Today is the second day of my road to recovery. I’ve signed up for Weight Watchers Online — and I’m actually logging every bite that goes in my mouth. Since yesterday, I’ve discovered a major source of previously unidentified calories — the boys’ leftovers. Case in point: I had to force myself to march to the garbage with a completely untouched warm brownie earlier today. Sam insisted it was the only thing he could stomach for lunch, then took one look, wrinkled his nose and asked, “It’s chocolate?”

“Yes, son…It’s a brownie,” I said flatly. “They’re always chocolate.”

“I not like it,” he shrugged. Turning away, he tossed over his shoulder, “Just throw it away.”

I stared down at its warm, gooey, goodness. It begged me to take just one tiny bite. I picked up the carton and read the completely sickening nutritional information. How many calories for this one (giant) brownie??? One forkful would pack at least 50 calories. Hmmm…I grabbed a fork, took one quick bite (What? Am I made of stone?), then I flipped the bowl upside down and squashed it deep into the garbage can. Disaster averted. Well…mostly. It could definitely have been worse.

Tonight we’re having a Mexican-inspired brown rice casserole with grilled pork tenderloin. Tomorrow night, I think I’ll add a few veggies, the leftover pork, some garlic, ginger and soy sauce to the plain rice I set aside and tell the boys it’s pork fried rice — while I make do with mostly veggies.

With a little luck and a LOT of willpower, I plan to be back in my cute jeans by fall. Twenty pounds is a big scary number, but at least I’ve stopped the downhill slide and am on my way back to a healthier, more comfortable me.

Got any favorite healthy recipes or diet tips? I’m all ears. In the same boat and want a buddy? Shoot me an e-mail and we’ll suffer through together. I may be too late to salvage swimsuit season, but just watch me rock a turtleneck this winter.

So Al Gore wins a Nobel Prize for writing a book of gloom and doom, right? I ask you, where’s this kid’s plaque and prize money?

Not to be outdone, my BFF Bethany (I’m so beyond the age of having only one BFF — why limit myself?) quickly weighed in with this little show-stopper that literally had our jaws dropping. Note the choice of fabrics, including camouflage, for when boring white just doesn’t fit your mood (swings). I’ll admit that my bra usually matches my underwear, but I think this carries accessorizing just a bit far. Please also enjoy the completely inappropriate sharing of intimate details of the maker’s menstrual cycle. One of the many reasons this little exchange had me laughing all evening.

Happy Friday everybody! You’ve made it! Just keep smiling until your boss sneaks out at 3:00 pm. Then make your break for the door.