would the real april please stand up?

well, it is time. i have been avoiding the truth about myself for far too long. painful as it may be, it is time for me to admit that among all of my other negative traits, i am overweight. this truth has been nagging me for quite some time. each time i get dressed, i blame the snug fit on running the dryer too hot. i cant even call it "baby fat", since i am actually heavier than i was nine months pregnant- and my youngest "baby" is nearly five years old! i swear that my metabolism retired the day i turned 30. i have never tried dieting in earnest. i have made feeble attempts to starve myself into my favorite bikini, or to pedal away a few pounds. all to no avail. and the "aerobic" exercise my husband promises will melt away the pounds... well, i have seen evidence to the contrary in my ever expanding waistline. i did try an exercise routine at the gym, but since i am really a big sissy, i stuck to the treadmill and the exer-cycle. my butt just kept getting bigger! anyway, my brother in law started the atkins diet last year. it was great for him! i am not sure how much weight he lost, but i am pretty sure he lost a whole average size person. and he has been able to keep it off. when he told me that there was enough carbohydrates in one domestic beer to equal a loaf of bread- i mostly gave up my favorite microbrews. and it hasnt helped. i quit putting those delicious creamers in my coffee. apparently for no reason. i quit fixing scrumptious pasta dishes nearly every other night. also no improvement. well, i am going to try the atkins diet. my sister took pity on me and got me an atkins guide. i was soooo excited that i read the whole thing last night. i started the diet today. i doubt if i will be able to follow the menus very closely, because i must also continue to feed my family. but i will be able to follow the rules. i think the hardest part will be learning to eat three meals a day (and no more wine with dinner!). i am accustomed to occasionally having some toast with my coffee, a light lunch, and a big meal at dinner time. today went well. during the first 14 days, you are only allowed 20g carbs. no alcohol, no caffiene. well, i did have 2 large cups of coffee (less than half my usually daily coffee intake), i had an egg with cheese for breakfast, tuna salad for lunch, and ham with roasted green beans and carrots for dinner. all in all: 14.5 carbs. i also weighed and measured myself this morning, so that next week i will know if i am actually making progress. well, perhaps the svelte and confident april will find her way out of this. i will keep you apprised.