Leenie: It's 29 here and snowing!!! Where is spring?!?!? :P
jjcj: Congratulations on your 2 pounds weight loss!! YAY!!!
Karen: I am so sorry to read of your sinus troubles!!!
Feel better soon.Abbie and Paula: I am sooo jealous! Yum!!! I am enjoying Induction but low carb non Induction foods you are having sound SO GOOD!!! I checked out the Ruby Tuesdays menu on Friday night but there is still so much I cannot have yet!!
Ah well. Someday. It's something to look forward too!! 
Paula: I so agree. I don't even watch Extreme Makeovers. I think it is ridiculous that people go to such extreme measures when diet and exercise and a little discipline will take care of their weight woes. I admit to a healthy dose of vanity. Who doesn't want to look their best? But I think it is really ridiculous and a little scary how many people go to such lengths to look so-called "perfect". So much of what they do on these shows to remove "imperfections" take away what makes these people unique, different and special. It removes the little quirks to their faces and sometimes bodies that make them, them. I have a little bump on my nose. I have always hated it until I realized it makes me... well, me!!!! I wouldn't have to removed and reshaped for anything!!!! And I love telling the story (and my family loves retelling it) of how I got the bump!!! :P I think people would be so much happier if they concentrated on the health of their bodies and worked hard to enjoy what their bodies can do (or getting to a level where they can do more!!!). You never see athletes (nonprofessional) worrying about their scars on their chins or the freckles on their face or how their hair looks. They are too busy climbing rocks or riding horses or running a marathon!! Okay, okay!!! Sorry. *blush* I'm off my soapbox.
Brenda: I used to love to be active. Since gaining weight, you'd think I was allergic to it but I am determined to change that. Wanna be exercise buddies?!?!?!
Trazzie: Good for you with your willpower!!! I wish I had such discipline!!! Going out to restaurants this weekend was a major challenge. Even with my weight loss I really wanted to eat as I had before and got a little depressed about it. But then I saw a woman about my size eating a carb laden meal and reminded myself that I was losing weight and did not want to keep looking like this (was that awful guys?!!?
) and it motivated me to eat correctly!!!! Good luck and have fun at your shower! Tummy: Congrats on fitting into mediums!!! That must be an awesome feeling!!
TG: YAY!! Congratulations on getting into the 230s!!!! I am praying for the same when I get on the scale later this week!!
How exciting to see 30 plus pounds gone forever and ever! You're an inspiration!! I know what you mean about having problems staying OP in restaurants. For me it is willpower and not the selection since we ate at Longhorn Steakhouse and Ruby Tuesdays. I read on LJ's Atkins community that carb blockers don't really work. I hope that's not the case for you!!! For me, the last few weeks have been insane!!! My soon to be ex and I are filing bankruptcy. We started a company and did well for a bit. Then we sold our product to the state and have yet to get fully recompensated. Add to that, a layoff and my inability to find a fulltime job in Cleveland (what a dying city! *sigh*) and my medical bills and we found bankruptcy to be our best and only option!!
Ah well. It's getting a fresh start all around. The stress of it all would usually send me to eat and eat and eat but I haven't. I finally bought keto strips and was shocked to see I am barely in ketosis. I looked at my food journal and realized with 2 cups of decaf coffee plus three cups of herbal tea a day I am consuming too much heavy cream and Splenda. I am also treating tea as water and am thirsty a LOT. I know what I am drinking is decaf and Splenda is okay but I think it is a trigger food for me in great amounts. So starting tomorrow (I do well starting new things on Monday. Isn't that odd??) I am going off Splenda daily and coffee is going to be a Sunday treat. I will drink water instead of tea and hopefully kill this incredible thirst. My doc says I've been thirsty all along. She said people confuse thirst for hunger and Atkins has "reprogrammed me" to recognize the difference. If that's true, go ATKINS!!! Have a wonderful week everyone. Thank you SO MUCH for all your encouragement and support. Week one was awful but I feel super and energized and am ready to start my exercise program tomorrow.
Many, many hugs to this wonderful group.
