Blog Post One

Welcome. 
A sunbeam to warm you, a moonbeam to charm you, a sheltering angel, so nothing can harm you. ~Irish Blessing
This is my first ever blog post.  I'm writing this to keep me focused on my weight loss journey.  I've got about 90 more pounds to go to hit my target weight.  So far, I've lost about 11 pounds.  I've been going to Weight Watchers meetings since May. 
My intention here is to write about my day to day successes and struggles.  I also want to have a written journal with recipes, favorite food findings, exercise information and anything else that catches my fancy along my way. 

Exercise. 
A bear, however hard he tries, grows tubby without exercies. ~A. A. Milne
My plan for this afternoon is to go to the new gym that finally opened last week.  I think I'll do some nautilus weights, a little on the elliptical machine and maybe hit the pool for a little while.  I should be able to fit in an hour before having to make dinner.  I need to get in a good workout today to make up for the eating I did over the weekend.  Maybe then I won't feel like skipping my Weight Watchers meeting come Thursday.

Eat. 
Food is an important part of a balanced diet ~Fran Lebowitz
I've found a new restaurant for lunch that I really like (at least for now) - Panera Bread.  I know it's been around for a long time.  I just never walked into one.  Yesterday, when work was slow, I sat down and wrote the points values for ever item on their menu.  Some things are just WAY to many points.  Others are light and healthy and very tasty.  So far I have tried the Strawberry Poppyseed & Chicken Salad, the French Onion Soup, the BBQ Chopped Chicken Salad, and the Low-Fat Chicken Noodle Soup.  I wasn't thrilled with the French Onion Soup but enjoyed the other foods.  I like that you can get a half a sandwich and a small bowl of soup.  I'm not one for having to make choices.  I want a little of everything.  Why do you think I still have 90 pounds to loose?
For tonight's dinner I plan to make my General Tso's Chicken and Broccoli, the healthy version.  By stir-frying boneless trimmed chicken thighs and broccoli, then adding some jarred General Tso's Sauce, I have found a compromise that my family and I can live with.  We have also made the switch to Brown Rice.

Have Fun.
Don't worry about the world coming to an end today.  It is already tomorrow in Australia ~Charles Schulz
Tuesdays are generally my "no drinking" nights. (Not that I drink every night.)  So, since I won't be going out for happy hour after hitting the gym I need to find something fun to do tonight after dinner.  When the family sits down to watch tv, we usually watch nature shows, Dirty Jobs or Myth Busters because they are what we can easily agree about.  I think it may be a good night for a family movie night instead of tv though.  Maybe a comedy.  Or The Karate Kid.