It's that time of year again -- time to report on this year's results of the WebWarren Cookie Laboratories.

Lest you think I've had a bit too much of the nonexistent "adult" eggnog (or given the outdoor temperatures, the nonexistent hot toddy), The Other Half's parents like to have several varieties of cookies on hand for Christmas Day visitors (i.e., the entire extended family) -- and with his mother no longer able to do the sort of baking she once did, we try to take up a bit of the slack. The first time we did cookie baking up here, I was trying to develop some new cookie recipes, and we brought down the results in a carton repurposed with Christmas wrapping paper and labeled "WEBWARREN COOKIE LABS -- EXPERIMENTAL SAMPLES". The name -- and the mock pretentiousness -- stuck. While were not able to get down south this year, the Cookie Labs have been in full force.

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I eat too much.

I know this. I have always had a love for food and an inability to stop when I should. I eat and eat until I feel miserable and then I get more upset for not stopping when I should have!

It's a terrible cycle.

All of this overeating has been the source of my weight gain and the reason my doctor thinks I am someone else. The worst part about it all is the way my clothes are fitting. Or I should say, not fitting.

So recently I started on a journey to lose 40 pounds. So far I am down 5 pounds and am hopeful for a healthy chunk gone this week.

My strategy right now is just tackling portion size and the amount of food I consume. (READ MORE)

I noticed a major change in my habits this weekend. I found that I can actually survive going out to eat without overdoing it. It was huge accomplishment for me since I am a big eater.

My mother was in town for her sister's big 60th birthday party so we decided to go out to dinner on Friday night. My mom picked a great little restaurant not too far from our home that has some of the best barbecue around. You know those places that when you just mention the name, your stomach rumbles in excitement? It is one of those places. (READ MORE)