I treat myself about once a week. I get the Sunday paper and usually a treat. A little bag of M & Ms or a bag of those Peachy treats like the worms. Otherwise, I usually eat pretty healthy. Alas, I got some pretty good treats for Xmas and had a few...but the holiday is over. I'm not perfect but pretty darn good.

Nah, it's not officially the first yet.

Gimme that kiss! I'll eat it! :D

I've been eating like a horse lately. I went back to VA for 10 days to visit family and old friends ( I mean they're not "old", just that I've known them for almost half a century,.....hmmmm, never mind..) Anyhow, Rita and I had our Christmas this past Sunday. I baked a spiral ham, roasted potatoes, carrots, radishes, and sliced a fresh pineapple. I ate until my stomach was tighter than a Choctaw war drum, then I ate some more. Rita decided she wanted a ham sandwich for lunch the next day, so as I was putting the food away, I told her I'd slice some up for her and put it into a tupperware container, only something went wrong. As I began to slice, my willpower snapped like a dry twig under a fat cowboy's boot. I put one piece into the container and then one into my mouth. "Aw man, that's good ham". One piece into the container, then another into my mouth, etc. Same with the pineapple and roasted vegetables. So, my advice is to have someone else put the leftovers away, and just sit on Terri's couch and drink beer. With food, my willpower is in the grocery store. I only buy healthy things, but if it is in front of me, or in the house, I eat it.

Way to go Believe51!!! You are inspiring me to persevere with my rabbit food. Well, you and the fact that none of my nice work clothes fit anymore!

I hate to ask, but does anyone know if Splenda is bad for you? Because that's what's helping me maintain my weight. I have a sweet tooth and it didn't go away just because I lost 54 pounds. I have the same "celebration" appetite, it's just that I'm thinner.

This has a lot of processed food in it, but it sure helps me maintain: Melt lemon or lime sugar free jello in 1/2 cup boiling water. Stir in two containers yogurt - lemon, lime, peach -- you name it. Dump in a partially thawed container of fat free cool whip. Mix it up. I beat it with a whisk. Chill. You can put ,mixture into a reduced calorie graham cracker crust, or forget the crust and eat it like a mousse/pudding.

Mjo, what could be worse? Splenda or obesity? either one "might" cause cancer ;)

My situation is becoming desperate. I'm having probs tying my shoes. And I don't even have those big boobs in the way anymore!!

Gotta finish these rads so i can get in the water aerobics pool! Right now, i'm just wiped out after work every day!

ugh. Fatness sucks.

MJO,

I don't know if Splenda is bad for you, but I have switched to Stevia. I found it at Trader Joe's (if you have one) but have recently seen commercials about this sweetner under another name (can't remember it of course) being sold at the grocery store. Apparently it is derived from a plant but that is all I know about it.

I have finally dropped the extra weight I gained during treatment and will be moving on to taking off the the excess pounds I had pre-treatment. I have now lost 31 pounds through Weight Watchers (just like you MJO) and am feeling great! I joined the last Saturday in August and have been steadily losing - even through the Holidays. For me, it is not a matter of "willpower" but I am making better choices now. I know this sounds trite and it is the mantra of Weight Watchers, but it finally clicked with me. I rarely miss the junk food and actually enjoy nibbling on red bell peppers, celery and tons of fruit. I switched from coffee (with creamer) to green tea and I love it! I know what a struggle it is to lose weight - I've been battling this my entire adult life. I really can say that I am finally at a place where this all makes sense and I know I will be successful.

I wish you all the best of luck with your weight loss efforts. Find what works for you and stick with it. Don't beat yourself up when you give in to temptation. Move past it and just get back to healthy eating. It is not easy, but it is worth the effort!

All my best,

Stevia is a good alternative. It is a fiber and is a plant derivative (I believe from South America) and there is a brand I use called Sweet Leaf liquid stevia. It comes in flavors so you can add it to your water (carbonated if you like soda) You only use about 2 drops to 16oz. of water so the bottle lasts a long time.

By the way, I am back on track with my diet. Thanks for all the laughs.

Mar

I too have discovered Stevia. You can buy packets of it (like Splenda and the other more harmful aspartame sweetners) and carry it in your purse.

I make a pitcherful of green tea every day or two - I use decaf. green tea, let it cool, and then add Stevia to taste. I use a brand called Pure-le Natural One to One Spoonable Stevia for this. I also use it for cooking - in my sweet and sour meatballs recipe I totally replaced regular sugar with this. I have not tried to use it in baking goods.

Pure-le Natural Products has its headquarters in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. I don't know if it available in the US. Website is www.purelinatural.com

all the best
caya