Start celebrating! It’s my birthday month! Yes, month. Not just a day or week. I claim the whole month as mine! Though that may end next year when I turn the big 3-0 and banish all birthday celebrations (unless, of course, someone is planning a big birthday bash with lots of presents, cakes, and a celebrity host).

I think I’m holding up well, so far. No wrinkles or gray hairs, I still get carded when I order a drink and I’ve never been called ma’am, but I’m afraid it’s all downhill after 30. Lots of people experience memory loss, fatigue, insomnia and sexual problems as they get older and I somehow doubt I’ll be immune to those symptoms.

Dr. Sergey Kalitenko wants to help people alleviate the typical problems associated with aging through bioidentical hormone replacement, a holistic therapy treatment. Prevention is the best medicine, and I’d like to avoid those unsavory facts-of-life before they begin, which is what Dr. Kalitenko’s treatment aims to do by determine what hormones, vitamins and minerals you are lacking.

The treatments can boost your energy levels, help you lose weight and stay active, fight hot flashes and lead to a better nights sleep and sex life, making you look and feel 10 years younger. Who wouldn’t want that?!

It’s official. I’m down 15 pounds and I even had cheesecake and a piece of pizza yesterday.

Granted, it took me almost two months to lose 15 pounds (please see above comment about cheesecake and pizza), but at that rate I can lose 90 pounds this year.

Holy shit. I knew girls in high school that didn’t weigh 90 pounds. That’s like Nikki M. (name slightly disguised, but not by much, because I really never liked that girl and her frizzy hair) dropping off my backside, and Lord knows I’d be happy to be rid of her.

My goal is to be down another 30 pounds by Vegas in May, which is lofty, but I’m sticking to my diet of nothing white (no sugar, flour, rice, or pasta) and letting the belittling Wii Fit serve as motivation.

I know a few of you live in warmer climates, but here in Chicago, we just survived a cold and blustery week. Over a foot of snow and a wind chill close to -35 degree had me working from home for two days and I was happy my car started when I left for work on Thursday.

The fridge is pretty empty at this point, so it’s Four Foods on Friday before a trip to the grocery!

1. Do you prefer to eat Chinese food in the restaurant or to have it delivered?

The best Chinese restaurants are seedy little places, so I prefer to have my shrimp lo mein delivered so I don’t have to know what the kitchen it was cooked in looks like.

2. Do you prefer wonton or egg drop soup?

Egg Drop. It’s totally Atkins friendly and I made it from scratch for lunch yesterday! It’s just chicken stock, green onions, soy sauce, sesame oil, and eggs. It was fantastic.

3. What flavor fried rice is your favorite?

Shrimp is my favorite.

4. Describe your favorite item on the Chinese food menu.

Crab Rangoon made with imitation crab, smooth cream cheese, and lots of that sweet red dipping sauce, folded into a flower. No purses or triangles!

I’ve been savoring every carb loaded meal and glass of pop since 10 o’clock Tuesday morning. That’s when I decided we are starting Atkins. I decided that we are doing Atkins because I’m the one that does the grocery shopping, and I’m not allowing carbs in the house when I can’t have any.

I was actually very pleased when I checked out the Atkins website. The last time I was on the diet, it consisted of eating as much meat, eggs, and cheese as humanly possible. Now you’re allowed 20 net carbs every day, 12-15 of which are supposed to come from a long list of acceptable veggies!

• alfalfa sprouts
• chives
• cucumber
• lettuce
• mushrooms
• artichoke
• asparagus
• avocados
• broccoli
• brussel sprouts
• cabbage
• cauliflower
• eggplant
• olives
• onion
• sauerkraut
• peas
• spaghetti squash
• spinach
• tomato
• water chestnuts
• zucchini

I was also excited to see that there are some great recipes. That means we won’t just be eating steaks and salads every night. There’s side dishes, casseroles, soups, and snacks that I would eat even if I wasn’t on the diet.

I’m pretty excited to get started. We’re headed to Costco this weekend to stock up and the official weigh-in will be on Monday. I’m not divulging what my starting weight is or how much I need to loose, but I’ll give periodic progress reports.

Until the weight starts melting off…Have you tried Atkins? Did it work for you? How much did you lose? Any special recipes you’d recommend?

If you live in the Chicagoland area, you watch WGN news and you’re familiar with weekend anchors Bob Jordan and Jackie Bange. I know they are two of my favorites.

What you’re probably not familiar with is their 2 minute and 40 second choreographed dance that takes place during the first commercial break of each broadcast.

That is one seriously choreographed routine and I absolutely love how Bob Jordan jumps right back into the broadcast.