COLDBRIGHTDAY ~ WTG on the loss. They say that we our bodies can hide from use weight loss by holding on to water and when it decides your not going to refill, it flushes.

grats cold!!!!

well...I am uber nervous
I have a work party tomorrow night. My first time that far and long from my son. I havent' drank since my sons birth but I really want to have a couple tommorow also I paid 25 dollars to go (employees free anyone else 25) and it includes food and drinks...is it smart to not eat until the party...what alcholic drinks besides anything with soda water (blech) is low cal HELP!!!! lol

If you're planning to drink, especially for the first time in a while, DEFINITELY eat sometime before you go. First off, you'll absorb the alcohol super fast if you don't, and second if you go hungry you'll be more likely to go OP at the party, especially once you've had a drink. :)

Personally, when I'm trying to be really good, I'll generally have a good bourbon like Maker's, neat. Two reasons: a shot of whiskey or most other liquors has less calories than a 12 oz beer and certainly less than a mixed drink, AND the flavor is so tasty and so strong that I sip it very slowly. I can go a full evening on one or two and not feel like I'm depriving myself.

However, whiskey's not for everyone. A martini fills most of the same requirements, but has the same pitfalls -- strong flavor, maybe not so great if you've been teetotaling for several months. Red or dry white wine is pretty lo cal, too. I don't know how you feel about sugar substitutes, but if they have diet tonic water a gin and tonic could be nice. Just stay away from rum!!

And have fun!!

Irish ~ I concur with Coldbirghtday, eat before you drink. You don't need to get sick and drink slow because your system isn't used to it anymore. Have fun and enjoy the time.

Well I have to head out for the weekend and I will talk to you all on Monday.

Lara - I have a few cookbooks, but most of them I never touch. I get almost all my recipes from FoodNetwork.com or by googling what I want if it's something really specific and Food Network doesn't have it. I like that with Food Network recipes, most have user ratings and reviews so you know if it's ctually good or not. I've learned how to make substitutions to make things healthier, so I don't even need to look for special diet recipes - I just customize them myself. Maybe you could try the same for Indian/Middle Eastern without having to buy a cookbook?

Laura ~ Yes, I have gone there before and looked up recipes. I agree that some do need adjustment to make them healthier but it usually isn't to bad.

I didn't do to bad this weekend food wise. I mean I was no angel but thanks to ODD flipping out (literally) my calorie count ended at Noon other than the handful of raisin bran my GS decided to feed me. LOL! Scale still wasn't nice because TOM is having fun.

DH and I went to Barnes and Noble and I couldn't find that new diet book I wanted and in reality I don't need. LOL! Anyway, DH decided the book I needed was "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Being Vegetarian", second edition. He is determined that is what I am becoming. He said it doesn't bother him and he said that he is sure that I am a vegetarian at heart. Now why he would say that I have no clue.

He laughed when I took the test in the book and it put me in the category of "Natural Vegetarian". It is true, all my life I have eaten meat, liked it because I acquired the taste but hate to see or hear of animals being killed. I am a meat eater because my parents are but don't miss it at this point and feel I could go without it. I have the feeling my Mom and doesn't even know it. DH and my Dad are on the opposite end of the spectrum. Even if DH went vegetarian they said he would still have times he would crave meat. Even now with eating meat he gets such strong craving the he freaks out looking for red meat. We ate lunch this weekend and he came home and had a hamburger even though at the meal he had roast beast (beef). It wasn't enough meat for him. I had fish. He tried some and he actually spit it in his napkin. I said I can't believe you did that, I have never see my DH in my life spit food out. LOL! He said that is horrible and nasty. I thought it was good but it had cilantro in the tiny bit of sauce they put on it which did make a unique taste but I liked it.

I didn't find that other diet book I was looking for even at Barnes & Noble. I don't know, I don't think I really need another at this point. I think I just need to follow my own instincts for a while and see what happens.

Well I better get going for now and talk to you all later.

P.S. I did buy an Indian cook book.