Day 1: By lunch today, I've hit 800 calories. Though I have plenty left to get me through the day, I feel a little flutter of panic, not unlike my college days when my student loan money was always at risk of running out before the semester ended. OK, maybe not exactly like that, but what if some big emergency happens, like say, a double fudge brownie?

I think this is what they call an "a-ha moment." By learning how many calories are in the foods I eat, I can regulate how much I eat and therefore lose weight. Still, I can't help but look at my allowed calories column get smaller and feel a little nervous.