Time to start...

I am inspired by my cousin, Allison, to begin blogging about my experiences with food. I began the P.I.N.K. Method yesterday. I know many of you out there can relate to the ups and downs of dieting in America -- we are all professionals. It's too bad we don't get paid for all the trouble. I love coffee... and not just any ole' hot cup. I am talking coffee with lots of cream, sugar, and most definitely chocolate/mocha. I love carbs. I think we all do. And salt. Lots of salt. As a member of the hypo-thyroid disease family (there are millions of us out there) it is almost a minute-by-minute struggle not to want to lick a block of salt or reach for some kind of salty cracker, pasta, or otherwise unhealthy carb. I've done every diet there is: Blood Type, Weight Watchers, Atkins, and a few others I can't even remember the names of right now. I am also on year three (anniversary in May) of having a gastric band. No, not bypass... just the band, which did wonders the first year, but a combination of grad school/long days of sitting and unhealthy eating choices have led me back to reality. And, so, after watching an episode of Dr. Phil (yes, of course!) over the holiday break with my mom, I came to embrace the P.I.N.K. Method that embraces the veggie/lean protein approach to eating with exercise. Seems pretty basic, right?

Well, I am on Day 2 of the "reset" phase of the diet. 12 more days to go. I am on the diet with my two best friends and my mom. Erica and I both had withdrawal symptoms yesterday -- bad, bad headaches, jitters, and the occasional bad mood swing. It is crazy sometimes to think about my body throwing a tantrum like a two-year-old because I am denying it carbs and sugar. But today has been a better day than yesterday. I had my breakfast shake (almond milk, whey protein, and fruit). I have discovered the joys of hemp protein and liquid Stevia. Stay tuned tomorrow for what that shake looks like!

Anyway, this is my blog about what it's like to live in the P.I.N.K., which stands for Power, Intensity, Nutrition, and Kardio. It is going to be great, and hard, and every emotion in-between.

And one final note about this diet -- drinking water -- I hate water. But, then again, all I ever really drank before was coffee... lots of it... so this water thing is totally new. But I can already tell a difference in my skin. Cheers to H2O!