10 new rules

1) Set your goals early, both in pounds to lose and the date by which you want to achieve this loss. Keep a daily log or scorecard of your weight loss.

2) Find a high-protein breakfast and lunch that you can live with each day.  Routine actually helps maintain weight loss, constantly changing foods can make it more difficult to stay within limits

3) Concentrate on changing your daily eating habits from three large meals per day, plus snacks, to five to six small meals.

4) Stay hydrated! It's very important that you avoid getting dehydrated, so avoid intake of caffeine, carbonated sodas, beer and alcohol.

5) Move more while you are eating less. Start out walking 30 minutes, four to five days a week. Build up to walking farther and faster, and more often, while adding weight lifting two to three days per week. You will be amazed how fast the weight will start dropping once you get into this routine, plus your dog will love it even more than you!

6) Start rewarding your new body with activities instead of food. Reward yourself by replacing your "going out to eat" time with activities will  be the best move you will make during this whole journey.

7) It's OK to leave food on your plate! Regardless of what your mother said growing up, children in Africa, India or China aren't going to be affected if you leave food on your plate.

8) Order an appetizer as your main meal  or share a meal when eating out. You will be amazed how full you will be after eating the smaller servings and your pocketbook will also thank you.Or share a meal, most meals are portion- sized for two people anyhow

9)Welcome and embrace your support network, be it a wife, friend, business colleague, etc. You will have good days and  bad ones and the unconditional support these people will show you will help you push through the bad and be there to help celebrate the good!

10) This will NEVER be over It is not a diet, so you cannot assume you can go back to poor eating habits in a few months.You will always be evaluating