Our company has gone, I have finished the laundry and now I am ready to put my feet up and relax. See you tomorrow. Ann

I'm on my 4th day of no sugar...just fruit unsweetend, boy this is hard, terrible withdrawal...not sure how long I can keep this up, just wanted to see if I could give it a go and jump start my losing again..can you believe it... 4 days no cookies!

Cleaned under beds and fridge today and now I am sore from standing on my head using the sweeper! The gal that helps me was here today, but she never does those jobs good enough, I can still see dirt when she is done and I hate telling her to redo it so I do it myself! She did run the sweeper through the rest of the house and we got my sons room ready for him over spring break. I have to check over eveything she does, if I am not right there with her. Too picky, I know.........


'Creamy' fruit salad

1 can (11 ounces) mandarin oranges, drained
1 can (8 1/4 ounces) water-packed peaches, drained
1 can (8 ounces) water-packed pineapple chunks, drained
4 ounces fat-free cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
4 tablespoons shredded coconut, toasted


In a decorative serving bowl, combine all of the fruit. In a small mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, yogurt, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Add it to the fruit and mix well. Serve chilled, topped with toasted coconut.

Yield: 4 servings

Nutritional Analysis Modified
Calories 145
Dietary fiber (grams) 3
Fat (grams) 2
Percent calories from fat 12
Percent polyunsaturated* 0
Percent saturated* 12
Percent monounsaturated* 0
Cholesterol (milligrams) Trace
Sodium (milligrams) 190
Protein (grams) 7
Carbohydrate (grams) 25
*Type of fat


Note: People with diabetes or those on calorie-controlled diets may count one serving as 1 fruit, 1 skim milk.

We're packing today for a morning departure tomorrow. Funny how a couple weeks ago I was so looking forward to being home again and now that the time is here I hate to leave. Part of the reason is that the weather is so nice now. Sunny every day and 60's-70's. We have to be out by 11 am tomorrow so the eating out will begin at lunch today. We'll be taking about 10 days to go home. We want to stop in a few northern AL towns and then whatever else we find along the way. I may not be able to log on while traveling but we always try to find a hotel w/internet capabilities.

ANN--Seems like your guests came and went very fast. I think you had a nice visit nonetheless.

CANDICE--I, for one, can't believe you've not had any cookies is so long. Is your wt up? I thought you were at your goal.

Siwa...Up my usual winter time weight! I am just 1 over goal and have to nip it before it gets out of control. It is a never ending battle...if I could stay out of the cookies it would not be a problem! Day 5 of no sugar and no cookies!

This morning we awoke to a heavy frost and fog. Everything just sparkled. It was a beautiful drive to work...looked like a fairyland.

Candice: You're doing well staying away from sugar and cookies for 5 days. That sugar withdrawal can be difficult. Sounds like you have a jump on spring cleaning. Spring is officially here pretty soon.

Siwa: You must be on your way back home. Have a safe trip. Too bad that you have to leave now that the weather is getting nice. Bringing dessert did work well. I ate a normal dinner and was able to say no thanks when it was time for dessert. Two weeks into this and still going :D

Ann: Are you rested up yet? I've been wondering, are you still doing Southbeach? We have so many new members at Curves. Today for a while all the spots were filled. They say we might be getting another machine soon.

I came home to find a lovely basket filled with daffodils, crocus, and tulips from our neighbors for watching their house when they were away. I love it... it brings a much needed feeling of spring into the house.

Hi Barb and Alice:wave: Hope your week is going well!

Take care,
Kate

Day 6 of nothing"bad" to eat...but DS will be here over break and he loves sweets!

Katey...the basket sound beautiful...I can smell them now! No spring cleaning just doing what needs to be done, still having lady bug problems and we never do in the spring. I'm not sure what we need to do to keep them form coming in so much. I'm tired of always sweeping them up dead or alive!

2 days on the road and all the further we are is Birmingham AL. Toured in Selma and Montgomery today. Tomorrow is Helen Keller's house and then on to Nashville. The blooming Bradford pears are glorious.

KATE--How nice to receive a basket of blooming spring. Soon you'll be seeing the same outside.

CANDICE--You're so wise to keep your wt under check so carefully. It's so easy to say--it's only 5 lbs, I can lose that--and then go on to gain even more.

Finally out of AL this evening. We're staying in Nashville. We're not country music fans so we won't be staying that long. Want to see the home of Andrew Jackson and a chapel at Vanderbilt Univ dedicated to a relative of DH. It's getting colder by the mile. 45 at 8 pm today. Haven't seen my breath in a long time. Toured Helen Kellers home today--interesting guided tour. Did you know there's a Braille US flag? new to me.

Hi all,
Sunny but cold and windy here today. The wind goes right through you. I had banking and errands to run. Went to Curves first...that makes 4 times this week!

Siwa: You're seeing some interesting places on your way back north. Never heard of a Braille flag. Have you ever been to Athens? We're going there in April for 10 days.

Candice: If you figure out how to discourage the ladybugs, let me know. We've had them again too. When is your DS getting home?

I didn't have a weight loss this week. That's ok I'm still down 5#. I think I may have to start counting WW points again.

Hi to Alice, Barb, and Ann:wave: Enjoy what's left of the weekend.

Take care,
Kate

We made it to KY today, but not far into it--just as far a Bowling Green. The Andrew Jackson house and grounds were just too interesting. We're just 60 miles closer to home but it's not a problem. We're finding hotels w/internet most nites.

KATE--We stopped for the nite in Athens on our way down. What will you be doing there?

Looking forward to a strict eating plan once I arrive home. It will feel good to lose and, boy, do I ever need to!

Siwa..you sure do enjoy your traveling! I was on ebay looking at coffee makers and this one person had abuch of egyptian stuff listed, had to think of you!

katey..I just keep the portable sweeper handy and suck them up..its a real pain! DS should be here by Monday....he wasn't sure if he was stopping to see friends.

I am so bloated from too much salt, we do not use any table salt and when I get in packaged food I just hang on to it all!

Haven't given into the sugar thing yet, but wanting it more and more, that is why I do not usually limit myself , anything and everything in moderation I think is the key. I'm trying to wait untill I show a loss before I start back up. I do not think doing without sugar stops my cravings but makes me want it more, just have to learn to limit my cookies!

CANDICE--Once again we stayed in Champaign on our way home so we were again an hour from you. When we are this close to home we want to arrive there asap so I didn't contact you for a possible meeting.

Starting to get cool temps now that we're nearing the northland. No snow tho. Not sure what we'll find at home. DS says there's just a little around the edges and that when it snows now it melts as soon as it falls. Can tulips be far behind?

Yesterday we stopped at Lincoln's boyhood home in Indiana. There's not much left there, it's just known that it was the spot. We decided against Springfield because we could not make it before dark. Prob no stops today.

I just got finished listening to the news. I'm already sick of hearing Kerry and Bush attack each other. And this goes on til November...yuck:mad:

Siwa: I misled you. I was thinking about your travels abroad and was wondering if you've ever been to Athens, Greece. We're going there in April because our older son will be there. You're almost home! I hope you don't get the storm that we're supposed to be getting tomorrow. They're talking possibly a foot of snow:yikes:

Candice: I agree with you about everything in moderation. There are times I can't seem to follow that, but it's usually due to stress. I work on making myself aware of why I'm eating and try not to eat unless I'm hungry.

Hey, Ann, Barb, and Alice...where are you? Miss your posts!

Take care,
Kate

Home again, home again. We arrived Monday nite. I've been busy getting the house back into the order in which I like to live. Sure doesn't take long to break all my nails. 3 gone already. Haven't made it to Curves yet but plan to before the week is up.

KATE--I couldn't figure out why you'd be in Athens, AL for 10 days unless you had friends/relatives there. I was in Athens, Greece, in 1984--loooooonnnng time ago. I suppose it's changed in 20 years--LOL. I saw some things I'd always wanted to see in the museum and Delphi. I loved my trip there on a bus and the scenery from there was amazing. I found more disagreable people in Greece than in any other country--esp when they found out I was American. Loved the food and had a great time anyway. Also went to the island of Mykonos. Great time there tooling around in a rented jeep. Good memories. You'll have a great time. Do you like lamb? I love Gyros and tsadsiki. May be somewhat cool in April.

Happy first day of spring everyone! And here we sit with lots of snow on the ground:mad: Well, I'm sure it won't be long and we'll see more and more signs of spring...ever the optimist! This morning on my way to Curves I saw a huge number (like hundreds!) of geese in a corn field.

Siwa: You're home! How is the weather situation there? Have you started back to Curves yet or are you still getting the house in order? I need to start getting my house in order so I can leave:lol: I've eaten lamb, but not in a very long time. I'm usually not too fussy an eater so I shouldn't have a problem with the food. I hope the people have changed. But being an american now might not be a popular thing.

Sure is quiet around here. Where is everyone? We're leaving for PA in a little while to see some friends. I'll check in tomorrow when I get back. No weight loss again this week, but at least I'm staying the same.

Take care,
Kate