Thanks for the nice welcome. I think that either the core plan allows me too much on starchy foods like grains, potatoes, and starchy veggies.
But, so would volumetrics I'm afraid. I guess I just turn into a glutton every time I quit smoking.
This time, I promised myself that as long as I could still get up off the couch without help, I would not let weight gain derail my non-smoking.
One thing I do like about volumetrics is that I can drink V8 without counting it. It would cost me one of my 35 weekly "extras" points.

Welcome crunchy! I think combining the two diet plans is a good idea. Since you know which veggies are the more starchy ones, I would use that knowledge and limit those while allowing yourself more of the "better" ones. You have to work with yourself, not try to trick yourself, and just use any knowledge you can get to make the programs work. It really is a life plan. At this point I don't count calories, but I am aware of what I put in my mouth. My losses have been slow, but it's all become much more of a normal diet for me, so I feel much more certain that this time the weight loss will be permanent. Just remember that any time you think you're getting away with something, you're really hurting yourself in the long run. You're just fighting yourself.

With that said, we had food and stuff ready for the 4th yesterday, and then our company canceled, so I'm left with food I wouldn't usually have around. I need to follow my own advice and quickly give it away, instead of telling myself I deserved these treats and that they won't matter. Luckily I didn't get as carried away as I usually do, and I mostly got stuff that wasn't terribly bad for you. Just some dangerous stuff because our company included some teenagers, and I figured they'd scarf down the sweets and chips.

Good Luck, LIZ . . . stay strong.

And, Good Morning to everybody . . .

Looks like another nice sunny day although the humidity is on the rise again. This will make the second year in a row that the Lobster Carnival managed decent weather for all three days.

Hope everybody else has a great day both weather-wise and food-wise. See you later . . .

Lobster carnival? Sounds like heaven on earth. Lobsters are pretty low in calories, too.

They certainly are . . . just make sure you stay away from the drawn butter.

I went shopping last night and got lots of veggies and fruit. Today I'm taking the puppy for a walk and maybe furniture shopping.

Lobster....with no drawn butter??!!??? Why that's...
that's...
well, dag-nab-it, that's just not right
Given the chance to imbibe in steamed lob-bob-sta (can ya tell I'm from New England?), I will conserve and reserve calories to be able to dip and savor a chunk of hot tail meat dripping in a bit of hot butter! Oh, my Lord, pure-D heaven on earth!!!!

I rarely - VERY rarely - get a chance to eat lobster - to me, truly the Holy Grail of the food department. So when the opportunity arises, there are certain standards to be met....and maintained!!!!

Ahhhhh, but that's dreaming for another day....Back to my reality!

I haven't had much lobster, but it seems to me that it would be good with a squeeze of lemon. Not that I don't totally understand the drawn butter "standard". I love all fish and sea food. I even like the fake "Krab".

I have been good today to make up for yesterday's peanut butter. That seems to be the very worst trigger food for me.

Good morning all.
Meow, I'm so glad I never acquired a taste for lobster. That drawn butter sounds lethal. Crawdads on the other hand, I'm all over when I can find them.
Teacher, that's such a cute puppy.
Gail, I tried the fake krab, and just couldn't get it down. I don't even want my crab frozen. I want it fresh out of the ocean and cooked in seawater in a pot on the beach.
Waving at Judi.
I got my fitday program set up with food in terms of grams instead of ozs. That seemed really weird to me. But now I can figure out my average ED for the day. Yesterday was .46.

Crunchy that's great to know you're average ED.

Yesterday I went on a 3 mile walk/jog with the DB and puppy. My puppy was wiped out after and I was too.

Hi Crunchy! Hi everybody!

Took my walk this a.m. - didn't do any "running" (well, it's more like a slow jog) - this time, but kept at it for an hour. A bit draggy today, but had a busy weekend (two-day show, an hour from here - makes for a loooong couple of days). Happily, I did well, in spite of weather forecasts of doom and gloom!

Bought some soy powder today (unflavored). I find that some days it is difficult to get enough protein, so mixing it into a fruit smoothie gets my percentage up. I try to frequently eat chicken and venison, and am (slowly) adding more fish to my diet, but sometimes (like when the boys want sausage or any other high fat meat) I need to abstain from the meat du jour. The powder is tolerable (better than the chocolate flavored whey powder - oooo - rough), so it helps.

Hope you all have a great week!!!

I bought some soy granules and some soy chunks. I tried the granules in meatloaf, but I didn't use enough liquid, so the meatloaf was dry. I thought you just tossed in a cup of granules....No wonder it was dry. I keep meaning to check for soy recipes on the internet, but it all takes time.

Well, a course we want our sea food freshly captured and cooked in sea water on the beach. I have actually done that with mussels. Yummy!!! I even added a piece or two of seaweed for flavor. Don't know if it made any difference.

Lobster is just not the same if it isn't cooked in sea water. Luckily, though, I can pass on the butter -- just give me the tail and the claws and I'm happy.

Sorry I hven't been here earlier today -- it has been a busy one -- hopefully tomorrow will allow more computer time.

for Judipurple- that site to sell on is called etsy.com . I have no idea how it works or how good it is, but I think it's an easier option than selling from your own site.

We're having a disappointing year with the veggie garden here- I did harvest green beans and a cucumber for a meal yesterday, but everything else is just slow in coming. We actually grow a really good green bean that's purple and it tastes a little nuttier than the normal ones. When you cook it, it turns green, and the minute it turns green, it's cooked perfectly. We just love it!

Thanks Liz, on that info. I will likely be trying that out next!

Oh, I've tried those "green" beans - what a riot!!! And when I would can them for pickled beans, I knew the jar was ready when they'd all be green. The vine was very prolific, if I remember right - I couldn't keep the plants picked!

This past year, I grew a yellow, flat italian type pole bean - oh, the flavor was fantastic! Especially eaten fresh - and raw - mmmmmmm. My eldest would always agree to weed that bed - 'cause he'd be out there snacking! Both boys like the raw green beans - can't deny them those kinds of snacks .

This year, the beans didn't sprout well at all - I planted better than 60 seeds - and only 8 came up. Can't blame it on the weather, though - in frustration, I started additional seeds in a flat on the porch - lots of sun, heat and rain - but it was the same percentage. Very disappointing.