Picking the right approach

We're on day 3 of our official lifestyle change. I have learned a few things: 1.) If I am only going to do shakes, I need to do one at least every 2 hours, or I start to feel like I am going to pass out. 2.) My husband gets cranky fast when he is hungry. 3.) Z started a facebook page for our journey. And he posted his weight. I want the same level of accountability he has, but I am still really not wanting to put that number out there. I know the number is just a number, and it's a starting place, and it WILL go down...I even know it may be encouraging to someone else to see what my 'starting point' is, and knowing that if *I* can do it, they can too...it's just...I guess the shame of that number? 4.) I still need everything implicitly planned out - I am not a fly off the cuff and wing it kind of girl. 5.) I think going back to what I did while I was pregnant with my youngest daughter will work better than the shake meal replacements. While the shakes do sooth the sweet tooth, there's just something to be said for CHEWING, you know? 6.) I keep thinking of every 'diet tip' I have ever been told, such as: a.) Drink a full glass of water before every meal. b.) Drink ice water - you do burn a small amount of calories warming the water. c.) Use smaller plates - it fools your brain because it makes the food look bigger. d.) Put your fork (or spoon) down between bites while you chew. This makes you eat slower, and gives your body more time to tell you 'Hey, I've had enough'. e.) Eat less + move more = lose weight f.) I know there are lots more than this - I have been dieting for too long! 7.) I am really warring with whether we should feed the whole family what we are eating, or make them different meals. We're going to be doing much lower carb foods in the evening, and I will be honest - since our oldest son started football, and our second oldest daughter started working, they have lost weight and don't really NEED to eat low carb/low calorie. 8.) I am going to make the dreaded cabbage soup. Not to do the cabbage soup diet, but it's pretty much a 'freebie', and we can have it any time we're feeling hungry. I know you get sick of it pretty fast, but it's SOMETHING that's a minute in the microwave away from satisfying your stomach when the hunries attack! I think that's it for now. As our pastor said last week - this is a marathon, not a sprint. SO...I know I need to be in for the long haul. The long haul is just pretty intimidating, you know?