Nikkic,

Thanks for the help with my PM and the advice as well. I am going to mull over all these things and tread water for a few days while I decide what course of action to take. I have accepted, bitterly so, that it is going to take a long time to get this weight down to where the doctor thinks my blood sugar will be easiest to handle. Medication for it is not the way I want to go if I can help it.

I am wondering, if I go the SS/WW points road, where low carb items fit in...such as the low carb breads? The most wonderful part of SSing is that you don't have to count calories or carbs! Are those of you who are combining methods mixing carbs and proteins now? For instance, what would be a typical day?

Aleka, you have said you like to eat toast and ricotta in the mornings. Is that low fat ricotta or regular? I love ricotta and the regular is so delightful!!! Is it allowable on SS?

Sorry if I seem so full of questions. This seems like such a good thread to get answers though.

Nikkic, I see your kitty on your post. You must be a cat lover. We had a Siamese for 17 years. My husband gave him to me as a Valentine's gift when he was just a teacup size. When he got very old and his kidney's began to fail, we let him keep his own pace indoors with us for another 72 hours before he finally asked for help to drift. He actually did ask with his beautiful eyes looking up at me. Our vet was a real jewel and came to the house to give him a shot while he lay in my arms. It was slow-acting so he wouldn't have any violent reaction and we sat caressing him as his breathing just slowed down. It was heartbreaking but so kind for him because he had begun to suffer. I think he forced himself to linger so long when the vet couldn't understand how he could because he knew I needed time to accept his going. It took us 7 years to get over his death!!! What softies. Finally we got a tiny little Yorkie and then another one to keep the first one company. They are our pride and joy now...but the space for Mr. Mills is still reserved in our hearts.

Sugardrop

Sugardrop,
I'm an animal lover and always will be. When I was little, I had a siamese female, I named her SuSu. She lived for around 18 years and was very special. Of course, siamese cats are different than other cats, they sound different and are diffferent. But all cats have different personalities and are special in their own ways. Since then, I've had hundreds of cats. At different times in my life, I've had up to 25 cats and assorted dogs here (we have a small acreage). Even so, I remember certain ones that were extra special and I know just how you feel when you said it took several years to feel some relief from your loss.
Right now, we have only 5 cats and no dogs. I want to take all the strays that I see home with me, but I know it's not only not practical, it's not always safe. So, I am happy with the little fur balls that I have.
Funny that you have yorkies, I've been trying to talk my DH into getting a couple for the last year. I love their fisty personalities and sweet little ways.

Nikkic,

We have a lot in common. Besides dear Mr. Wilbur Mills (named after the Fannie Fox incident when my little tiny tomcat arrived!!!), I have had various and assorted common housecats since I was a little girl...never more than one at a time. I loved them all so much. I had never had a dog and, when we decided to finally get another pet years after Mr. Mills died, it was a Hymilaian that I was in search for. I had a beautiful one I found on the Internet that was just a baby and we were seriously getting ready to bid on it when we went to a 50th anniversary celebration at a small lake nearby. The sister of the couple was visiting and had brought her "girls" with her to romp about amid the guests. They were five of the most delightful Yorkies I had ever seen. All with long skirts and little topknots with bows. One fell in love with me and fell asleep in my hand where she spent several hours. I was smitten. We called the breeder who had been responsible for the five beauties and, several months later, she finally agreed to let me have one of hers. She was quite careful...didn't raise for selling, just show, and wouldn't part with anyone without several interviews. We felt like we were adopting a child but a month later we understood her attitude completely. We've never been sorry. They have only brought joy and so much laughter. One is a tomboy, plays ball with DH by the hour, chews all her toys to shreds, is the guardian of the house. The other is a perfect lady, gliding about with head high, following me everywhere and waiting patiently when I am busy...much like a little cat. I keep checking to see if she is purring! I highly recommend the breed. Your husband would adore some. Mine says that they are the most perfect breed of dog invented...and he is 6'2", 220, an ex-NFL official...not one you would expect to like a small dog. He doesn't know why God bothered with other breeds.

Sugardrop, being an animal lover is just one thing we all have in common. We have had cats before, but unfortunately, DH became allergic to them. There was no way we would ever give them away, because they were with us a number of years. They were used to sleeping with us, but that had to stop. It used to break my heart hearing them cry at the bedroom door when they could no longer come in. Thankfully he never developed an allergy to our dogs, because it's to his advantage that he doesn't! Your Yorkies sound delightful. They are the cutest little dogs. I understand what you went through with the loss of your cat. We lost our dog 3 years ago and we were with her until the end. We brought her to the Vets, and thankfully she didn't know what was going on. I had a hysterectomy 10 yrs. ago and have been on Premarin ever since. I have often wondered if that plays a role in why it is so hard to lose weight. What dosage are you taking? I'm on .3 mg, the lowest dose. Having Ricotta Cheese on toast is really good. Because I don't follow SS rules 100%, I use part-skim Ricotta on my toast. That really stays with me all morning. When you're SSizing, you have to use fat-free Ricotta to spread on your toast, or fat-free cottage cheese. I love Ricotta cheese and have been known to eat it right out of the container. I have a South Beach Diet book with some Ricotta Cheese desserts. I'll look them up and post them for you. I honestly don't know about counting points and SSizing. Most of the veggies that are allowed on SSizing are 0 point veggies, chicken & fish are low in points, fruit is low, and also cereal and skim milk. The only things that are high in points are regular salad dressings, eggs, cream, cheese, etc.

Have a great night everyone. Tomorrow we're supposed to have very nasty weather.

Aleka

Aleka,

My Premarin is .625...not much higher than yours. I do think it plays a role in not being able to lose easily....that and age!

Sugardrop

Sugardrop,
Your great at naming pets. We call our last 2 cats Mr. There is Mr. Stripe and Mr. Boots. They both deserve the Mr as they both command respect We are not very inventive when it comes to naming anything.
Your little babies sound like quite a pair and I know they would be hours of fun. Yorkies have always reminded me of cats too. Thanks for sharing your story about them, it was very sweet. My DH is still resisting getting anymore animals. It's not the breed, it's more animals. DH is allergic to just about everything, plus there is the added expense and then the responsibility of having more animals to care for. We camp in the summer, so we have to think about that aspect too. Although, I tell him that Yorkies are very portable
Nikki

Lynn,
I know you've had a very hard and difficult day and your feeling sad. Just wanted you to know, I'm thinking of you and wish I could do something to make things better. So sorry, Nikki

A good Saturday morning to you all,

It is doing something outside, but can't tell what. I know it's not snowing, but the sky is gray and it doesn't look like a "snow" sky. It may be misting, and since it's below freezing it's probably icing.

lynn, I have been thinking about you and was wondering how things went yesterday with Coco. Was the storm you were getting a bad one?

ANNE, how did work go yesterday? You must be very glad that it's finally the weekend.

nikki, how are you feeling today? Speaking of pet names. Some years ago DH & I took a different route to FL and we went by this old run down building that used to hold some sort of business. The name on the front of the building said, PJ Whiskers. I loved that name, and told DH that if we ever got another cat that's what I was going to name him/her. But, we can never have anymore cats.

Sugardrop, when DH & I walked during the spring & summer we would often pass a couple that were walking a Yorkie. That dog used to growl and bark at us everytime we passed them going in the opposite direction, and he/she would keep tugging on its leash trying to get at us. We used to get the biggest kick out of him/her. Portable dogs are the best.

Hope you all have a great day.
Aleka

I'll start a new thread for the new week.