Well, we’re a week into the new year and the new me is on a roll. With a little help from my first cold of the year, that is.

I’ve embarked on the Birthday Diet. Go ahead and Google it. You won’t find it. Nor will you find it on the best-seller list at Amazon, though if I’m successful you might next year.

As a failed Weight Watchers’ lifetime member, I know it all. I’ve studied the DASH diet and love Sugar Busters. Several years ago I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes (but haven’t told my mother, so mum’s the word. At almost 80, she refuses to get online so I think I’m safe here). I’ve worked with nutritionists and been through the Y’s DiabeteSmart program.

I still have a copy of the original Grapefruit Diet  I tore out of a magazine when I was a college freshman. I think it was from Cosmo but can’t really remember. When I turned 40, I quit my fulltime job and started running. Guess it was my feeble attempt at a mid-life crisis. I ran one 5K and stopped.

Frequent BrentWord readers know I was the original Chow Hound and have never seen a covered dish dinner I didn’t love. Chocolate-covered peanuts are my drug of choice; well, that and red wine.

But joining millions of others last Monday, I made a pledge to change my lifestyle, again and hopefully for good. A younger brother’s cancer diagnosis will do that for you.

I don’t need to go into details, just know that he’s in for the fight of his life. He will most likely begin chemo this Friday.

John and I are a lot alike. He loves chocolate covered peanuts too. Until recently, he had a massive Mountain Dew habit. I gave mine up after college years ago but still know how addictive it can be. After the disturbing news report last week concerning Mountain Dew and a mouse, I can’t help but wonder if the sweet yellow soda didn’t have something to do with the cancer.

Last Tuesday, we launched our BHP Be Healthy section, a  section updated each week that's dedicated to being healthy or getting healthy. It’s not just a fitness or weight loss or health section. It’s all of these.

Last week as I was editing the first section, I was also fielding and making calls to Virginia to get updates on John’s tests and doctors appointments and treatment options and the like. On Sunday, as I was editing stories for the second edition, I realized how happy I was that we had added Be Healthy to our lineup and hope it will have a positive impact on all of our readers, despite their size or age or fitness level.

I know it will have an impact and serve as a motivator for me.

Now, about that Birthday Diet …

I'm still figuring it out but promise I will let you know how I do with it, or don’t. If nothing else, I'm honest and realistic. I’ve written this column before just like I’ve lost -- and found -- 50 pounds before. Several times, in fact.

But now it’s personal, really personal. And when September 27, 2012 rolls around, I hope I’ll be a slimmer, stronger version of the 52-year-old I am today. Who knows? I might just write about my journey in Be Healthy. Please check out the section each Tuesday when new stories are posted to see if I do.

Susan Leathers is editor of Brentwood Home Page. Click here to read previous columns. Email her at susan@brentwoodhomepage.com