Well..it's a start.

First and foremost, let me say a GIANT THANK YOU to all of you amazing friends and family who are being so supportive of this little endeavor. Not just the great comments and tips I am getting on this site, but through e-mails and facebook. You've given me some great ideas, and I plan to try everything till I find what works best for me. If I get the green light, I will share some of the amazing advice I've received so far.

Thank you also for all the pledges of support for Hamilton Food Share. It is definitely a worthy cause. I will post donation information at the bottom of this blog.

OK,so down to business. I can officially report that as of my weigh-inn (carefully monitored by my merciless task masters, Debbie and Annette..thanks ladies), that I am now a full 4 pounds lighter. Well, it's a start I guess. Not quite the stellar start I was hoping for with the initial shedding of the water weight. But then, I haven't done any radical dieting this week.

Week one has consisted mostly of just writing down everything I eat (which is enough to curb allot of bad habits right there when you have to stare at it in black and white....I ate how many bags of popcorn with that movie???) And I worked on (and still working on) losing the sugar addiction. Hey..I haven't had any chocolate this week, and miraculously..no one in my immediate vicinity has died! Though the neighbourhood dogs are turning tale and running at the sight of me. Guess that makes me the scariest biatch on the block now:)

Haven't gone cold turkey on the morning and evening timmi's with double cream yet though..let's not get crazy. Innocent lives are at stake. I will work on at least switching to (ugh) Milk.

Activity wise, I've heard it said that the latest research suggests that to lose weight you need to do 90 minutes of vigorous exercises per day. Well..that is well beyond my energy level or available time. I am, however, making a point of doing some sort of physical activity everyday. I have karate lessons twice a week, which helps. I try biking to work at least once a week, and if I don't have allot of time, 10 to 15 minutes of cardio or running in the morning and at night.

I've been been thinking of joining an intense 10 week boot camp program, the problem is finding the time. Any tips on creative ways of fitting in working out in a busy life would be appreciated.

That's my progress so far. Thanks again to all my friends and followers (woot, woot..I have 4 official followers on my blog. I feel like John Grisham!:)

For my local pledgers,I will contact you directly to collect your donations at the end of this campaign. For my out of town supporters, or anyone who feels inclined, you can make a donation online to Hamilton Food Share on their website at http://www.hamiltonfoodshare.org/ and clicking on "Donate Now". If I can ask one favor of anyone donating online, in the "comments section" of the donation page, please state that you are donating for Nathalie's Fabulous by Forty campaign.

That's all for this week beautiful people. Soon I will start posting some (eeekk) before shots. But, that's just so I can stun you all with the "after" photos when I'm a hot tamale of a beach bunny::)) Till then, be well, and in the words of a very wise fish.."just keep swimming!"

Day 1 and 40 pounds to go. Here Goes Nothing!

What was I thinking?

Maybe it's just a mild panic attack about the idea of turning 40, or maybe this is just another phase in my budding, menopausal, full fledged raging hormones, foaming at the mouth mid-life crisis, but lately I seem to be a glutton for punishment and public humiliation. Why else would I willingly decide to post my age and my weight issues on the internet for all the world to see and mock? (Well at least anyone with a computer, an internet connection and an odd inclination for reading obscure blogs by an aging, slightly overweight wanna be writer).

But then nothing motivates me like the threat of public humiliation and if my weight problems and self esteem issues can be put to good use then that's just a bonus. So while I'm losing weight in order to become a more healthy and active me, (and let's be perfectly honest, because I want to be able to look at myself in a full length mirror wearing some hot little black dress or tankini and actually think.."hot damn, I am one sexy momma!") as an added incentive I've decided to not only go public with my goal of becoming fabulous by forty, but to raise funds and awareness about the growing problem of poverty and hunger in our communities.

I am asking friends, family and, what the heck, strangers alike to sponsor me on a per pound basis for total pounds lost (or lump sum donation) by my 40th birthday. All monies raised in my weight loss campaign will go directly to Hamilton Food Share to help feed the over 19,600 people who use food banks in our community every month. Anything over $10.00 will receive a charitable tax receipt from Hamilton Food Share.

So it's Day 1 and 11 weeks to go before the end if this challenge and then on to the ultimate goal of shedding 35 to 40 pounds before I reach my medically fit weight for my height. I welcome all comments, diet tips, nutrition advice and exercise routines. I also appreciate all forms of support be they monetary for Food Share, advice and encouragement, or just relentless teasing and torment.

Here goes nothing!