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Hello! I am Michelle Balleck, online content producer for the Craig Daily Press. I am 27 years old and I have begun my weight loss challenge.

I started Jan. 3, not necessarily as a New Year's resolution but more as a way to free myself from the way I've been feeling. After the holidays, I felt worn down and bloated, so now seems like the ideal time to trim down and feel better. And now seems like the ideal time to write about it as many people feel renewed by a new year and are taking on their own weight loss challenge.

I lived in Craig for three years before moving back to Ohio, where I was raised and my family still lives, in September 2007.

The pounds had crept up on me during my time in Craig and I had reached 161 pounds. I decided to diet and lost 22 pounds in about 2 months. I ate sensibly and cut out pop from my diet.

I’ve done fairly well keeping the weight off.

I am back in Craig and weigh 142 now. My goal for this round of weight loss is to get to 125 pounds. I know it will be a struggle, but I’m up for the challenge. My plan is to eat a light breakfast (I typically skip breakfast), healthy snacks like yogurt, fruit and Special K bars, a smart but heavier lunch and a sensible dinner. I am sticking to water and zero-calorie teas and maybe an occasional diet pop. I am aiming for 1,000 calories a day, though I know I will likely exceed that some days, and that’s OK.

I know that if I deprive myself I will give up on the diet altogether. So on day 1 of the diet, I allowed myself a red beer.

My caloric intake on the first day was 995.

So far, so good!

Have you dieted successfully? Share your tips here!