I fell so off track since my last blog, that I might even avoid weighing in on January 1st altogether. I have been eating like a pig, and it's been mostly carbs. I did good for the most part today, but still ate well beyond my calorie range. Somehow, right now, I'm finding the strength to NOT jump in my car and drive over to McDonald's. Somehow.

I got an idea from a co-worker of mine. For the past two years she has given up something for an entire year. One year it was chocolate, last year it was potatoes. I'm going to pick one thing and do the same. She said it was really hard in the beginning, but that after about a month it got easier. I need "something" so maybe this will work. Can't hurt.

I'm sitting on my couch right now feeling so overly bloated it's not funny. I have a headache too and every time I get up, I'm sore and achy. I haven't worked out, sans some walking, since I hiked with my friend Derek last weekend. I took some walks with my friend's kids over the holidays, but other than that, I've been one lazy bum just sitting here feeling sorry for myself.

I had another chat with my friend who I'll be working with this season and emphasized that I'm really going to need her support. I looked at her too and can see she needs it too. Her and I were getting in great shape earlier this year with hiking, but we both let ourselves go as the year went along. I hope we get on the boat that has a treadmill. #fingerscrossed

Even if I don't get on the boat with the treadmill, I HAVE TO find ways to be active. I can do jumping jacks and jump ropes (without the rope), push ups and sit ups....etc. I need to develop a daily wake up or bedtime routine, treadmill or not, to do and hold myself to it. My calendar is still being set up, so in the next few days (before I leave) I must get it locked down.

I'm not sure yet what I'm going to give up for the year. I have several things that I want to give up, but I don't want to set myself up for complete failure. Bread is my first choice and one I will stick with, but I think I want/need to add others. I'm definitely adding in fake sugars, but would also like to add alcohol and chocolate. I don't drink often though.

Giving up bread encompasses quite a lot of things for me. When I think of bread, I think of: cakes, cookies, bread, muffins, cupcakes, hamburger buns, pitas, naan, sandwiches, stuffing, pasta, pretzels, breaded anything, ice cream cones, etc. When I think of giving up bread, I am essentially giving up wheat. I don't want to say I'm giving up ALL wheat though.

If I say I'm giving up all wheat, I (will) feel like I have to nitpick everything like sauces, gravies, etc. I feel so much better (mentally and physically) when I'm not eating grains in general. If I can get a handle on the one that I seem to be most addicted to, I *know* I'll be able to accomplish more. Yep, that settles it. I'm giving up bread for 2013!

My fingers are crossed that I don't go nuts eating everything "bread"-y in sight the next two days. I have my meals planned out for the most part, and really would hate to waste all of the seafood I spent a lot of $$$ on yesterday to make for NYE. I have liver to make for New Year's Day (I LOVE LIVER). Down to just 3 days before I leave!!!

I think the only 'thing' I'm going to splurge on before 2013 rolls around is a trip to McDonald's. It will bug the ever-loving poop out of me if I don't allow myself to have it before I make this commitment. I stuffed myself with pizza yesterday (threw the other half of the pie out this morning) and looked and looked for some kind of dessert, but nothing looked 'worth it.'

Yep! McDonald's will be 'worth it' for this endeavor. If we had a good bakery in my town, I'm sure I'd be able to find a lot of things to splurge on....but we don't have a good bakery in my town. As I looked around for something today, I decided that a mini DQ Blizzard will do the trick on NYE. That will go nicely after all of the seafood throughout the day.

I am packed and (almost) ready to head back to work. I dropped off my sea bags with the friend I'm driving up with next week already, now I just need to finish stuff around the house. I need to clean it good, get my external hard drives set up, set up my calendar(s), figure out a rental car for Seattle, and focus, Focus, FOCUS on my mission for the new year.

Here's to 2013 being MY year to shine!! I CAN DO IT!!