Oh man, I know I’m not alone when I say that I love good food. It all started when I was very little. I have been spoiled with good food my whole life. In fact, I think it was on my 5th Birthday that my grandpa and grandma took me to Strings for my Birthday dinner. I don’t quite remember what I ate (afterall that was 17 years ago) but I do remember that it was divine. My grandparents know the owner of this fine dining restaurant and it quickly became a tradition for the last 17 years. And each year, without fail, I still got to go back into the back kitchen and torch my crème brulée.

Don’t even get me started with my other grandparents that live in Arizona. Each time visiting, I swear I gained 10 pounds. We would go to fancy French restaurants, elegant Italian eateries, and sumptuous steak houses. Not to mention that this grandmother is Greek and makes the best baklava that will ever touch your taste buds. My mouth is watering right now just thinking about it.

Both my mom and dad are excellent cooks to top it off.

Let’s just say, I have a well-developed palate.

Coming to San Francisco was heaven. The restaurants are incredible. Mediocre food in San Francisco is good food in Boulder. Needless to say, I haven’t gone hungry one night since I’ve been here.

Now, I am embarking on a journey. I am going to Jamaica in three weeks (yeah, I said three weeks. Be jealous). This means…

(dun dun dun)

I must put on a bikini.

Yeah, I screamed in my head there for a second, too. Don’t get me wrong, I have a great body image. I have awesome self confidence. And I am totally and completely happy with my curves. BUT (and that’s a big butt) I would like to get rid of some of the excess. I would like to be toned and in shape for my venture to the beach. And there’s no time like the present.

So, I have started the South Beach Diet. I bought a book a little while back about the diet and it seems like the easiest and smartest way to lose weight. I’ve been on diets before – the “Beyonce” diet where you drink nothing but a mixture of water, lemon juice, cayenne pepper and maple syrup for 5 days (I lasted 2) wherein thereafter you must reintroduce solid foods to your body or you’ll have a violent reaction to normal people food (not recommended). I’ve counted my calories meticulously and exercised every day for two hours (this was actually the most productive diet, but as soon as I stopped counting calories the 15 pounds I had lost raced back to my tummy and thighs like a two-year-old to its mom after a weekend with the babysitter. It wasn’t pretty). But, the South Beach Diet seems pretty reasonable. The first two weeks will be the hardest (explains said book). I’ve cut all carbohydrates, alcohol and sugars out of my diet. I will now be filling myself with vegetables, fish, chicken and low-fat cheeses (at least they let me keep my cheese!!!). Today was day one, and it wasn’t too bad.

Now, you may be asking yourself, “why is she discussing her diet on such a public forum? Isn’t that embarrassing?” And the answer is, “No.” First of all, like I stated before, I have a very healthy body image. What I am trying to do now, is make my body just as healthy. I’m not trying to lose 75 pounds overnight (that would actually make me look quite sick and possibly kill me). But, I just know that you guys will be great motivators. I put it out there as sort of a “binding sentiment” that I can now look at and say, “well, I wrote about it on my blog so I better stick to it.”

I, of course, will keep you posted on the trials and tribulations I may face while on this journey to a healthier me. And, if you weren’t already jealous about me going to Jamaica, you’ll be even more jealous of the hot, tanned body of mine when I get back. 🙂