A few months ago I started exercising weekly with friends as a way to stay accountable for exercising and losing weight.... the unfortunate thing is that I haven't lost any weight or inches....

I tend to be one to gain and lose weight pretty easily, and though I've been holding onto an extra 15-20 pounds over the past 3-4 years, I thought that I would be at my goal by now. 

Yesterday I was reading a study regarding weight loss that said most people don't exercise enough to really make a difference in their weight and most need to focus on calorie restriction....

I can't tell you how stupid I thought this idea was....  I used to exercise like mad and lost weight and kept it off.  Of course you only have to exercise....

BUT.... then I thought about it some more.....  Maybe I've not lost weight because I'm not exercising consistently, or not doing so hard enough.... maybe it's because I'm eating more to make up for the calories that I have burned....

I've actually gained weight this week because I've been psychologically gearing up for next week and I've been gorging myself with junk food.....  I know that I'm doing it yet I still continue.....

So.... at this point I'm thinking that there may be a validity to the study.... 
I used to keep a strict diet also in addition to the exercise....  I'm beginning to think that this is really key for me....

Starting tomorrow.... I am going to do our exercise boot camp..... we will be exercising everyday this week.....  I think that exercise is important on so many levels as far as health, but I'm not going to plan on it losing me any weight.....

I'm going to have to get serious about what I am eating and how much of it....  I find that with the more I cook and the more nutritious the food is that I eat I tend to think that I can eat more, but this is something that I seriously need to re-evaluate.

I'm going back to keeping a daily food diary with calories, carbs, fat, protein and fiber all counted.  I've slacked off water and green tea lately and replaced them with diet pepsi and coffee.... this also needs to change.

I'm going to make sure I take my supplements this week along with essential fatty acids to maximize my energy.

I don't have any magic as far as herbal remedies that will burn off the fat.... there are some to help you feel less hungry, but none that will make it less of an effort on my part....

I guess my plan is

.... eat less

....be accountable for what I am eating

....eat balanced meals with a little bit of protein, carbs, and fat at every meal

....eat veggies and some fruits over grain or simple carbohydrates

....drink more water, avoid artificial sweeteners

....take my vitamins and supplements