was approved for a mortgage and started looking for a house. Exercise took a back seat to packing and moving (which, to be fair, was good exercise in and of itself, since I lived on the third floor and was taking a whole bunch of stuff to Goodwill while I was packing the stuff I wanted to keep). And then I ended up staying with my sister for six weeks while I was in Escrow Hell, and it's hard to exercise when you're in someone else's house, in a cramped space, with a cat.

It was easy to fall off plan. So easy... and so easy to make excuses for myself.

My sister is now on SparkPeople, and has done a fantastic job losing weight and exercising. Several friends of mine are doing a great job eating right and exercising. So why is it so hard for me to do it now, when I did it so well before, and I know EXACTLY what I need to do? And when I know that it's totally doable because I'm DOING it?

Habit, again. I know that's all it is.

So, I'm making a promise to myself. I know it takes six weeks to really set a habit, so I'm going to really force myself to do good things for six weeks. I'm going to hold myself REALLY accountable.

Goal #1: I'm going to track my food all week. I didn't yesterday, but I will for the rest of this week.

Goal #2: I'm going to exercise at least twice this week. I have my Wii Fit; I have EA Active Plus (which is actually a little difficult for me now, so I may have to put that off a bit); and I have a new DVD from the Biggest Loser, which my sister swears by, so I may try that one. But at least two days this week. AT LEAST.

Goal #3: I'm going to make sure my work gets done in a timely manner, so I'm not stressed out about it. I'm a teacher, and it's so easy to get overwhelmed if you don't keep up with grading and planning. I did a good job earlier this year; now I have to continue that habit.

Goal #4: I'm going to blog at least twice a week to keep myself motivated and accountable. I need your help with this, SparkFriends: I need you to encourage me, leave me notes on my SparkPage, and generally make nuisances of yourselves to help keep me on track. Yes, I'm asking you to be nuisances. Seriously.

I can do this. I can, I can, I can. And if I'm serious about being healthier, I WILL.