I am starting a new diet, one I am making up as I go along. The original diet I had in mind was Nutrisystem but I cannot afford it. Now I am simply being more mindful of what I eat and making healthier choices.

I started with a few days of a simple detox, a glass of 100% cranberry juice and a shot of apple cider vinegar...I am also taking vitamins that I believe are both for my physical and mental health. I learned tonight that I am using way too much ACV, so I figured that was just the test run and now I'll reduce how much I'm using when I use it.

Today was day one of my diet. For breakfast, I had a cliff bar, cheese and an apple for morning snack, a lean cuisine and a salad for lunch, yogurt for afternoon snack, and then a big salad, a heaping portion of raw broccoli, and a lean cuisine for dinner...followed with one hershey's kiss and a smallish bowl of ice cream for dessert.

So that's the plan...so far. I have to take baby steps to get into a routine. I'm used to skipping breakfast and even lunch and then gorging through several servings of dinner and then snacking all night. Plus alcohol, which I've now cut out as well. I am also cutting back on caffeine and switching to tea but not entirely cutting everything out yet. But so far I want my goal to be three meals plus three or four small portioned snacks throughout the day and more tea, no alcohol.

My first weigh-in was 203.6. My goal is to check in every Sunday. I know this may sound crazy but right now, for the next two weeks of the new diet, exercise is encouraged but not mandatory. I have a habit of overloading myself and then giving everything up when I become overwhelmed, so that is why I am starting slow...detox for a few days...wean off the caffeine and alcohol...try the diet for a few days...then exercise...and so on.

I could use a cheerleader or more! I could use the encouragement and a place to share my excitement and/or woes. Thank you!