Calories, Diets, and Exercise! Oh my!

I am geared up and ready to do the unthinkable....I plan to go on a diet. This is something I have never really done and always privately feared. Now, here I am, needing to lose five pounds, wanting to lose ten, unable to do either with my normal routine.

I've tried adding a little exercise to my routine. Although I knew that would probably add weight, I also expected to at least lose inches. I've gained weight and inches. Not the ideal result of working out.

Yesterday, I made plans to go all out - cut my food intake way back, maybe even fast a few days. But, I have two little ones to chase around, so I do need to eat enough to not pass out midchase. Also (and the real reason here) I was starting to freak out thinking about every calorie in every bite. The more I had to focus on how many bites NOT to take and calories NOT to ingest and how I should NOT eat, the more it was on my mind TO EAT. This method seems a little counterproductive to me.

Then my brilliant husband had the idea to make just a few key changes in my habits. So, I came up with these:

1. Leave a few bites on my plate at every meal.
This will, in effect, cut my caloric intake (as long as I don't pile too much on my plate in the first place).

2. Steer clear of all the cheese.
I eat a lot of cheese. Cheese toast, cheese tortillas, alfredo sauce, etc. etc. That's a lot of fat. I need to be choosing veggies and fruit instead.

3. Burn more calories by (a)working out a lot more each day - like an hour, (b)sitting on a yoga ball instead of a regular chair during the day, (c)wearing those wrist and ankle weight things all day around the house.

We'll see if this works. I hope to lose five pounds this month. So, I'll know if it's working by the end of the week.