Patch Takes It Off—The Preview

If you haven't heard yet, Patch is launching a weight-loss/get-fit adventure on Monday, and I get to be Parsippany's poster girl for taking it off.

Am I nervous? You bet. But I really need to lose some ugly fat--my mother-in-law has taken to calling me Fattie to my face--so this public exercise will force me to do it. I have several goals here: to lose 50 pounds, to run in the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 5K in New York City this September and to get the aforementioned mother-in-law to find another way to abuse me emotionally.

In an effort to get off to a good start, I started early, doing a seven-day fiber flush consisting of nothing but fiber pills, a half cup of oatmeal for breakfast with a lemon-juice-and-hot-water chaser, a small salad or cup of vegetarian soup for lunch, and 10 eight-ounce glasses of water. Along with that, I took a multivitamin and calcium supplements.

The bad news: The flush caused me major headaches which led me to overmedicate with NSAID painkillers, which led to severe stomach bleeding and liver pain. 

Did I say check with a doctor before doing anything? If not, I am saying it now. See a doctor before doing anything involving weight loss.

The good news, however, is that I am down 14 pounds (and I am not counting this as part of my 50). The painkillers are finally out of my system and my skin looks awesome. Plus, the psychic clarity that comes after a flush is like nothing I have ever experienced before—it's cosmic, man. I only hope the headaches will vanish soon.

Now, I am in the second phase of the diet: Steel-cut oatmeal with skim milk and fruit for breakfast, salad or soup and a half sandwich (one slice of whole-grain extra-fiber wheat bread) for lunch, a three-ounce portion of fish or chicken with lots of salad for dinner—and 10 glasses of water throughout the day. No white flour, no (or not much) white sugar, no pasta, no fake sweeteners, no desserts (I consider them a trap).

Guess what? It's okay. I even said no to a red velvet cupcake today without experiencing too much regret. And right now, I am sitting in Starbucks having an unsweetened cup of tea with skim milk and enjoying it.

Imagine that.

Exercise is part of the equation as well. Right now, I am doing lots of walking, but starting July 4—and as part of this series—I will take on different types of exercise with gyms, pools, dance studios and such throughout the Parsippany area and chronicle the many alternatives out there for those who want and need to lose weight and/or increase their fitness level.

A big part of the Patch Takes It Off crusade is facing the weight loss challenge with company. That means you.

If you, like me, could stand to lose a few, join me. Send me an email and I will set you up to blog on Patch and share whatever information you choose about your weight loss adventures. The challenge runs from July 4 through Labor Day, and we ask you to blog at least once weekly to let us know what you're doing in terms of diet and exercise and how it's working for you.

Note: If you don't want to reveal your weight, that's cool. I (at least for now) have no plans to reveal that much personal information; a girl needs to maintain some mystery, eh? "The Biggest Loser" this is not.

And if you want to meet up to work out or eat out, let me know. Success, I believe, comes easier to people with support—we can be our own support group. (And those who read along with us, I hope, will offer their moral support for our wellness efforts too and spread the word.)

So, we have two days until the big day. I am both apprehensive and excited. But I will be stronger, fitter, healthier and thinner by the time this is over. Hopefully, you will join in and make a healthier you as well.