I’m getting ready to start the ITG Diet next week…and even though I know I’ll be cutting out some of the things I love to eat and drink, I’m so excited to see how well this diet works for me! I was in the restaurant industry for quite some time, and as a manager, we were allowed to eat whatever we wanted, every single day…for free! It sounds like a dream, but in the past 4 years, I have gone from a 32” waist and 175 pounds to a 36” waist and 225 pounds.

I have tried exercising and thought I was eating healthier this year, but the pounds haven’t really come off too quickly. I’ve lost about 10 pounds on my own in the past 9 months, but that’s not dramatic enough to see or feel any results. I’m hooked on fast food, ice cream, and like to go out with friends for happy hour drinks (and of course…the drinks tend to make me eat more)

My birthday is coming up so I decided to hold off on starting until the following Monday, just so I can at least celebrate the occasion and not worry about it interfering with my ITG Diet. This week, in preparation, I have been eating vegetables at home to get myself used to eating them. I know I’ve been bad about eating them regularly in the past so I might as well get an early start. I have also been making sure I’m drinking plenty of water, so I have gone from drinking about 4 or 5 glasses a day up to 8. I have been weaning myself off the fast food at lunch time and trying to cut out sodas and those happy hour cocktails.

I have also done something that I think will really help me with my own goals: I have a friend who is going to start the diet with me. We’re going to the grocery store together this weekend to stock up on our lean proteins and veggies, and to help support each other when the fast food cravings kick in! I’m sure having a buddy to help me and who I can help as well will be really beneficial to letting us attain our goals of losing weight and getting healthy!

UPDATE: First week done and I'm down 11.6 pounds. Super excited!