Happy July the 4th, everybody! *confetti* What are your plans for the holiday? Do you have any strategies for staying on plan on this calorific holiday, or do you intend to give yourself a break for the day and get back on it on the 5th? Anything exciting going on today? (Well, I guess tomorrow, technically, because time zones.) Let's talk about the 4th!


For me personally, I'm in Japan, so I'm getting together with the other four Americans who live near me, and we're having a potluck! There's gonna be a typhoon hitting us this evening, so no fireworks I'm afraid, but what can you do. I figure I'll have a small breakfast and lunch, and eat a reasonable portion of whatever I want at the potluck dinner. Just got to keep myself from going crazy!

Hope you had fun on the 4th!

We had our big family thing the weekend before so we could also celebrate a birthday. I do WW, so I had my weeklies and ate a light breakfast. I am pretty particular about how I spend my points, so it's easy to skip things like fries that are just meh. Like, I am not using points on regular old birthday sheet cake. That's not my thing. Not when there's some pretty good sangria hanging around - and fried fish.

The day of the 4th, we had a few people over - mostly for the kids - so we kept it pretty simple and traditional. Also, if you feed people low fat Hebrew National hot dogs and don't tell them, they don't know at all We made ice cream and I kept the sides pretty simple. We had a great time and I stayed within my points.

It took me forever to find a plan that was right for me at the right time, but I feel like I'm really learning how to eat like a normal person in a way that doesn't feel like a huge burdensome sacrifice. I can still have fun with friends and family and have things I enjoy, and I've finally figured out how to make that whole "moderation" thing work.

Also, thank you, Internet, for providing all the millions of adorable ideas for party foods that are healthy and tasty and even appeal to children.