Desperate times call for desperate measures, right? A while back I wrote about Smart Lipo, but the fact that it would cost me about $14,000 to lose the equivalent of 24 pounds and I'd have fat leaking out for a day or so prompted me to scrap that idea and make some lifestyle changes. An old friend suggested Lipo Dissolve recently, and I said no, no, NO! I'm no expert, but I've read that they inject a solution that melts the fat, but it has no where to go, so it gets absorbed by your organs and can cause long-term damage. I have to say that's one I would never consider. If you're going to go there, go all the way and have it sucked out! It has to be removed from your body to be effective!

I'm watching Biggest Loser while I'm writing this. They went out to eat and discussed how to order your food without all the added fat. That's so hard to do, because either restaurants aren't willing to work with you or they don't get it right! I've actually had to wipe butter off asparagus in the past. Should have just sent it back. I don't think it adds anything except disgusting fat to your dish! I doesn't really add flavor, if you ask me. Longhorn Steakhouse has sweet potato and asparagus as options, so I always get those as my sides, but be careful, because even when you ask, you don't always get it without the butter. I'd recommend avoiding the steaks though, as they have 50 plus grams of fat. Yeah, I know. I was shocked! I will give them credit, as they are one of very few steak house chains that will actually give the nutrition info. It's so much better to cook at home or if you do not have time, pick up some Healthy Choice, Lean Cuisine, or Weight Watcher dinners. Especially if you are rushed, you can make them quickly and avoid binge eating. I try to keep some on hand so that I don't get home and get tempted to order take out. I also keep a few extras on hand at work so I don't end up running out for fast food.

I don't know if you do this or not, but I like to make deals with myself. I'll sometimes make the exercise thing mental and talk myself right out of it. I say I'll work out double time tomorrow. We all know tomorrow never comes. By the end of the week, there's no way you can make it up. It's better to say, "I'll just do a half hour today since I'm tired or busy." That way, you get something in and it all adds up. Usually, once you get started you keep going anyway. Today I wanted nothing more than to just go to sleep, as I stayed up way too late last night. But, knowing me like I do, I knew the week would get busy and I would be disappointed with myself. So, I went to the gym and ran three miles. I didn't over do it, but just got in some good cardio and cleared my head, making me a better person before going back to work.

So, I'm pretty excited to announce that after just three weeks of really crackin' down, I've lost Eight pounds! That's right! Think about that. . . that's 32 sticks of butter! Could you actually smuggle 32 sticks of butter under your clothing without anyone noticing? Yeah, I didn't think so. Not even inside a panty girdle! So why is it that we think no one will notice it when it's in our body? Oh, the lies we tell ourselves.

So, I always have some article of clothing that I think will fit me again someday, so I refuse to throw it away. The last time I did that, it was my Louis and Francois Girbaud jeans. I loved them. They were like size five or six. I finally got back into them, and guess what? They were out of style! They were like mom jeans. C'mon, I was so hot in those when I bought them. Needless to say, they are gone. My recent "item" is a really nice size 8 Banana Republic wool skirt. It fit me nicely last year, but I quickly grew out of it. I tried it on this morning. I still look like Mrs. Sue Wiggins from Carol Bernette in it, but it's much better than it was a few weeks ago. I think another five pounds and I'm back in, baby! (remember her, with the but sticking out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHQsVXUM8vQ&feature=PlayList&p=A36E961BB657679F&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=56

Meanwhile, I'll keep eating bags of carrots for evening snacks. Somehow, that makes the left-over cupcakes with bright green butter cream icing and chocolate ice cream cups look really disgusting.

OK, I'm shooting for another two pounds for next week. The original goal was ten percent in ten weeks. I'm almost half way there in just three weeks. Hopefully, my friends and family who are in this contest with me are being honest! Well, back to my body icon, Jillian. TTYL!