Five months of 2010 are now complete, and I am facing the demoralizing fact that I am less than happy with the status of my health and fitness progress this year.

The first three months were great. I exercised at least an hour, usually more, every single day, followed a sane food plan, took my vitamins, drank my green tea and flossed my teeth. I lost 33 pounds in those first three months. Then something happened. Something insidious and unfathomable. The best I can figure is that I simply lost my mojo. Nothing seemed to matter; everything felt pointless. And I fell face down into a bottomless vat of Ben and Jerry’s.

The past two months my food intake has careened totally out-of-control and I’ve gained back 28 of the 33 pounds. Yes, it happened just that fast. To say I’m discouraged wouldn’t begin to cover the devastation I feel. Once again I was overcome by the disease of compulsive overeating: cunning, baffling and powerful.

So today I’m getting honest here and admitting my shortcomings. And tomorrow I start my original food plan again. Ten days ago I got back up on my exercise bike, and last week I got cortisone shots in both knees. This isn’t where I thought I’d be by now, but I’m still breathing, so there’s still hope. I’m digging deep to rally again, and appreciate the unwavering support of my stalwart friends and clients.

Together we can do what we could never do alone.