I have put off writing this for way too long.

In a way, that sums up my year so far.

My wife Dayna was out of town for 10 days, during which I lost 8 pounds. A few of the contributing factors were a) I have a new job that requires bodily movement, b) I didn't have delicious and over sized meals every night, and c) I stopped bringing home "treats" for Dayna and myself.

How often do people do that last one? "Well, it's late, but Carl's Jr sure sounds good!" Or maybe ice cream? Popcorn and root beer? These late night treats are obviously killers, but they also happen for the wrong reasons.

I took a nutrition class in which we discussed an immensely popular trend of parents rewarding their kids with junk food. "If you're good, I'll get you a happy meal!" or "Be quiet in the store and I'll buy you a Snickers." We've heard this before, more than likely from our own parents.

And I'm not blaming parents for taking care of their kids. I am saying that even as adults, when we've had a rough day, we will wind down by watching TV and downing a gallon of Rocky Road on the couch.

I deserve this, you'll think. Today was long, I've earned this pizza. The truth is, we deserve not to eat these things. These are the foods that make us feel guilty, bloated, and add to the stress already wrapped around our midsection. There is no reward other than that marketed by McDonalds to children.

My wife and I also enjoyed a commercial from Subway, celebrating 10 years of Jared being 275 lbs lighter. While that's impressive, Dayna said that it sucks because we hear a lot of stories like that, but it's still so rare. I think something drastic must change for people who make the big change, because everyone else wants the results without changing their lives at all (see scams Hydroxicut, Lipozene and Fen Fen).

So any feedback on how to start that change that jump starts healthy living would be terrific.

But hey, I've lost 8 pounds. Yay me.