So the writing is going okay. No defeat to admit there. Things are moving along with INTO THE DARK (hopefully I will have some news for you in the next week), and after ironing out the plot issues I discovered with THE PROPHET, I wrote about 1500 words of Act 2 this week. Not a lot, but a good start.

The defeat comes with diet and weight. Most of you know I lost 65 pounds on the Ideal Protein diet last year and have been in maintenance phase since May. Keeping the weight off has been a lot harder than losing it. I put on around seven or so during the summer, and then another eight during the holidays. I’ve been trying to lose “the normal way” with exercise, but it doesn’t work for me. After months of fighting it, I’ve finally figured out how to maintain, accepting I can’t eat carbs like other people do, and figuring out what kind of exercise will keep it off. But I can’t lose it. I’ve been stuck with these extra pounds for months.

So on Friday, I finally admitted defeat and went back to my dietician. I felt humiliated I couldn’t keep it off, but she was understanding and gave me a huge boost in getting back on track with the diet. I’ve accepted that for me, going the Ideal Protein way is the best approach. I can moderate it and having someone to check in with every week – a cheerleader of sorts – is a big boost for me. So in the next month, I’ll be following the strict diet, shedding pounds, and getting healthy. I also got a major lecture on pop, so listen up.

Diet pop – whatever the kind – contains aspartame, a sweetener. The body can’t tell the difference and processes it like sugar, meaning the liver produces enzymes that make your body gain weight. Aspartame is now being looked at as carcinogenic, a cancer causing trigger. Remember, we ALL have the cancer cells in our bodies, it’s just a matter of triggering them. Finally, my dietician told me about kidney failure. Did you know that our generation is predicted to deal with renal issues – including renal failure – in their fifties and sixties because we drink so much sodapop? As soon as I heard the words “renal failure,” that was it. That’s something my mom is fighting, and I won’t put myself in that position. Haven’t had a pop since then.

For artificial sweeteners, go for anything with Sucralose in it, like Splenda. There are a lot of choices out there, including flavored water that will give you the carbonated “pop” you’re looking for in a much healthier way.

So my goals for next check-in:
Stick to the diet
Drink 72 oz plus of water/day
Write 2000 words on The Prophet

Who’s with me in getting healthy in March? Anyone else willing to give up pop? Remember, there are healthier alternatives – tea and coffee, in MODERATION, to help with the caffeine headache. How’s your Row80 week going?