A makeover of this magnitude requires a major commitment, an extensive support system, and a detailed plan of attack. Thankfully, I have all these. Even still, the best laid plans often go awry. And for me, that will most likely happen when I go out with friends and family and eat anything other than the portion-controlled meal program that I plan to follow the next several months. So I’ve come up with a strategy for that as well, and it involves collecting and poring over the menus of all the sit-down restaurants in Loudoun county, with the goal of identifying those eating places that will allow me to stay on track with either meals that have already been specially prepared in a heart-healthy fashion, or those that can--with a little creativity and tad bit tweaking--be adapted to fit my new heart-healthy lifestyle.

Of course, there may be a time or two when you’ll see me sitting at the McDonald’s drive-thru waiting for the cashier to hand me a large order of French fries. Don’t be alarmed. I’m allowing myself that occasional diversion because, well, I just love their fries and I‘d be lying if I said I‘ll never eat them again! But not to worry. I won’t make it a habit. And I’ll be back on-plan the following day, I promise.

So there you have it--the purpose of this blog. This is where I’ll be identifying those local eating establishments and grocery stores whose selection of food tastes that much better because there is no guilt in the list of ingredients. This is also where I‘ll chat about the things I learn at any workshops I attend or facilities I visit that leave me feeling empowered in my efforts to live a longer, healthier life. And this is where I’ll applaud those people I personally come in contact with who cheer me on in every single step of my journey. 

You’re welcome to stop by regularly. I'd love to have you! Let me show you how Loudoun County has made living on the leaner side just a little bit easier.