This Diet is currently being promoted on newstands as the Prevention Healing Diet. The booklet will be on sale through Nov. 23, 2001.

Prevention Millennium Diet*

Daily servings
veg and fruits, 9 servings ( 5 veg/4 fruit)
whole grains, 3-6 servings
high-calcium, 2-3 servings

Weekly servings:
Beans - 5+
Nuts - 5
Fish - 2

Serving Sizes

veg. & fruit
1 serving = 1/2 c. chopped fruit
1/2 c. cooked or raw veg.
1 c. raw green leaves
3/4 c. veg or fruit juice

Whole Grains
1 serving = 1 slice whole wheat bread
1/2 rice or bulgar
1/2 c whole wheat pasta

Calcium 1 serving = 1 c ff or 1% milk
1 c ff yogurt
1 c calcium fortified O.J.
1 oz. reduced ff cheese

Supplements
100% DV multivitamin/mineral
500 (under 50) to 1000 (over 50) mg. calcium
100-400 IU Vit. E
100-500 mg Vit. C

Keep calories to 1500 a day - 250 cal. per meal. Eat 6 small meals a day. Do not exceed 42 fat grams per day.

Drink 8 glasses water and 1+ cup of tea daily.

* Copied from the Jan. 2000 issue of Prevention Magazine

This Diet is currently being promoted on newstands as the Prevention Healing Diet. The booklet will be on sale through Nov. 23, 2001.

I hope you find me over here under the slightly revised subject. I thought I'd make it reflect the latest title of the diet which people might pick up on supermarket stands until Nov. 23. I need to look at the prevention web site and see if they have it posted there under the new name.

I am wearing a pair of pants today that I last wore summer before the one just passed. Exercise and a little more discipline with eating is slowly making a difference. I tried on another outfit that I wore at my slimmest and they are wearable too, though they'll be even better when I lose a couple more lbs. I think.

No special plans this weekend so I will once again try for a PMD weekend.

All is well here, though busy. I will be attending an out of state conference beginning the 17th so I am trying to get things in order so I can leave.

Ledom, weigh! to go on getting into the skinny pants. I have a few new outfits that I bought in the next couple of sizes down that I keep measuring myself again.

Good idea on the thread change. It sort of reflects where the diet is at today.

Alice, I don't like a lot of liquid in the oatmeal either. I put less water too. I like the rough cut oats the best.

I am counting my range 26-33 points but allowing myself to eat 40 points but then I am much ...er, fatter than you are. Anyway this last week yielded a 3 pound loss and I think it is only the exercise that is doing it. I am for the first time trying to eat less carbs. too. Having the yougurt instead of toast for breakie. But with a MONSTER pile of fruit on it.

Yesterday, the magic boots took me around the BIG lake on the island in 1 hr. 15 min. Wow! I haven't tackled the big lake for over a year. I walk around my small one. They had improved the trails so much, built some boardwalks etc. was it ever nice. I noticed too how happy my dog is since he has been exercising. Lhasa Apsos are not known for their exercise needs but even they need get out and move.

I got Parasha's ashes. They are in a little urn and I put a picture of her by them. It is her riding in our jeep with her hair flying and looking big and fluffy with a huge smile on her face. We took her down to San Diego from Vancouver in the jeep with the top down. She looks so happy, what a sweet dog she was.

That is it for now. Do you girls get the SIGNALS catalogue? I don't know how I got it. It just came in the mail. Is it ever If you have it, I bought the Irish Walking Cape on page 36. I think this is their address GiftCatalog.com

Have a good day everyone!

It has been raining all night and still at it this morning. This is a much needed rain and it feels cozy in my house this morning. I am home from work today and plan to spend time in my darkroom. But first I am going to the bookstore to look at magazines and buy a cup of really good coffee. It is just that kind of morning. Actually I have been kind of weepy as I watched the morning news shows. Guess everyone is aware of the 1 month anniversary of our tragedy. I find myself approaching life in a more fatalistic way, just trying to make to make sure the things I do are the things I really want to do. Things that are important to me, who knows what tomorrow will bring?

Well, enough of that. You guys are making me hungry for oatmeal. Have you tried the steel cut Irish outmeal? It is good. I have my oatmeal with raisins, a packet of sweet and low and skim milk. I am just a little lazy about making it. Seems like I don't want to wait for breakfast, cereal or a toasted english muffin are my breakfast style.

judi, I am so proud of your walk yesterday. It sounds like a beautiful place to walk. Those new boots were made for walking!

I guess that is enough chit chat for now. Be safe.

The weather is starting to warm up again. They say that some places may even see 80 today! I hope we are one of them, or close to it anyway. DH parents along with DH aunt & uncle may be coming to visit sometime this afternoon. His aunt & uncle have never visited before, so I have been cleaning furiously for 2 days!!! I don't know how 2 people and 1 dog can make such a mess!!

judi~Congratulations on your 3 lb. loss!! I would say exercise played a major role in your weight loss, especially that walk around the big lake. It sounds like you would have a lot of pretty scenery to look at. Well.....you have given me the incentive to take my little for a walk a little bit later.

ledom~I buy McCann's Irish Oatmeal, which I can nuke for a couple of minutes I have seen the steel cut oatmeal, but that takes a long time to nuke. I have never tried it with sweet and low, but have tried it with Sugar Twin brown sugar. I also had tears in my eyes this morning while watching the news this morning. There were all kinds of memorials around our state, and one young widow along with her toddler, who's husband was on flight 11 spoke, and in another memorial all the young children said the Pledge of Allegience.

I hope that you all will have a great day. Alice

this morning. As I sit here drinking my SECOND cup of espresso and making my SECOND post of the morning I realize I am STALLING. Well, anyway, I forgot to say way-to-go-judi! I think Alice is right, it's the exercise. You go girl.

When I went to starbucks this a.m. I decided to buy a bag of espresso roast to make at home so of course I had to try it out. I am planning supper for a BUNCH of people on Oct. 24. I have been trying to figure out a menu that wouldn't just make me crazy as far a preparation time. I picked up the Oct. issue of Saveur and I think I have it figure out. There is a New Mexico stew that looks good. I think that with corn bread, maybe cheddar cheese, lots of fruit, and apple cobbler would be about as easy as I could make it. Some good Merlot to go with. What do you guys think? Should I have a salad?

OK, NOW I am going to get busy!!!

We had our company yesterday afternoon. We all had a nice visit.
I was reading an article about weight loss secrets of people who have lost quite a bit of weight. One woman said that she lost weight by eating any kind of soup for lunch 5 days a week. When she went into a restaurant she ordered whatever soup they had on the menu, but she did not eat the crackers or bread. I think that's what I will do, it's easy (my favorite part) and I'll see how it goes.

ledom~Your dinner menu sounds delicious. What is in the Mexican stew? A salad sounds like a great idea as long as it doesn't mean any extra work for you. If you have to chop veggies anyway for your stew, you might as well throw some into a salad. You have just mentioned one of my favorite things to do, sitting with a steaming cup of coffee. I can't think of anything more relaxing. I know someone who gets up very early in the morning so that they can do just that before they have to get ready for work. How are your kitties doing? Do they still like the great outdoors?

judi~How is the hiking going? Have you and Marley been to anymore interesting places? I took Lacee for a walk yesterday, and at times it was a battle of wills We will be going again today.

Shebacat~I hope that all is well with you.

I hope you all have a very safe and fun weekend. Alice

Hi girls!

I watched the memorial service on tv too and it made me just cry. It was so moving. The whole Sept. 11th incident has just taken a lot of joy out of everyday life. It is hard to be to get back to what used to be "normal" when one realizes so many peoples lives have been changed forever and many people have so much suffering. The up side of it though is that people are drawn together and the real good in people is showing all the more clearly.

Well, we sat down today to look at our finances and to see if maybe we can take an early retirement, by about 13 years for my DH. We plan to decide one way or the other this month.

I got my DH a pair of Merrell magic boots too. If it isn't raining we plan to take our boots and the two dogs to the dog park tomorrow.

Ledom, your company menu sounds great.!!! I wish I was coming. You do so much entertaining and you are such a busy woman too. Superwoman.

The soup idea sounds good, Alice. I know I have read that people who eat soup daily consume less calories overall in the day. I love soup on a rainy or cold day. Today we had a Russian sauerkraut soup that I got from a Jewish veg. cookbook. If any one likes sauerkraut I can post the recipe. I know when I eat soup I feel full a lot longer.

I like the steel cut oatmeal too. I cook the oatmeal on the stove. I don't mind the long cooking part, it is that pot washing after I don't like, especially if it sits around for anytime at all.

Did I tell you about my french manicure on Wed.? Well, on Thursday I had a pedicure and my first full leg wax (da**, that hurts !!!) It is all part of my overall being good to myself package that I plan to do about every 6 weeks.

How are you doing Shebacat?

Big squeeze for all the pets.

Shebacat, I hope everything is ok with you, we haven't heard from you in a while!

I don't know about superwoman Judi. I am looking forward to this dinner party, it is a bit different - different guests than usual. As a matter of fact my circle of friends seems to have recently gone through a "pulling-apart" period. It has caused me concern, left me feeling lonely. And yet, in the ebb and flow of a life I guess not all that unusual. There has been no big rift or arguement, just a gradual thing.

Well, I am doing so-so this weekend. Better than last in the food department, but not as good with exercise. I haven't done anything for the last 2 days. When I finish here I plan an extra long hike. It is fabulous weather out, a cold front just blew through and the fall foilage is gorgeous so I need to be out in it. I'd rather be kayaking, but I guess I better not as that always takes longer and my "to do" list is a long one.

The kittys are our friends again now that it s getting cold and rainy. They have been in more than out the last couple of days. We were feeling rejected by them for a while. The most beautiful big gray cat has been hanging out in our yard the last couple of days, his coloring is such that he looks as if he is lit from within. D and I are so taken that we are trying to make friends with him. Most strays we try to ignore.

judi, and other near vegetarians that post here. I just read the best book. It is fiction, based on fact. It is called My Year of Meats. Actually it might be upsetting to you, but it is a good read on many different levels.

I'll be heading to Lubbock, TX on Wed. for about 4 days. I am looking forward to getting away from it all and at the same time feel some anxiety about leaveing with our world feeling like such an unstable place now. I drive everywhere, as I am (and have always been) afraid to fly. I like long roadtrips alone actually.

judi, good luck to you and DH as you focus on your future and the big decision before you. You 2 seem to enjoy your lives a lot. Good for you.

Have a great week everyone.

We had a great day on Sat., but today it is very dismal, but it is a nice change. Friends of our's came up to close up their cabin on Sat. On their way home they stopped in for a brief visit.

I went to a discount book store this morning and I bought a soup cookbook. There is a recipe for Winter Squash Soup, which looks delicious. That is one of my favorite vegetables.

ledom~Have a safe trip to TX. I am with you re: flying. As far as I am concerned, the last time I ever plan to fly was 3 yrs. ago when DH took me to Hawaii for my 50th birthday. I have told him in no uncertain terms that whenever they build a bridge from Calif. to Hawaii, then and only then will I ever go back there

judi~I wish you the best of luck with your decision for an early retirement. That's great you bought your DH with some the same hiking boots. It's a lot more fun when you exercise together.

Take care. Alice

Ledom, that book title sounds intriguing.

Things change with friends, sort of an ebb and flow, it is not anyone's fault or right or wrong, it just happens. I have been at an ebb for awhile now. I really appreciate having you and Alice to talk with.

Alice, I make acorn squash soup for a company soup. I like it too. Today I am making green pea soup. Yup it is raining and cold here. A good soup day. I am going to make bread too.

The weekend was a write off as far as the diet was concerned. Eating whatever...not lots... but not carefully. OK I ate the last sour cherry and chocolate brioche this morning for breakfast but NOW I will try harder...sure, after the brioche is gone

How is the doggie doing on the leash? My guy is enjoying the walks so much. It is funny how much closer the dogs are when you do something with them. I know on the days I take Marley out for a walk he sticks to my side all day. Other days he will sit by me but wander off to sleep on my bed upstairs or come around when he hears the microwave bell ring but on walk days he is right THERE!

Thanks for the good wishes on our "perhaps impending" retirement. I am looking forward to it but I am finding it kind of SCARY at the same time. I worry that the DH might get bored or feel he has burnt his bridges. I know he will never be one of those guys you see following the wife around in the grocery store making suggestions of what to buy or not after she has done the shopping all their lives...but it is a big step. With the big tax drop we will stay more or less the same financially so I don't think that will be a problem. (Plus, I have already used up all the cupboard and closet space in my house and now the RV...) I dunno. I know we would get into a healthy routine if he were at home, walking etc with the dogs. I make more of an effort when he is around. We enjoy being together, not even really doing anything very much just sort of living the quiet life is something we both like.

Shebacat, hope all is well with you and the kitty. Check in if you can.

I am glad I have you guys to talk to too. This morning as I was driving to work I started thinking about you guys. What do you look like, what are your houses like, what would it be like to sit down face to face and have a good visit. I think it would be lots of fun. Anyway, I really depend on you as sounding boards and confidants and appreciate you very much!

Well, drum roll please, yesterday SUNDAY, I stayed on PMD all day. Sat. wasn't too bad either. I got my hike in yesterday a.m. and this morning was up at 5 for my workout. I added another block to my jog and then on the way to work I clocked it. I did 1.2 miles. Very proud of myself. I think the jogging makes the biggest difference. I am back to looking in the mirror and see some subtle changes. I tried on that blue jean skirt last night and it is still too tight but DOES zip more easily. So I guess I am on a bit of a roll. Not to jinx it or anything. I am thinking about my 5 days on the road and out of my routine this week and really want to hang on to progress I have made. I think I'll take my 8 lb. dumbells and at least do some strength training in my hotel. I am a little nervous about jogging in a strange place.

Take care, girls and have a great Monday.

It started off very dismal this morning, but by the afternoon the sun came out. DH & I had to go shopping this morning...lunch out. Went to Olive Garden and I think I did ok, except for their delicious breadsticks YUM!!! I do know we will be having soup for supper. We went to a nursery and bought some Holly Bushes for our front yard. When my Dad passed away, my MIL & FIL wanted to plant a tree in our front yard in his memory. My MIL told me to pick out whatever I wanted. I have always wanted Holly Bushes, and I decided to get the male in memory of my Dad, and a female in the memory of my Mom. Naturally, I have named the Holly Bushes after both my parents I too often wonder what type of houses the both of you live in, ledom, I remember seeing a photo of you last year, so I have an idea what you look like. judi, I often wonder what you look like. I also feel very fortunate to have the both of you to talk to.

ledom~Sometimes in hotels/motels they have an exercise room. We have stayed at a few places on trips that have such a room with all kinds of exercise equipment. Maybe if they have an exercise room where you will be staying you could get your jog in on a treadmill. Good for you for staying on PMD on Sun. My weekend wasn't so great eating wise. But....today is another day and the start of another week.

judi~Lacee stays by my side, under my feet, chasing my feet, just about all day She has her good days and bad days on the leash. I am very glad that I put a harness on her whenever we walk because she tugs on the leash. I have one of those retractable leashes that extends to 16'. When I know there will not be any traffic I let her go the whole 16' and she is actually pulling me! It sounds as though you and your DH get along very well, like DH and myself. We work out of our home and we are together 24/7. It is almost like semi-retirement. I am sure you both will adjust to retirement very well.

Since I was unable to go for my walk this morning, I believe I will do it now and take the little with me. The both of you take care and stay safe. Alice

Ledom, the above is your drum roll! Good going!

Alice, my D's Bentley is the same on the leash. It must be a Boston thing for sure. Her dog sits with his legs straight out in front of him and his back perfectly upright. It is just SO cute.

My D is home this week. So yesterday we went out and he came shopping with me. He never does this so it was fun.

The weather is rainy and grey. Ledom, you cats would just hate this weather. I would like a couple of good days in a row just to put the garden to bed for the winter.

Alice, when we first moved here and built the house 2 Holly trees were the first garden purchases I made. BUT the trees that I have are both m/f so they always have the berries. They both really have grown too, very quickly. I think trees are a very nice memorial for people. I always grow Maltese Cross, a tall, bright red flowering plant in the garden in memory of my grandmother because she grew it her garden and they had it in the old country but called it by a diff. name. So I have a big clump of them in the corner of my garden. It really grows best in a place like the prairie provinces but my are doing ok here on the west coast considering it isn't the ideal climate for them.


Hey, have you girls been able to get good oranges??? I don't know what the situation is here with the oranges but we haven't been able to get sweet oranges all year. The ones we are getting now are mostly from Australia. What happened to the California ones we used to get? Did they freeze or something? I notice that the mandarins have come out here...I tasted one yesterday, still too sour...blech, blech.

My eating went well last night. After the lunch I had yesterday, I had soup for supper, and with my coffee later I had some vanilla sugar-free pudding with some nutmeg added. I cut out a recipe for regular vanilla pudding that you add rum extract and nutmeg. It is supposed to taste like eggnog. It really does! I leave out the rum extract because I do not like rum in my eggnog.

judi~DH went for a walk with Lacee & I yesterday afternoon. I was handling the leash, and I don't know how many times he got tangled in it While we were walking, this elderly couple drove by in a car very slowly. The gentleman had his window open and asked me who was walking who I have never heard of a Maltese Cross. It sounds very pretty. We now have to think of another spot to plant the Holly bushes in. We noticed on the instructions that they cannot be in direct sunlight. The spot we hand chosen in our front yard gets sun all day long. Back to the drawing board!

ledom~How did you Monday go? I hope everything went well. Good for you with your jogging.

Take care. Alice