I've been on a diet for about six hours now, so I decided it was time for an update.  Here's what I've done so far:

1.  Made veggie soup.  This is a good start.  I tossed a pack of frozen soup vegetables, a few cans of tomatoes, a salad bag of spinach, some canned beans, and a couple of cubes of vegetable bouillon in the crockpot.  How many calories could this possibly have?

2.  Joined caloriecount.about.com.  This has possibilites.  It has a food and exercise diary.  It even grades you on your choices.  This should work for me as I'm highly motivated by good grades.  It said I needed to eat 1300 calories a day if I wanted to meet my goals.  I think it really meant 1800.

3.  Went to Target.  Target was an essential part of starting a fitness plan.  There I bought a pair of yoga pants and a copy of Skinny Bitch.  My plan was to park way out in the outer realms of the parking lot so I'd be forced to walk more, but there was a great spot right near the door, and someone tried to back up to claim it away from me.  That's when I made the sacrifice and took the primo parking place just out of principle.  I did, however, walk twice around the outer perimeters of the store, which meant that I walked past the Halloween candy displays twice without buying anything.  This has to count for something.  I also walked from Target down to Bed, Bath & Beyond, and back again.  I don't know how far that is.  Maybe half a mile.  I think I'll write a mile in my exercise journal, though, just to make myself feel better. 

4. Went to Corner Market.  After Target, I went to the grocery store where I bought carrots, celery, and apples.  Everyone knows the secret of a successful diet is crunchy snacks. 

And there you have it--the sum total of my dieting activities for the day.