The Most Important Diet of My LIfe

I have some good news, some bad news, and some more good news.

The good news is: I'm engaged! This little beauty has been sitting on my left ring finger since September 1st, after the most perfect proposal of all time. I couldn't be happier. I will be Mrs. Ashley Braband in 8 months.

The bad news is: I will be Mrs. Ashley Braband in 8 months. 8 MONTHS! It doesn't matter if you go to prom or a red carpet movie premiere, there is no single day in your life when you're supposed to look more beautiful than you do on your wedding day. And now I have 8 months.

The other good news: I have a head start. The last time I posted was in June, right before we went to the Outer Banks, and at the end of my big diet effort. I weighed in at 148.5 lbs. Somehow, through all those months, INCLUDING the football season and holidays based solely around food, I kept the weight off. Obviously there were some peaks and valleys (we'll get into the valleys later), but this morning I weighed in at 149.5 lbs. And that was after a New Year's Eve feast.

In my head, my goal has always been to get back to 142. But when I was 142 before, I was just really skinny. For my wedding, I want to be low 140s and toned. It's my arms and back that will be on display the most anyway, so toning is crucial.

Anyone who has read along the past few years knows I've tried many different strategies. Here's my flavor of the week: Hungry Girl. I stumbled upon one of her books and it turns out, this chick is just like me. She's not a nutritionist, she just loves food and has done a lot of research into ways to continue eating good food without getting fat. I flipped through her recipe book after Thanksgiving and decided to give it a try; I lost 7 pounds in 2 weeks. Christmas has always been my weakness due to my massive sweet tooth and everyone's inclination to share Christmas goodies for weeks surrounding the holiday, so I gained quite a bit back. BUT... my goal for the months between Halloween and my birthday was to "maintain not gain" and in that I have been successful.

So here I am, ready to embark on another journey. I have 8 months to go on the most important diet of my life. Let's see if I can pull this off.