2 questions... is your american cheese 6 g of fat or less per serving and is your peanut butter natural?

Yes, Crazy Richard's natural PB and Naturally Slender American Cheese - 6 grams exactly!

excellent!

back WL and for the first time here, Nessa (love your avatar...how gorgeous you look!)

You might think about entering your foods in fitday to see how many calories you're eating. It doesn't look like too much at all to me, though. You might find, by spacing out your fruit into two meals, that it causes cravings...but if not, go for it! I'd be concerned that you're not getting enough veggies (strive for several cups a day! ) and that you really need protein with each meal/snack. If the afternoon (don't skip that snack!!!!), try protein and a veggie and save the sweet treat for after a meal instead of by itself. I can't bring myself to stop having sweet treats, but I have to admit that there's truth to the belief that even though they don't have sugar, they can still raise your blood sugar enough to cause cravings...especially so when eaten on their own. That might not happen to you, but the sweet treats definitely won't fill you up nor will they keep you full for long. It sounds like you're doing great, though...and being mindful of what works for you is key to success...so you are on the right path!!!

Okay, went back and read all the responses...please don't feel stressed about all this, Angela! The best thing (IMHO) about SBD is that it's such a stress free/intuitive plan. It's definitely working for you if you're losing, but since SBD is also about health, that's why you want to be more mindful of getting good veggies in and enough protein, etc. I ate much more food and much less healthy than I do now when I started SBD 3 years ago. Over time I modified what I ate and learned to eat more healthy. As I lost my weight I found I had to eat less to keep losing (don't worry...it took a while!). You'll figure this out as time goes on...you don't have to do it all NOW! I personally enjoy the carb smart bars from time to time although they do have bad fats in the chocolate coating, so I try not to make them a regular thing at all. You do have to read ingredients...especially when it comes to amount and type of fats in carb items. They tend to have lots of overprocessing, lots of fat (yes, we're not worried necessarily about being low fat, but we don't want tons of saturated or trans fats either...and that's the type that's usually in carb items), and lots of bad fats. Just read the labels.

Nessa, I agree about the carbs and fats, but what I try to do on fitday is see that there's a balance of fats, proteins, and carbs. I'm aiming (and so are most people I know) for a 30%/30%/30% situation. My protein or fat is usually higher than my carbs, but I don't let that bother me. If my fat is over 45%, I start wondering what I'm eating...good fats are good for your heart, but they don't have a lot of nutrients. But since you know the tenets of SBD, you don't have to be stressed out about the amount of fat...even though it doesn't differentiate between types.

I think you could find a lot of great info on veggies in this thread. I started it because I was worried I wasn't getting enough good nutrients in my veggies...I hated them for so long that it took me a while to move into eating a real variety!

Laurie,

You are such an inspiration having lost 132 pounds! Good for you. Thanks for the link to the site I will definitely check that out. I will save the carb smart bars for special occasions, then. They are just SO good!!

Thanks again for the hug - I need the reassurance!!