apparently, i need all the help i can get

Since Kim is my girl, my support person. The person who i check in with regularly. I thought i'd copy this from her blog to here to see how i do.

… About Small Eating Changes
1. Water, water, water, water. (Your skin will look great, too!)
*i'm up to at least 96oz a day. Sometimes more, never less.
2. Order half portions at restaurants, or share a full portion with somebody. Or ask for a "to-go" container when you order your food, and pack up half the portion before you even start eating.
*ughh. we rarely eat out now. But when we do, i usually can't eat a full plate anyways and have a take home box
3. Cut back on butter and mayo.
*i REALLY need to do this. I LOVE my mayo and butter... but so does the rest of my family. I think DarRell would kill me if i cut back on these. Even going to low/no fat, i just might be disowned. I got to figure out a way to work for me and still make everyone happy.
4. Limit fried foods to once or twice per week.
*HUGE downfall for me. The greasier the better. I didn't realize this until i thought back on the past two weeks of meals..... NOT GOOD.
5. Use less or no sugar in your coffee or tea.
*no biggie there...... don't drink either (although the tea is good sometimes)
6. Replace ground beef with meatless products or ground turkey.
*sigh..... no ground beef? Meatless? those veggi boca burgers aren't too bad sometimes.
7. Try at least one new food every week. If you're bored with what you're eating, you're more likely to give up.
*it's worth a try. I just get tired of wasting food cause i have to cook for 5 and 3 are picky.
8. Eat fresh, raw veggies with sandwiches instead of chips.
*working on that RIGHT now! yayay me! although those darn Cheetos are the death of me.
9. Measure your portions until you're sure you know what a cup, a half-cup, and a tablespoon look like. This will help you practice portion control, an essential key to weight-loss success.
*working on this with the easier things like cereal and stuff i can control.
10. Try not to drink high-calorie beverages.
*did i mention that Mt. Dew is also the death of me?
11. Dip your fork in a side of salad dressing before each bite instead of pouring it directly on your salad. You'll find that you are satisfied with much less than you usually put on.
*ya... i've tried this. it works when i do it. Otherwise, i just eat too much.
12. Find healthy alternatives to all your favorite foods.
*is there a healthy alternative? gotta find them
13. If you don't really love it, don't eat it.
*definatly a problem. I eat it if its sitting there. Doesn't matter if it's not my favorite.
14. Never eat out of a bag or box. Take out a measured/counted quantity of food and put it in a bowl. This way, you know exactly how much you're having.
*Cheetos again...... gotta get rid of them apparently
15. Always eat something for breakfast.
*YAYAYAY for me! i'm actually doing this!!!!!
16. Read food labels. Check serving sizes.
*got to get better at this but i am aware and do check occasionally
17. Add vegetables to everything.
*working on this too. Just gotta find the right veggies to make me and the rest of us happy
18. Plan meals in advance; use that information to make out a complete shopping list.
*doing it right! Only way to do it when you get paid only once a month
19. Give food to guests to take home.
*or make only enough for the 5 of us..... it works
20. Write down everything you eat and drink, without fail.
*i gues i'm chicken. But it'd sure be an eye opener wouldn't it. Something to get on my to-do list.
21. Plan ahead for special occasions by accounting for higher-calorie foods before you eat them.…
*it's sitting in the back on my mind... always

About Small Exercise Changes
1. Take the stairs every single time they're an option. No more elevators or escalators.
*i use the upstairs bathroom everytime i'm downstairs and the downstairs bathroom whenever i'm upstairs. And with all the water i'm drinking....... it's often
2. Make exercise a priority, not an inconvenience.
*working on it. That's where Kim comes into play ;-)
3. Park far from your destination so you're forced to walk. This works at the supermarket, the mall, wherever. (This also helps you waste less time looking for a parking space!)
*being in a small town, this isn't very easy. Especially since, well..... i don't really go anywhere
4. View tiring chores (shoveling snow, cleaning the house, weeding the garden, taking the garbage out, grocery shopping) as a chance to get in some activity.
*good idea.....
5. Take the grocery cart back to the store when you're done loading your bags into your car.
*i do when i'm kidless. Never thought of it with the kids...... do i really want to go there?
6. If you take public transportation, get off one stop early.
*N/A
7. Work out with a buddy.
*thank you Kim... even if you are a million states away.

Hopefully the little things will add up. Apparently i need all the help i can get.