January is almost over and many people have broken their New Year's resolutions a long time ago. For many, the resolution is to lose weight this year. That's a great resolution IF you are going to stick to it.

A couple of years ago I went to the doctor and he told me I needed to lose about 40 pounds and to think about eating healthier - maybe even eating "clean". He also told me my cholesterol was up and if I didn't do something about it I would end up on medication.

Now I'm from the south and I love my fried food and eating healthy meant you didn't have two pieces of cake at dinner. This new "clean" eating sounded dreadful to me. I thanked the good doc and went on my way.

Fast forward two years and I was still overweight, had no energy and really wasn't happy with the weight I was at. That's when I started my diet plan with Rejuv Medical. They have helped me to lose 23 pounds in just 7 weeks! I can tell I have more energy and I can see my clothes falling off me.

The number one question I get when people notice my weight loss is - "What are you doing?" The answer I give them is that I am exercising and eating right. The next question I get is what are you eating? I figure today I will share with you what a normal day of food is for me and maybe it will help you make better choices that fit you!

My body needs at least 1700 calories per day to be healthy and lose weight. Your body is different and you may not need the same amount. Remember, my diet is designed for me, but you will see that I'm eating all the time and still losing weight!

The biggest key is getting your body going immediately in the morning. You need to eat within 30 minutes of waking up. I get up at 4:30 and usually have a Kemp's yogurt. They taste great and have no sugar. I then go for my workout - maybe it's at the gym with Tim, my trainer, or it's walking for an hour on the treadmill - basically it's moving your body.

After my workout I have breakfast around 7am. I generally have a piece of fruit and a whole wheat English muffin with 2 egg whites/1 egg yolk and 2 strips of Morningstar Farms veggie bacon. I know, veggie bacon? Well, it's not AS good as that from the pig, but it smells like it and has the same crisp to it, so not a bad substitute.

By 9:30 I'm ready for my first snack. I have almonds and carrots every day and try to work in some fruit there - today was grapes. At noon I have lunch. I brought leftovers from last night. A baked pork tenderloin with a mix of broccoli, carrots and cauliflower with rice. (Can you see a pattern here, I'm eating about every 2 1/2 - 3 hours.

At 3 I have my afternoon snack. Usually it is reduced fat Triscuits with a fat free mozzarella cheese stick and an apple.

Tonight I'm going out for dinner and I just have to make sure the staff understands what I'm looking for. I order a grilled chicken breast with just pepper on it. Then I get the salad bar to go along with it. Instead of using the full calorie dressing on the bar, I use the house vinaigrette or the oil and vinegar at the end of the bar. At 8:30 I will have a serving of fat free cottage cheese to give me something in my system all night and then I'm off to bed.

As you can see I basically had 7 meals throughout the day and my total calories was just under 1750 - again, my number, yours will be different. Is it hard to pass up the cheesecake? Yes! But I know that I'm eating right and I'm feeling and looking better. I'm excited to see what my cholesterol is the next time I go for a physical.

Whatever you feel works best for you, do it. Gather the strength and take control of your own life. If you are like me, doing it on your own was way too hard and that's why Rejuv kicks me in the butt and makes sure I stay on track. If I can learn to eat right, I know you can too! Good luck with your diet and exercise and let me know how it works out for you!

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