Jumping on the Bandwagon

I'm starting a diet!

No, a lifestyle change.

Or perhaps just trying to redirect my stubborn energy into something productive.

At any rate, it's basically trying to eat a lot healthier than I have been in the past. More chicken, fish, vegetables. Here's a basic plan, with some room for improvement if neccessary:

Breakfast: Slimfast (or a hard boiled egg and fiber bread, if I ever remember to buy eggs!)

Lunch: Lean Cuisine, Salad, or Southbeach Wrap (yeah, I KNOW there is a lot of sodium. But I'm at work and want something really quick. And it's way less sodium than oh, I don't know lunch at a mexican place, right?)

Dinner: chicken or fish and vegetables (ah, the classic celebrity diet answer)

Snacks: Veggie stick and low fat dip, or a low fat cheesestick, or fruit

Now, I know that I can stick to this. I really can, if I set my mind to it. The problem is setting my mind to it. I need to be as stubborn about it as I am about the other areas of my life. I've put a picture of a celebrity in a bikini on my refrigerator to keep me out of it. I've gotten rid of any foods that are bad in our apartment. I mean, if it's not there I can't eat it, right?

Any other tips? I want to lose about 35-40 pounds. Gosh, that sounds like a lot.

Exercise: I'm going to really strive for 3 times a week, 20 minutes and build from there. It's my first tax season though, so it'll be interesting to see if I can fit it in.

Related question: How many hours of sleep do I really HAVE to have? If I could survive on six, that would really help. Like, sleep 11-5. Hm. . .