No, not the John Lennon song…but I do have to start something over.

My diet. My quest to quit smoking. My “lifestyle change” changed itself back.

My ‘New Years Resolution’ this year was not to make a New Years Resolution, but to set some goals for myself. One of those goals was to get down to a (more) healthy weight, and to start eating a more “Heart Healthy” diet low in Fat, Sodium and Cholesterol. The other was to quit smoking.

In regards to the diet, I did really good – for about 5 months (I actually started in December). When did I start falling off of the wagon? Well, it’s kinda hard to put a date on it, but I took a vacation from work back in April, and I’m not sure that’s when I fell off of the wagon, but I’m pretty sure that’s when all four wheels of the wagon ran me over! It seemed that every day we went into town to do something, and while there, ate lunch out – and then being tired in the evening we would get “sloppy” for supper – you know – fix something quick and simple. 

It all started innocently enough – Hot Dogs w/ Chili for supper one night, and then some Chicken Nuggets and Fries (at least we fixed both of those in the oven). Finally my Mom talked me into have Fried Chicken one night (she was really growing tired of all the “George Forman Grilled” food) and it was all over but the crying! It wasn’t too long after that I started getting sloppy with my lunches. It seems my only (still) daily “healthy” meal was breakfast – either having a Special K meal bar or some Yogurt and Juice. My lunchtime fare had quickly morphed from low-fat Turkey on whole wheat to Subway, and then Wendy’s and Burger King “Grilled” chicken sandwiches and finally I realized I was simply just eating the way I used to.

Not only that, but my walking routine started to slip, and all of this coupled with a ton of extra stress that dumped itself into my life over the past 3-4 weeks and it’s all gone downhill very quickly.

It shows too. I’ve gained all but 5 pounds of what I lost back. I feel just as bad as I did when I started all of this – I feel fat, tired, bloated and just plain BLAH!

So, I mark tomorrow, June 1 2009 as National “Start Over” day. Tomorrow I start my diet again, and I start (seriously) trying to quit smoking again. 

Part of the “added stress” in my life over the past few weeks was my Mom’s health. She has a few things going on, but a biggie for me was that she was diagnosed with Emphysema. Luckily, it isn’t “severe” at least at this point, so no Oxygen tank or anything like that – she does get short of breath on long walks though. That hit me pretty hard, especially since I was so proud of the fact that she quit smoking over a year ago. She smoked for 45 years and quit cold turkey, so I think I can do it – I HAVE to do it.

So, if you see me tomorrow, wish me luck. If I don’t seem “cheerful” don’t take it personally. I’m probably hungry, and I’m sure I want to smoke