In the Company of Friends

We spent the Fourth of July weekend vacationing with dear friends and family, playing in the sun, catching up, laughing and enjoying each others' company. We also spent it pigging out and drinking adult beverages. Oops. Sure, our friends are on the same diet page that we are, and we talked about our low cost low carb lives, sharing recipes, products, experiences. Ultimately, though, we knew from the get-go that the new diet would have to start on Tuesday, after everyone went home and life went back to normal. The food, the festivities, and the friends were just too good to pass up.

I say "new" diet, but it really isn't. It's simply a re-commitment to adhere to the low cost low carb lifestyle that has been so good to us. Well, mostly to Pete. It would work for me, if I were anywhere near as dedicated as he is. The simple fact is that he applied himself, and I didn't. I've never had any of the health problems he had, so I had no motivation to diet. I do now! After 4 days in a bikini, painfully aware of my exposed "Buddha Belly" while hearing one person after another compliment my husband on his flat abs, I'm motivated. I don't want to be "The Old Lady"!

Of course, it helps to know my friend is applying herself to a low carb life too. She has knee injuries, so exercise is a challenge for her. I have an autoimmune condition, so I have dietary restrictions. Neither issue is insurmountable. We'll adapt, improvise, and overcome. Maybe that's the next evolution of low cost low carb for us. For my husband, it was iron will that made his diet such a success. Frankly, few people have that kind of will power. I'm more flexible and forgiving of myself and my life (ok, weaker), and I'll have have to accommodate my dietary limitations and picky tastes. This may be the second time going low cost low carb for our family, but it won't be a repeat. Top all this off with the ever-declining economy, and the low cost part of the diet becomes even more important than ever before.

July 2nd was the half-way point in the year. Instead of making New Year's Resolutions to look good for swimsuit season, I'm making Independence Day Resolutions to look great for the holidays. My first step is to share this with you. My second is to write down everything that I eat- more on that later. It won't be pretty, but it's a start. Care to join me?