In general, day 1, not bad. Definitely will need to plan in advance, knowing what I am going to eat and cook before each day. Being able to make things for several days will be good. I do already missed cheese. It’s just so good and a good quick snack. Was able to get to my first workout at this gym too. It was an ass kicker, which is a good thing. Confirmation that my coordination is not always the best (mountain climbers 👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻). Went shopping tonight for some basics. I look forward to getting into a groove so I can put LESS thought into what I eat. I don’t need another job.

Gratitude:

1. Being able to make it to a workout this AM
2. Living close enough to the gym that I left 8 min before class and was still there early
3. Below Deck
4. Pool membership
5. My husband not just staying late impromptu so that I could go to the gym, but that he also did work around the house 🙌🏻
6. Cutie babies
7. Chris being able to get home a little on the early side
8. It’s Friday!!!
9. Almond butter on apples
10. Summer vacation

Action: Drink more water!!! I did not drink enough today. Plan meals for at least the next few days.

I am taking the plunge. Well, a plunge. I met with a nutrition coach on Tuesday and signed up for a 6 week detox weight loss challenge. If I lose 25 lbs in 6 weeks, it’s “free”. I mean we all know it’s not really free, but I am okay with that. I need to lose weight and I need to get control of my eating. I mean it is really OUT OF CONTROL! It’s crazy: I will measure my food, eat fruits, veg, lean protein and high fiber low carb all day, then down an entire pint of ice cream and whatever else that falls within my eye-line. I mean, we definitely know I did today since my whole new life (42 days) starts tomorrow. I know an option, a really good option, is to just go to bed. You can’t eat while you sleep. But, this is my time, when everyone else has gone to bed. I can sit down for as long as I want and watch the Real Housewives or Below Deck or whatever other inane offerings they have available (all of which I love and can watch all day if given the opportunity). I don’t want to give that up. I want some time to myself when I don’t have to actively take care of someone else. I do usually end up using some of that time to do stuff around the house, but that’s okay. It’s still my time to do what I want.

Now that I am doing this program, I will need to have more of a real routine at night. Have my phone away an hour or so before bed, journal writing a gratitude list and an action item. I am going to use this space to do that. I can’t bare to have to write in multiple places and quite frankly this blog is for me (I can’t imagine anyone wanting to read it).

Why am I even starting a blog?!?! The mom of 2, the youngest not yet 6 months old. I am struggling to get back to some sense of normalcy, physical, mental and emotional. My weight is off the charts, I feel disgusting, I have about 5 “outfits” that fit. I am riddled with feelings of inadequacy and left with little confidence. I am irritable and sometimes, way more than I want, I am just a f*ing B. I am tired. I think I am a fraud—as a mom, at my job (teacher). I feel lonely and disconnected. And apparently my thyroid isn’t functioning properly (another wonderful side effect of pregnancy—surprise!!). The kicker about that is that it’s overactive, which leads most people to lose weight without trying…sigh.

So, why am I starting this blog? My mind is often racing with thoughts about everything (see above). I am hoping this gives me an outlet to get these thoughts out, a purging if you will. I need an outlet that is not my husband (you should see the rambling texts that he receives when I am at the gym, having thoughts, and trying to look not uncomfortable and like I might have a clue about what I am doing). I want to feel better so I can be better and do better. For myself. So that then I can be better and do better for my family and my friends and at my job. But mostly for my myself and my family.

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

• Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
• Because it will help you focus you own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

• Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
• What topics do you think you’ll write about?
• Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
• If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.