Last week I did two things to secure a better future for myself and my daughter: I voted in the New Hampshire primary, and I started a diet.

I’m sure I speak for many New Hampshire residents when I tell you how relieved I am that the politicians and their posses have ridden off into the sunset.  It was truly crazy around here with the media circus and the frenzied supporters.  And frankly, if I heard the word “change” one more time, I was going to slit my throat with one of the ubiquitous fliers stuffed in my doorway.

I will cop to a funny(ish) story about voting, since although it shows me to be an idiot, hey, it’s entertaining for the reader.  When my father ran for local office last year and I went to the polling site, they asked me if I wanted to declare a party.  I thought (incorrectly) that I had to register for the same party as my father in order to vote for him.  So I did.  Now, months later, the blood drained from my head a few nights before the voting when I realized that I had not changed my party affiliation back to my own preferred one.  Well, I decided to go down and vote anyway, because there’s plenty of candidates that straddle party lines, and I knew I could at least vote strategically within the ‘other’ party.

When I got to the polling venue and said my last name, the man said “Nancy?”  I paused.  That was my mother.  She wasn’t going to vote today.  She was registered independent.  I could be her and vote for my own party!  That thought lasted about two seconds.  Clearly, I couldn’t do that in good conscience.  “No,” I replied, and took my own ballot.  After voting for the most contrary member of the ‘other’ party, I shuddered, went home, and took three showers.  I still feel dirty.  (Kidding)

I took my daughter to the polls with me.  I plan to always bring her, and instill in her the importance of making her voice heard.  I hope most women I know voted in the primary (or, in other states, will vote).  Consider the amazing power we have as a gender, as a voting bloc.  And consider how many women had to fight so hard to give us the opportunity.  Did you know that freed slaves got the vote fifty years before women did?

The other step I took towards a better future was signing up for my office version of The Biggest Loser.  Twenty of us at The Telegraph are going to compete for twelve weeks, and the person who loses the largest percentage of weight (as opposed to pounds – or tonnage) will win the money we put into the pot weekly. 

Our initial weigh-in was… painful.  I hadn’t been on a scale for a few weeks, and was horrified to see the results of my holiday gluttony.  But I’m back on track, eating amazing, delicious, healthy whole foods.  I even bought a used treadmill on craigslist.com today.  It’s non-electric, and a lot harder than a ‘regular’ one.  I also have some workout videos that I enjoy doing, and have set up some walking dates with friends.

I’m very hopeful that being in this high-visibility competition with  my co-workers will keep me on track, because it’s vital that I get back to a healthy weight and existence for my daughter.  I’m the only parent she’s got.  Not only would I like to be around long enough to become an annoying burden to her in my senior years (ha!), but I’d like to be able to keep up with her when we’re playing.

Tonight when I set up the treadmill, she immediately hopped on, grabbed the handle poles up front, and said “mama do!”  So I stood behind her and walked, moving the treadmill.  She trotted along handily.  When I stopped, winded, she said “mama, again!”  So I guess I have my own tiny trainer to help keep me moving, too!

As the Biggest Loser theme song goes: “What have you done today to make you feel proud?”