Figure Friendly Fridays

If you were to choose one figure friendly improvement to do for a year what would it be? Would you eat five fruits and vegetables a day for a year, exercise five times a week, give up sugar, drink eight cups of water a day...?

I decided that I'm going to journal my food everyday for a year and blog "Figure Friendly Fridays" for accountability. Here's a picture of me at my current weight and hope within this year, I will lose some weight, as a result.

The reason I choose this one figure friendly improvement for a year is because it's all inclusive for me. It not only helps me keep my calories down but it helps me make wise and nutritious food choices throughout the day and exercise. I follow the Diabetic Exchange Diet (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diabetes-diet/DA00077) which helps me track starches, protein, fruit/veg, dairy, water, fat, exercise... Other similar free sources are www.mypyramid.gov or www.sparkpeople.com, especially since I have an app for Spark People on my phone.

To eat about 1400 calories a day in order to lose weight, I would stay within the exchanges below:

6 oz. of starches

5+ fruits/veg (1/2 cup servings)

5-6 oz. of lean protein

5 fats (equates to 5 gms of fat per exchange, equaling about 25 gms of fat a day)

2-3 cups dairy

6-8 cups water

Exercise minimum of 30 min. a day, at least 5x a week

Below is today's example of which is showing that I've already reached my starch and fat limit. So if I want a snack, it needs to be something like carrots, celery, small amount of peanut butter, and a glass of milk.

Breakfast: Cup OJ, packaged berry oatmeal w/1% milk,

Lunch: Slice wheat bread, scrabbled egg, lg pinch of shred cheese, strawberries, Activia, tblp granola

Snacks: Almond cookie, power bar

Dinner: Bowl beef stew

Starch: //////// = 8

Protein: //// = 4

Fruit: /// = 3

Veg: / = 1

Dairy: / 1/2 = 1 1/2

Fat: ///// = 5ish

Exercise: 33 min on elliptical

So, what's your Figure Friendly commitment for the year? If you don't have one, I challenge you to and let me know about it! I'll be posting tips on Fridays for motivation! Wish me well!