Little by Little

When Rick died, I started (without choosing to) the widow's diet. Within the first 18 months - 2 years, I had lost about 150 pounds. Over the last 2 years I have gained about 50 of that back. 
It is time for those 50 to come off ... and more!
My goal is to weigh no more than 220. I think at that I will not only look much better than I do now, but I will feel better as well. And everything I have read or heard says that it is better to have a few pounds over in case of being sick or hurt. 
I weighed 175 in 1980 when Rick and I got married. I would not mind being at that weight ... but trying to keep it real for now. So, if I could get the scales to show 220 - I would be ecstatic! Yes, I would probably keep pushing myself to reach that second goal of 175, but that would be "easy". Lol. 

Not sure of what I weigh at this moment. The last time I weighed was a couple of months ago (perhaps longer), and not sure the scales were correctly calibrated either (they had been moved multiple times, and the batteries removed). But right or wrong, they said 316. UGH if correct. Makes my heart very sad to write that number. I write it with an attitude of accountability. 
Since that time I have been on a change. 
Changing the ways I eat, what I drink, and my exercise level. Little by Little. 

Having recently (since Thanksgiving 2019) moved back to Texas, my whole life is different now. And it is more my own. 

How am I going to do this? 
1. Allowing myself to drink a glass of sweet tea ONLY with meals, and ONLY 1 glass per meal. 
2. Drinking water between meals.
3. Using 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water once a day. Helps keep the pH balance of my body correct, and maintains the acid level in my blood. 
4. Less and less fried foods - until it is a rare occasion that I eat anything fried. I have learned the hard way that to deprive myself of something only means that I crave it. So I will use the decreasing method. 
5. Less and less sweet foods. I love sweets - especially pies. I enjoy a good cookie, or a tasty piece of cake. But my oh my! How I love pie! So I will limit myself on sweets, growing stricter as time goes by. 
6. Less carbs. I have German & Irish heritage, and I'm a good Southern girl. So this will be the greatest challenge. To cut back on breads, tortillas, chips, and all such products. 
7. Allowing myself one coke - which in Texas means Dr Pepper, lol - no more than every 3rd day. 
8. More and more lean protein. 
9. Eating veggies and fruits closer to the way they are grown, than cooked or having items added to them. 
10. Exercise!!! Walk ... walk ... WALK! At some point I will add the bands, then perhaps a few lighter weights. But to begin with? WALKING!!! 

And finally? I am going to blog about this here. I will refer to this section often in my regular blog. But I wanted this "Little by Little" to be separate and easier for me (and perhaps others) to refer to. 
I will brutally honest with myself here. Completely out of my comfort zone. But here I am - the realness of the struggle. 

​Little by Little. 

Then after Rick died ... and the widow diet began ... 

I know I can do this.
I know I got this.
​Now to just push myself - for ME.