Donna, my answer is the same as yours! We were members of the "Clean Plate Club"!!

Also, I have found that making time for exercise is a challenge. I have a million excuses for not exercising.....but I know that I MUST carve out some time in my day to do it!!! Actually, exercising gives me MORE time, because I do feel more energized.

Most difficult rules....

Forcing myself to do the workout, whether I like it or not. Whether I have cramps or not (because it -does- make them feel better). Whether I feel like doing it or not. Whether I have a cold or not. No matter what. That's a hard part.

That, and the rule of not eating the junk I'd probably prefer to eat. Like going out with my friends and saying no, thanks, to the stuff that everybody else is eating (because it's deep fried and made of potatoes and Irish food). AND veggies. Veggies are especially hard for me. I had to convince myself that peppers (like red & green peppers) are NOT spicy, do NOT taste bad, and do NOT give me horrible acid problems. Turns out they're pretty darn good...

most difficult!? ARe there rules??? LOL!!! (just kidding!!!!)

I am not a disciplined person (noooooooo!) and just being consistent with a daily routine (making a menu, sticking with it, exercsing...although that has gotten easier) has been the most difficult for me! The whole "eating" thing is difficult. If I didn't need food, this whole thing would be so much easier for me! OK, that's a bit absurd!!!!

The other thing is that I am rebellious! I know that the whole sugar thing is a "mind game" with me. I tell myself that I'm NOT going to eat a certain food...and then I do...just because I CAN!!!! It's a lose/lose thing for me! So it's hard to cut out anything in my "diet"!! Anyone else have this problem? Maybe portion control is more the issue here!! Hmmmm...I guess I have a problem with most rules!!! Ya think?

Do you "rate" your food when you eat it, saving the best for last or eating the best first?

Nope.... I kinda go around and around getting a little variety with each bite. Only rating I do is soup and salad come before entre and entre comes before dessert. Oh and uh ... I assign my points. Sometimes I may decide not to have one thing or another because it has too many points, like say I only eat half my potato etc.

Yeah. I rate.

I thought I was weird, and the only one who does that!

I save anything with cheese for last. Cheese is probably one of my favorites and always makes my stomach stop bleeding and kills my heartburn, so I like to force the veggies & meat down (which hurt more) and then top it off with cheese.

(Stomach bleeds from medical condition, no big deal. Doesn't bleed a lot or too often anymore!)

Cheese, and anything with avocados.

OK, this one is a joke in our family! My husband says I have an "attitude" about my food (and I DO with HIM!) I do like to save the best bite for when I want to eat it and he reaches over to my plate (NOT anymore, though...because I have an attitude, remember!?) and snatches up the BEST bite (the one I was saving) and eats it...all without asking!!! And I have the attitude because I won't let him eat off my plate without asking??? Hmph!

Sometimes I eat dessert first sometimes (when I have it) because I like it! But "normally"...whatever that is...I will eat salad first, then mix the entree around a bit...a bite here, a bite there, maybe drink water! I'm a "mixer" and do like to stir my food together (like mashed potatoes with the veggie and meat to make one big "casserole" on my plate!) I'm a bit wierd when I eat, I guess! Maybe???

What changes in your life have you committed to since starting this journey and which, if any, change is the most difficult?

Most difficult change = forcing myself to eat meals at normal times. Normally, I'd just eat sometime around 10am, then again around 4, then around 2am or so. I didn't have a normal set time... just kind of whenever, and they weren't meals. Meals are hard, too.

Changes......I feel like I have done a complete 180 in my life to begin living more healthy. I am more aware of the food choices that I make, of the amount of water I drink.....but the absolute hardest thing is to get up out of the easy chair and exercise! And, of course, exercise, at least for me, is absolutely crucial to my weight loss.

I am totally in awe of all you chickies walking miles every day or *gasp* doing hundreds of situps! You inspire me to keep going.....

That's what I have comitted to...to changing! And I have changed my eating habits, my exercise habits and just being aware of what I do with my day! One of the things I have comitted to and done is to journal and to be accountable...that's why I'm here...to be accountable! I may not have made a change with the scale for several months, but I know now what I eat and why I eat! That's a step in the right direction, wouldn't you say?

What holiday traditions do you have that do not include food?

What is your biggest holiday temptation (i.e. cookies, stuffing, turkey, etc.)?

1. What holiday traditions do you have that do not include food?
Hmmm! That is tough! I would have to say decorating the Christmas tree and wrapping the presents! I love to bake, however which seems to be the biggest holiday tradition!!! But I love a beautifully decorated tree, which I never had growing up, so I do like to have it looking "just perfect"! I guess that says something about me doesn't it? Dwayne and I were just talking today about going and getting the Christmas tree...we do a real one. I want to make it a tradition that we go get one and maybe even cut our own down! We have a TON of tree farms within a few miles from our home! We are truly blessed!

The other tradition I remember as a child (fondly) is going to Midnight Mass with my Mom and siblings! She would give each of us a present that we could unwrap before Mass (there were 7 of us kids!) We would be so excited to get that gift! It was always a big suprise! Then we would go to Mass and when we came out, it was snowing...seems like every year!

2. What is your biggest holiday temptation (i.e. cookies, stuffing, turkey, etc.)?
I mentioned I love to bake! All the baking leads to tasting and then one leads to another...then having them sit around until I can give them out! I'm thinking that this year, I am going to do some baking but not as much! Why do we bake anyway??? To share with friends (who are all dieting, anyway!) LOL!!!
Kaleigh and I have made a gingerbread house for the last couple of years and I am really looking forward to that tradition again this year! She loves to eat the gingerbread and I keep all the leftovers and she loves the little pieces as a snack! Freezing them is great! They keep forever!!! LOL!

I'm getting all nostalgic here!

How do you plan to deal with holiday temptation?