First down, 6 more to go

Today is a perfect day. It's Friday — and I also made my first weight goal: I'm down 7½ pounds!

I know, I know, those first few pounds are simple to lose. Except, the past few years, that has not been the case. And this time around, I am not on a "diet." I am simply making better food choices and changing the horrid eating habits I've picked up over the years. I have read just about every diet book, and quite a few nutrition books, so I'm taking what I like from each and making it mine.

Is that stealing? Who cares. It seems to be working. 

My goals for last week were to eat slower — 20 chews per mouthful — and to eat one green leafy veggie a day. I've done both, although I have to admit that I often swallow before getting in the 20 chews. Macrobiotics amazes me. How can anyone chew each bite of food 50 times, often 100?

This week's goals will be added to last week’s. Ugh! Guess I didn't sign on for an easy journey. This week I will:

1. Exercise 30 minutes a day, three times this week. Finding the time is a huge challenge. Plus, I do not love to exercise. But I know I have to start getting this slug of a body of mine moving.

2. Eat vegetarian at lunch, substituting beans and nuts for the chicken in my daily salad. There is a reason for this madness.

I recently found out that I’m blood type A, a huge revelation because I always thought I was O. Dr. Peter D'Adamo's blood type diet is fascinating, so when I recently reread it after my blood type surprise, there was something else to be learned: A vegetarian diet is best for me. Imagine this carnivore's surprise. I am not about to cut all meat and poultry from my diet, but thought I would give it a try at lunch. For a week. 

We'll have to wait and see how this works.