I have five more pounds to lose and can't seem to lose them!  I mean, I know why...I'm not reducing my calories and I'm not exercising consistently!  I had become complacent because looking at myself in the mirror, I think I look okay, I just want to look better and more toned. 

I came a long way from last year, when I was 10 pounds heavier than I am now.  Last year, I was at my heaviest.  I even took a pregnancy test because I feared I was pregnant!  No, that was just belly fat.  I had always been slim my whole life due to good genes on my mother's side (she's Taiwanese), as well as being in the US Army (got out when I was 25).  When my 30s hit, my metabolism slowed BIG TIME; my dad's side of the family's genes started to kick in (White, lots of overweight relatives on that side), plus I stopped exercising and started to eat more.  

Eventually, around late last year I made a few dietary changes for the better, and by January of this year I completely phased out all sugar from my diet, losing about 5-6 pounds in 6 or so months without even trying.  Just cutting out sugar did it.  Plus I already wasn't eating refined carbohydrates in the form of bread, cookies, crackers, etc.  Then this spring, I did the 17 Day Diet, and lost 4 additional pounds during Cycles 1, 2, and 3.  I maintained my weight for the next month or so, which brings me to present time.     

I decided to repeat Cycle 1 about 10 days ago, but couldn't stick to lowering my calories.  I guess I just wasn't motivated enough.  So now I'm going to try a new tactic.  I'm calling it the Lose 5 Pounds in 31 Days plan.  I start TODAY, and by August 31st, I will be 5 pounds lighter, no ifs, ands, or buts!  With the failure of my repeat cycle 1 attempt, I now have a newfound fire...I'm once again motivated to succeed! 

I set everything up for success.  I took out a notebook, and on each page will dedicate my food/calorie intake (keeping my total between 1100 and 1400 daily), my water intake, and what I did for exercise.  Plus in the top right corner will be a space to write down my weight each morning.  So each page is dedicated to that.  Kind of like a weight loss diary.  Also, I told my husband of my plan, so I am accountable to someone.  I will be blogging about it, too! 

My stats: 

Height: 5'0"

Currently: 110 pounds.

Goal: 105 pounds.

My heaviest weight, last year: 120 pounds!