How To Lose Weight...Without Even Trying.

Since it's the end of February, it's probably about time I get started working on my New Year's Resolution.

Every time I write a novel, I gain twenty pounds. I don't mean to do it. It's just that my muse's best friend is chocolate. Also, butt in chair is good for producing word counts, but also produces an increase in a different number.

So, if you too suffer from NIWG, (novel induced weight gain) here are a few tips I've found that help when you try to edit the number on the scale.

1. Start your diet journey with whitening your teeth.

 There are a few reasons for this.

Every day for a week you have to spend 45 minutes with your mouth closed. If you're like me, and there are certain hours that are more snack tempting than others, plan to whiten your teeth during that hour, and you can cut out a bunch of calories a day.

 After you whiten your teeth, they can be a bit sensitive to cold and sweet, which means that Ben and Jerry's in the fridge will be less tempting.

 But the main reason I suggest whitening your teeth, is because for the next week, every time you look in the mirror, you will smile. After smiling at yourself every day for seven days, it could become a habit. Besides, who doesn't look better with white teeth? When you feel good about what's going on in your mouth, then you want to feel good about what goes into your mouth. Makes sense to me.

2. Find someone to hold you accountable. Get a gym buddy. There's no way that I would have blogged once a week if I didn't know MaryAnn was going to check it first thing, and that Sarah would eventually get around to reading it too. :) Quite by accident, I found two gym buddies who go every week day at 5:00 A.M. (sigh)  Magically, it's become my favorite time of the day, and I'm bummed that I missed it this morning. Hi, gym buddies!

3. As a writer, I live inside my own head at least 75% of the time...in truth that number is probably much higher. When I try to diet, a lot of my mind energy is focused on who I'll be six months from now, or who I was in High School, or even who I think I should be, but is genetically impossible for me to ever be. That kind of thinking isn't helpful, and it isn't healthy.

 Now I'm not going to tell you you always need to live in the NOW, because let's face it, sometimes the NOW is super boring. I think the best time to live in, (in your head) is when you were 4.

My daughter is four, and when you tell her she's beautiful, so doesn't roll her eyes, or doubt it, or even says thank you. She says, "I know."

I love that girl.

So this is the tip...whenever you think something negative about yourself, or compare yourself to another person, think...would a four-year-old think that?

 If not, then don't drop character- Go play tag, eat your vegetables (and make a funny face when you do it), ride your bike, go to bed early, play dress up in your nicest princess dress, (or knight in shining armor clothes), put on a tiara,( if you have one), and then look in the mirror and smile.


You owe it to your four-year-old self to be happy.

 No matter what number is on the scale.