Anyone who has known me for any amount of time knows that I am not a healthy eater. I will take the junk food over the healthy stuff any day of the week and twice on Sunday. It was just this past summer that I tried a cucumber for the very first time and I really liked it. I guess there is hope for me after all.

If you remember a week or so back to my New Year’s Goals, one of them was to eat better. I figure I’ve got to try since this body isn’t going to keep taking care of itself.

My intentions aren’t entirely pure though, I’m also hoping that by eating better and exercising more regularly (also a New Year Goal) that I’ll lose those pesky few pounds that have been holding on. I would like 2012 to be the year I reach my BC weight…That’s Before Cameron. I don’t have much to lose, only ten to fifteen tops.

I have a few gadgets (big surprise there) that are helping me along with those ten pounds. I want to tell you about the one that I think has made the biggest difference when it comes to taking off the pounds and that’s my food scale.

I measure every morsel that goes into my mouth. It might sound like a daunting task, but it’s kind of become part of my life and I don’t even think much about it anymore. I have to be honest, I do take a break from it every so often, but when I do it doesn’t take long for my portions to get out of control again. I’ve heard that people hate having to measure out their food, but for me it’s kind of relaxing. I enjoy knowing exactly what I’m eating.

Portions, that’s why I do it. When I first started measuring my food I was shocked at just how small a portion really is. No wonder I was gaining weight, I was eating sometimes as much as three times what I should have been. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that if you’re eating three times what you should be, even of the healthy stuff, it’s not a good thing.

I don’t just weigh my food and then forget about it, I enter everything into a tracker. Right now I’m using the tracker from Fitbit since I religiously wear my Fitbit Ultra (more on that some other day).

Anyway, today I had a healthy eating success. I managed to concoct a salad that was under 200 calories AND filled me up. I think I might have even made a few little “mmmm” sounds while I was eating it. The crunchiness of all those veggies. The explosion of flavor with every bite. OK, I think I might have a fever or something if I’m going on about how good a salad was. Did I bump my head and don’t remember?

I think I’m getting there. Sure I have a hankering for chocolate mint chip cookies every so often and I’ve been known to go on an emotionally fueled binge once and a while but I’m taking baby steps here.

Have you ever tried using a food scale? Were you like most people and hated it, or were you a weirdo like me and actually found it liberating?

So here I am, at the end of my 30 day challenge. Am I pleased with myself? Yes…and no.

I’m happy that I stuck with it for 30 days and put in the time. I’m happy that I’ve paved the way for a healthier lifestyle. I’m happy that I’ve gotten myself into some good habits. I have a lot of things to be happy about after the last 30 days and I’m trying to keep those things in the front of my mind so I can keep going and not let the disappointments slow me down (or even worse, stop me).

The number one thing that I’m not happy with is my lack of weight loss. In my weigh in this morning I am actually up a pound from starting weight (taken May 8, 2011). I really thought I’d be down at least five pounds, but I was hopeful for more. I never saw that big weight loss that most people see in the beginning. The numbers on my scale made me want to give up on more than one occasion, but I stuck with it in the mindset that I would be rewarded for my persistence. I have yet to see my reward.

I hear you thinking, “Muscle weighs more than fat, you must be gaining muscle.” I thought that may be the case at first, but I should be losing by now. If I had picked up that much muscle I’d be a lean, mean fat burning machine, which I’m not.

I know that the numbers on the scale aren’t the only measures of weight loss progress; actual measurements play a role as does something as simple as how my clothes are fitting. There have been no changes in either of those. I guess I could consider that a success, staying the same is better than getting worse, right?

So where do I go from here? Since I’ve completed the 30 day challenge on my EA Active Wii game, I’m going to take some time off from there. Maybe if I change up the routine it’ll help get things jump started. I’m going to keep using the elliptical, “play” my Zumba for Wii game, use the My Fitness Coach “game” I have and start taking a few classes at my local Y. The way I see it, I’ve been paying for the Y membership, why not start to use it?

I can’t give up now, there have been too many positives to let my unshrinking waistline hold me back. I’ve been getting so much more accomplished in my days since I’m not snoozing in bed until the boys wake up. I’ve even managed to shower on a more regular basis…a miracle in and of itself. I think I’m happier, although some days it’s hard to tell. I’ve definitely been sleeping better at night and without the aid of Tylenol PM.

What do I need to change going forward? I think I finally need to get down to business with my eating. I have been much more controlled than I was 31 days ago, being more conscious of what I’m putting in my mouth and trying to make better choices. I think I need to get a little more serious and start calculating my portions and counting the calories, at least for a little while. I was pretty successful when I combined the exercise with the food tracking so I guess I need to go back to basics. I think I’m also going to start working in days off from exercise. I’m a little nervous to do it because I’m afraid of falling off the wagon so to speak, but it might help. I’m thinking three days on, one day off, but I’m going to plan to be flexible.

Wish me luck as I enter my next 30 days to a healthier me. I’m still open to tips if you’ve got any. I’m also open to being a fitness buddy to anyone who is looking for one, be it online or in “real” life.