So I HOPE all of you are doing the CLICK Challenge–working out at least three times a week is the minimum–and seeing some results. The goal is to be ahead of the curve after the holidays. While everyone is crying into their eggnog about their love handles, you’ll be one your way to an isty, bitsy, teeney, weeney, yellow-polka-dot bikini. So to stay accountable to the crew, I have to give the good, bad and ugly about my own weight struggles lately. Here’s the good: I lost three pounds. The bad? I had to realize some hard truths about my regimen.

My truth: My 38-year-old body really, REALLY wants to be fat. It wants to ease into arms so flappy they look like a flying squirrel, a spare tire that could fit a Fiat, and thighs the size of tree trunks. From now on, it’s gotta be game on ALL THE TIME. I’ll have to fight this battle forever.

Another truth: I probably only need 1,200-1,500 calories per day. Again, this is mostly because of my age. After 35, you metabolism slows down, and combine that with the fact that I sit with this laptop glued to my thighs half the day, and a 2,000-calorie diet will land me my own acre on the fat farm. So in addition to my CLICK shake in the morning, I’ve now switched to fat-free, see-through milk, and have started eating high fiber, low calorie fruits and vegetables that will keep me full for hours. My new favorite lunch:

Sauteed Kale with Onions and Apples

One bunch organic kale, chopped

Half an onion, sliced

One tablespoon minced garlic

One small apple, skin on

One-half table spoon olive oil

Red pepper flakes

Kosher salt

One medium-high heat, saute’ onions, apples, and garlic in olive oil in skillet until onions begin to soften. Add the kale; be sure to cover the greens with the moisture from the skillet. Stir constantly until leaves are wilted. And a dash of red pepper flakes and salt to taste. Remove from heat, serve immediately.

This has been my lunch for the last two days and I’ve stayed full for about three hours afterward.

MOST PAINFUL TRUTH: I have to start….running. *le sigh* I’ve been following my buddy Tracy Scott on Facebook and she’s lost 90 pounds, literally running her ass off. So I’ve added a 20-minute run to my routine four times a week. Note of caution: Running WILL help drop the pounds, but until you integrate muscle bearing and lengthening exercises, your body will still be flabby.

There really is no way around it.

So…what’s up with ya’ll?