From this day forward...

It wasn't a New Year's resolution. It was the wedding date announcment.

My oldest daughter is getting married THIS May. It will happen the way I always thought it would--white dress, a great guy, her little sister standing up for her, a backdrop of nature in rustic southern Indiana, mom walking her down the aisle.
I will walk her down the aisle because she has three dads and despite them all being capable of the job, they can't all do it. Who does she choose? MOM.
This is great. I love my daughter and would do anything for her.

Problem? Three years ago I was over-weight by maybe 20 pounds in my estimation. In the last three years I have gained nearly 30 pounds. Or is it that I've gained over 30 pounds? Anyway, count them: 50 pounds. Besides being unattractive, that is unhealthy.

I attribute this weight gain to 1) quitting smoking and 2) getting married.
As you learned earlier, I have been married three times and I have gained weight all three times and (lo and behold) the weight went with the husband.

OK, you and I know that I didn't get fat because I quit smoking and got married although they have served me well as excuses. I gained weight because I ate too much, drank too much beer and have not exercised in, lets say, five years.
So now that I have established why I am fat, I will tell you why I don't want to be.

My daughter's wedding. No, my daughter. She is a beauty just like my younger daughter. Taller than me but shorter than the younger one. Skinny. Muscular skinny from riding horses. She is going to be a knockout walking down the isle.
She doesn't care if I'm fat or skinny. Obviously, I really don't care either. I do care that people on one side or the other of the church won't be able to see her if I am walking beside her. That worrys me.
It also worries me that people will watch us walk down the isle and whisper, "she must take after her dad's side of the family." I will NOT have anyone say my daughter resembles her dad more than me. Besides, I don't want anyone comparing our asses.

I have spent a lot of years on a lot of diets and have been motivated by many different things. Most of the time I have dieted, I did so behind closed doors. It's just easier to pretend that you aren't on a diet because if you fail, no one knows you were trying anyway. No one knows you failed.

When I quit smoking June 1, 2005, I told EVERYONE. And everyone kept tabs on me.
"Still not smoking?"
"Not smoking."
"Good for you."
What I noticed was that the people who love and care about me were actually cheering me on, even if they were smokers. I loved that support.
I need that now.

So I started this diet blog to "hang it all out there" for the world to see. My hope is that there will be less of it to see come May. I will try to post everyday. I am aiming for humor because I won't get through this without it. I will enjoy you stopping by for a read and write. If you have too much body fat like me, I hope you find encouragement here. If you are your own perfect size, please throw some encouragement this way and that. Most of all, be entertained with my quest.