So, it’s a new year. And like millions of other people, I have resolved to go on a diet… lose weight… get in shape….  I’m going to stop myself there. Here’s my real goal: I want the pain to stop.

Weight Watchers, which is a great program that focuses on healthy eating and wholesome habits, talks about “finding your why”. I have dozens of reasons that I want to do this. That I need to do this. But tonight, honestly, it’s just about making the pain stop.

I am morbidly obese. This last year has shown me that this burden is going to get harder as I age.

• My feet hurt; I’m still struggling with plantar fasciitis.
• My knee hurts: I have a torn meniscus.
• My breathing is not great: I’m recovering from the flu, but also just fat.
• My back hurts.
• My hips ache.

So, I’m starting the new year with the first post of what I hope to be at least 52 weeks of changes. They won’t be big or exciting. But they’ll be important.

A friend posted this on her Facebook wall tonight, and I liked it enough to steal it.

I think this is a good focus for the week.

This week I am going to focus on:

• Tracking
• Not having Frapachinos in the morning (caffeine withdrawal as well as sugar)
• Eating my prepared food
• Walking at lunch

Gaaaa! Anyone of those could be a weekly focus. I think this is one of my problems for sustaining… it feels like I have to do everything, when the truth is that it’s all about the little steps.

None the less, I am going to work on these and next week I’ll report back.