Fun with Photoshop!

I'm meeting today with my weight-loss "brain coach" (for lack of a better term) but wanted to pop in for a bit today, since I've been pretty darn bad at posting.

Last week we came to the realization that I'm a diet rebel -- I'm always bending rules, ignoring rules and making up my own rules when on a particular diet.

The solution? I have to make my own rules, because I do pretty well not breaking those.

My rule-breaking, rebellious side goes far beyond dieting. I've been questioning authority since elementary school. My second-grade teacher Mrs. Beagley did not like that and threatened once to tie me to my chair.

In middle school, I was calling B.S. on my home-ec teacher's nutrition tips. I can't even remember what it was I objected to, but my chubby 13-year-old self was already well-schooled on "good" and "bad" foods.

I did that in other diet programs, too. I shook my head and objected loudly while one meeting leader told members that grapefruit is a good choice because it burns extra fat -- oh, no she didn't!

I do ascribe to the adage that any diet will work if you stick to the program -- problem is, I can't. I always seem to find something wrong with every diet and play up that one flaw. My sister and I followed a very popular plan that for some reason didn't allow any dairy products at all -- not even nonfat or lowfat dairy. When I asked why, I was told "that's just what the program says." Bad answer, lady. You can't just dismiss something because "it's not on the plan."

Every week I'm going to come up with more new rules to eat by. So far I've got these:

• No food after 8 p.m.
• Only clear liquids (water, tea, etc.) after 8 p.m.
• 8 hours of sleep a night, with an "electronics shutdown" 30 minutes before bed.
• Exercise at least 3-4 times a week.
• 100 ounces of water a day.

Have I followed everything to the letter? Not yet, but I'm getting much better at those. My allergy-induced asthma has made my breathing a little "chunky" so I only got in three days of exercise.

The no eating after 8 has been going well, especially since I've been trying to pound down those 100 ounces of water. But even on the days when I haven't fit in that third quart of water I've still had 8 glasses. Before this rule went into effect I was only averaging one quart a day.

It's one of those "shoot for the moon" rules -- even though I come up short some days, I'm still at 64 ounces.

I'll let you know what new rules I've come up with this week.

Shrinking Sisters loves yogurt!

Check out my review of Weight Watchers Yogurt over at Shrinking Sisters Reviews and grab yourself a coupon!