Hi, my name is Mike (w/ apologies to those with bigger problems)

Dear James, Daniel and Emily

I am a junk food addict. That's just a fact, if I have the option I will eat food that isn't good for me. It takes great self control on my part to not do so when that option is available. After a year and half of fooling myself that my running allowed me to eat whatever I want I have to face the truth that it doesn't.

With the new year we have undertaken a plan to adhere more strongly to the Skinny Rules. Although this time the emphasis is more on sticking to the spirit of the rules. But being more realistic when it comes to meal planning. The reality is that our kids generally eat alright, aside from when we eat fast food. And we need to make our menus with an option for them and for us so there is no expectation that they eat everything we make. Because they need to eat things like carbs after lunch etc. which we can't do. Really, with the exception of breaking the cycle of fast food there shouldn't be much of a change for the kids, other than there should be some better options available to them.

Really I think that if I really focus on 3 rules:

1. No Fast food or fried foods

2. No Carbs after lunch

3. Go to bed hungry

That should make the biggest difference. And I do plan to step up the running this year, trying to train for longer distances. Not to say I will ignore the other rules, in fact I already follow some of them anyway. It's just those 3 are really my biggest downfall.

That's our pledge and goal. I am hoping that with the end of the holiday season and a regular schedule this should be easier for us to stick to than our last attempt. It was pretty hard to take up those new habits during the summer when life was considerably more chaotic.