Frustrated

Thank you for your advice Janet. I've been thinking about it all since reading it last night. I don't think I can pinpoint myself what's going wrong. But I think there have been some important reasons along the way. Back in Feb I got a fill because I had little restriction and my weight loss had plateaued. The fill was too tight. But I went for 3 weeks barely being able to get anything down and putting up with it because the scales were dropping pretty quickly. Finally it got too much and I had an unfill. My weight then was around 178. The unfill gave me perfect restriction. I was only hungry a couple of days during the week leading up to my period, so that was a big improvement and my weight continued to go down. More slowly, but down none-the-less. Then summer came and I wanted to relax and take a break from the dieting. I enjoyed being "normal". I didn't deny myself treats, but I didn't go overboard either. If I wanted a slice of cake I could have one. Sometimes all it took was a couple of bites and I was okay. But then I could see that it would become very easy for me to get lazy and go back to the way I ate when I was fat. Certainly not to the extreme, but I would be able to make excuses to eat a treat more than once a day. So during that time my weight went up and down between 175 and 170. Which isn't bad. But it's not where I want to be. But there's a big difference to the size I was at 170 in March and the size I am now at 170 in September. I was a 14 in March. I put on a pair of my size 8s yesterday and they were baggy in the tummy, leg and butt area. The weight is constant, but the size is different. Also, about a month ago I was considering doing one of Jillian Michaels diets. I took measurements again yesterday and almost all of them are the same or there's been a slight decrease, but my arms were surprisingly an inch smaller on each arm. :smile2: I know I was improving because I've become really focused on that area, but I had no idea there'd be an inch difference in a month. My arms actually feel the same, except a lot firmer because of the increased muscle size, so a loss of an inch was really surprising. Then there's the fact that my core temperature can drop very quickly. Reading through many articles online and in books, a large number of them point to the fact that my body is going into starvation mode. Instead of heating my body, it protects the calories and fat I'm trying to burn. Thereby sacrificing my body temperature. It also stabilizes my metabolic rate so that it stays low in spite of all the exercise I do. I've calculated my BMR. That's the number of calories I'd need to consume each day to maintain my current weight if you did no activity at all. It's 1488.5. Checking over my numbers for the past week on dailyplate, I've come within 100 both over and under almost every day. I average about 6 hours of exercise a week. A pretty even balance of both cardio and weight resistance. As I've said I can see myself falling into unhealthy habits because I'll notice at the end of the day that I'm short on my calorie count and reach for something less than healthy. Ice cream has always been my friend. :teeth_smile::redface: I don't want to do that. I went without last night and didn't feel deprived. I went for months beforehand. But slipping into old habits like that because I need to up some numbers is just all kinds of wrong to me. So it feels like the harder I'm trying at the moment to find the best formula for me, the harder my body is holding onto these last 20lbs. The number on the scale is less important than the size of the clothes I wear, BUT it's the number I chose at the beginning of this all and I need to get to it simply because I won't be truly satisfied mentally unless I do. I won't have felt like I slay the weight dragon. I've decided to make an appointment on Monday with my PCP. I'll discuss all of this with her and see if she can help me. If she feels I'll benefit from seeing a nutritionist, I'll definitely do that. I'd love to be able to do this on my own, but I'm not too proud to seek out professional help if need be. Thank you everyone for all your advice and encouragement. It really does mean a lot to me and it keeps me going. Today is my lazy day and I'm going to relax and enjoy it. The Cowboys game starts in a little bit, so I'll veg out watching that :biggrin: Tomorrow I will make my appt first thing. Hopefully I can get in to see her the same day or the next. Until I can, I'm going to continue with what I've been doing lately. :wink_smile:

Hi ladies. Well I managed to stay away from the gym this morning without going completely insane. The scales read 171.3 this morning and I'm happy with that. I will count it as 171 as I usually round up or down to whatever's closer. I went to Aikido class. That's usually responsible for burning a lot of calories (513) so we stopped in at Starbucks on the way home and splurged on a Pumpkin Spice Latte (400) and a slice of Zucchini Walnut loaf (430). :thumbup: It sounds like so much. Especially when I think that these days I've been struggling to get my net total up as high as 800. Tomorrow is my lazy day. I've learned to accept the lazy days because I know it's only once a week. :frown: I've got my fingers and toes crossed that this new routine with less exercise will work for me. I don't want to have to cut out any more. Steph, I would like the idea of someone else choosing the dog for me out of a group of however many. I would never be able to do that on my own. I'd want to take them all home. I'd feel guilty for not choosing one of the others. Having someone else choose for me would eliminate the guilt. :tt2: Well that's it from me. We're going to take DS to see Igor this evening. I'm not sure if I'll check back in again.

I had a better day than yesterday. Still short on my net cals, but I ate more today and felt good about my evening class tonight. In fact, it was DH who ended up sitting out for the last 15 minutes of the class because, in his words "my head went stupid" and his brain went empty along with his energy level. So he sat out the last part of the class. It's my official weigh-in day tomorrow. I'm hoping I will stay the same - 171. I've eaten a lot today and I don't expect it to disappear while I sleep. To stay the same would be nice. I've only been eating extra, or should I say properly, for one day, so I don't expect miracles on the scales if I expect this more eating thing to work. Tomorrow I would normally go to the gym for 30 mins treadmill, then another Aikido class at noon. It's eating away at me that I'll be staying home in the morning. :tt2: I was thinking about things today (very dangerous :bolt: ) and my brain was thinking about alternative exercises to do in place of the ones I was eliminating. :tt1: So I was thinking (yeah more danger :thumbup: ) about having ice cream to get my cal count up. But yanno, I said before that I don't want to slip into bad habits. I don't need it. I just want it. I don't even know that I want it. :tongue: If I continue to use the excuse that I need to eat ice cream to up my calories, I will get into trouble. Tomorrow for sure I'll look for some sherbet. If I need cold and sweet at night, I'll have some of that. :smile2: Today's numbers: Total calories = 1,434 (net = 805) Carbs = 169g Fat = 40g Protein = 81g Water = 32oz :tongue:

I'm sorry to hear about your MIL Karri. I know it was expected, but it doesn't make it any less difficult. :bolt:

You're absolutely right. I can recognize those symptoms when I see it in other people, but I can't see the same in myself. :thumbup: That's why I need to come here. I've been eating more today because I want to go to Aikido class. I even had some breakfast. Oatmeal. I've had lunch too! I finally got around to eating that Lean Cuisine Swedish Meatballs. It was nice. I could probably make better myself, but I think it will do to keep a few meals like that in the freezer for the days when I just can't be bothered to cook for myself. So yes, eating more today and I'm trying not to let it bother me, but it's the price my DH is making me pay in order to go to class tonight. He's working from home and is keeping an eye on my food intake. :drool: DOH! I better start drinking my water too.

I didn't do very well tonight. In fact, my DH has told me I have to cut down on my exercise. :smile2: We went to the gym this evening. I did 30 mins on the elliptical and 30 mins on the bike. I enjoyed both. About half an hour later I started to get a headache, then I started getting cold, then I started to feel nauseous and weak. He ordered me to lay on the couch. Then he brought me some chocolate milk and some Tylenol. He also made burgers for dinner. I managed to eat half a patty with cheese. Couldn't get the bun or the lettuce to go down. With this evening's meal my totals are looking better, but not nearly high enough. :bored: Total calories = 1,433 (net = 534) Carbs = 144g Fat = 61g Protein = 90g Water = 48oz I'm going to stop doing my morning cardio on Tues, Thurs and Sat for a start. If I continue to get dizzy/cold/nauseous during or after exercise, I'll have to cut out more. I feel better now that I have food in my tummy. I know I broke the no-drinking-while-eating rule, but these were special circumstances I guess.

Good morning ladies. Chim, it's great to see you back. Do stick around and visit more with us. You've been missed. Steph, I hope you sinus problems go away quickly and your tightness settles down. I don't know what's worse, being too restricted or not restricted enough. But to be sick on top of it is not very pleasant at all. So get better soon. Maybe you and Candice can share a pot of chicken soup. Karri, you job sounds so overwhelming to me. I know I don't have the patience to deal with a room full of kids, but when your fellow teacher acts worse than the kids it would be difficult for me not to commit murder. Denise and Phyl, good to see you both checking in as well. Janet, I think I'll have to find some sherbet. I can feel myself fall back into the bad habit of eating ice cream at night. When I have ice cream, I have to have chocolate shell on it. Being short on cals at the end of the day is making me reach for bad things. I really do need to plan better. Instead of going to the gym for an extra exercise session last night, I stayed home. And ate ice cream. :crying: So my net numbers were over yesterday by 78. Yesterday's totals: Calories = 1,368 (net = 1,213) Carbs = 147 Fat = 61g Protein = 60g Water = 40oz I need to Drink! Drink! Drink!

That's freaky because I was just thinking yesterday that I would probably be 10lbs lighter if I didn't get the boobs installed. :tt2: I'm the same height as you 5'4". Yes it has been a while since I posted a pic. I'll try to get around to taking some in the next day or so and post them. The past couple of days I've eaten more but still can't bring myself to cut down on my exercise. I figure I'll try it like this for a little while (maybe a couple of weeks) and see if it makes any difference. If not, then I will cut back on the exercise. I still need to make different food choices though. Yesterday's totals: Calories = 1,327 (net = 446) Carbs = 127g Fat = 61g Protein = 72g Water = 32oz :wink: I was doing pretty good with carbs and fat for most of the day, then I got to the end of the day and was way short on calories, so I ate a scoop of ice cream with a squirt of chocolate shell sauce. :rolleyes2: Not a good choice! Steph - Welcome home! I've missed you. :drool:

I'd never heard of Zumba before so I went onto youtube and searched. It looks like loads of fun! :rolleyes2:

Thank you. Your pep talks are the greatest. Yes I do understand what you were saying. My goal of 150 won't get me to the "normal" BMI range. That was never really my goal. I set it at 150 because I considered that to be healthy. For me. There was a (brief) time in my early 20s when I felt the healthiest and fittest I'd ever been in my life. I weighed 170. But back then I didn't have the saggy tummy and inner thighs I do now. I was toned and fit. I was a bicycle courier. :huh2: I know even if (not if, WHEN) I get to 150 I will still have a saggy tummy and thighs. It would be unrealistic for me to think otherwise. But there's a surgeon out there with a scalpel with my name on it to tighten those things up. :confused: That was also part of the reason I didn't set my goal lower, because I knew I would lose more weight through surgery when they cut off the excess skin. But I wasn't going to have surgery to lose weight. I know I need to do that on my own prior to surgery in order to get the best results. You're right about choosing the right kinds of food to eat. It's just SO easy to choose cookies and chips because they're my sliders and I have problems with broccoli and chicken. :smile: I love broccoli and chicken, but I can't eat them unless the broccoli is overcooked and mushy or the chicken is practically ground to a pulp before I even put it in my mouth. I also need to be careful about overdoing it with the protein. When I was on the Atkins diet I was doing really well and losing a lot of weight. But I developed kidney stones and my urologist pointed his finger at the high protein, low carb diet combination. It's so difficult to find the right combination that works for me. I worry that what I'll do is look for excuses to fail. Just like I did when I made excuses why I was fat. I look at you and Karri with envy because you both found the right formula for yourselves. It's really hard to stop myself from copying what you two do in order for me to get myself to where you both are. But for starters, I could never run to the extent Karri does and I think I would go insane if I ate the amount of fish you do. Last night's exercise was good. Well, good and bad. I'd planned on splashing around in the pool or soaking in the hot tub, but that area was closed off due to maintenance. So I went upstairs to the cardio machines. :wink2: Working up a sweat on the elliptical gave me that adrenaline rush I've become addicted to. Then I got off and relaxed by doing another 30 minutes on the bike. :wink_smile: I did eat more yesterday, but the exercise brought my net totals down. Total calories 1527 (net = 770) Carbs = 185g Fat = 59g Protein = 78g Water = 64oz My percentages were Carbs 46.69%, Protein 19.78% and Fat 33.52%. So my carb intake is below the 50-55%, but the fat is still too high. I need to lower than and still bring the protein percentages up. :tt2: Today's another day....

Hello ladies. :smile2: I haven't been ignoring you all. I've been trying to wrap my head around the advice you gave me last week. It's good advice and much appreciated. I just have to figure out a way to make it click in my head. This is what a typical workout week is like for me: Tues-Thurs-Sat 30 minutes treadmill - speed=4.2 incline=7 Mon-Wed-Fri morning 40 minutes various free weight exercises for arms. Mon-Wed evening 60 minutes cardio at gym (usually treadmill, elliptical, or rowing) Tues-Thurs-Sat 60 minute Aikido class Sunday - nothing I would prefer not to cut back on my exercise. I could cut down the speed and incline on my treadmill workouts. Perhaps not do so much at my evening gym sessions. But I've seen good improvements in my arms and my Aikido classes helps work my core and inner sanity. I'd rather they stayed. I'm struggling with the notion of cutting back. I used to exercise because I should. Now I exercise because I like it. I want to. For the past few days I've been trying to think of ways to cut back. Sunday is my lazy day where I don't do anything. That's difficult for me. :bored: I force myself to stay home. Thankfully now that it's football season I'll be more inclined to plonk myself in front of the TV and watch the games. :redface: It's like I've switched addictions. I've changed from a food addiction to an exercise one. And I'm becoming more and more reluctant to eat. For a few reasons. I'm not really hungry. Sometimes it's hard to get healthy food down, but potato chips and cookies are sliders. I still crave those occasionally. I don't take into consideration the walking I do. Probably because I don't see it as exercise. But on daily plate it tells us to log our "physical activity/exercise" so I can understand how it should fall into that category. I've chuckled to myself when I read that people would log sitting in front of the computer as activity. :huh2: But now I realize that I'm probably not taking into account all that I should. Which again means either to slow down or eat more. :ohmy: How am I supposed to make myself understand that? I'm going to try as you say. At least I want to try what you say. It's not going to be easy and my brain is already rebelling. I worked out this morning - 40 minutes of weights on my arms. I did it after I'd had some breakfast. It was strange. All I had an appetite for was a protein shake, and even then it took me 20 minutes to finish. Then I sat there looking stupid waiting for time to pass so I could go to the gym. This afternoon my hubby says he has plans to go to the gym tonight. What that means is that WE have plans to go. He won't go unless I go. My brain is thinking of different things I would normally do during an evening workout and I'm trying to think of the least physical. :tt2: I guess I could splash around in the pool for a while, or sit in the hot tub with a book. I'm glad that your fill worked out well for you and that your restriction is good at the moment. Congrats on the weight loss already. :thumbup: Thanks for the advice. Whenever I think of upping the calories my brain starts thinking about the extra carbs and fat I'll be eating as well. I don't want to do this. I don't want to worry and stress about food. :sad: I don't want to stop exercising. I like it. It's fun. How do I make myself believe that the more I eat, the more I'll lose? Am I worried about getting fat again? No. For the first time in my life I honestly don't believe I will. I can stop eating. I don't eat until I'm sick and then eat some more because I've made room by barfing. I don't eat a dozen donuts and wash them down with soda. I don't do any of the really bad things I used to. I won't allow myself to deteriorate again. My band is my insurance and assurance against that. What's worrying me most of all is that I won't lose this last 20lbs. And if I don't, then I've failed! Yeah, how have I failed? I've lost 70lbs. I'm no longer on the high risk list for diabetes. I'm no longer morbidly obese. I can walk without hobbling. I feel healthy. What is wrong with my stupid head? It's like I can't relax about this until the scale reads 150. Why am I beating myself up over it all? Honestly, I have no idea. :crying: But it doesn't make me feel very good at all.

I agree with Candice, I had to squint to see them as well. What a difference though! It looks like you're half the size you used to be. Congratulations! :cry_smile:

Good morning ladies. My official weight today is 171. So that 1lb I was worried about yesterday did disappear. :cool2: So I'm back to where I was last week, which isn't horrible. :thumbup: I did a lot of reading last night and again this morning on TheDailyPlate to see if I could find some answers. Most of the advice pointed to the fact that I wasn't eating enough. :biggrin: My fat brain just can't wrap my head around that. But if I look at the numbers, it makes sense. I think. :biggrin: I also stumbled across something else while I was there. I don't think I've mentioned it here before because I thought it was just normal, but I've noticed since being banded that I get cold very quickly. Not just in the cooler months, but throughout the summer as well. Yes, Texas summer. It's not all the time, it comes and goes. Sometimes I'll be okay for a couple of weeks to a month, then it will come back again. Being outdoors is okay, but the moment I step into an a/c mall or restaurant or something I get really cold and I get goosebumps all over me. Anyway, the consensus seems to be that it's a sign either of anemia (fixed by taking a multi-vitamin to raise Iron levels, etc) or a slow down in metabolism. Well, I take a multi-vitamin daily, so that would suggest that my metabolism is slow. Exercise increases my metabolism, but if I don't have enough fuel in the furnace to begin with, my body switches to "starvation" mode and holds onto the weight I'm so desperately trying to get rid of. :tt2::eek: So if I exercise, I have to replace the calories I burn in order to keep the totals up in the right range, in order to lose weight. Eat to lose weight. :tt2::tt2: *sigh* It just sounds so crazy that I should eat more! There's a pie chart on the site that shows you your percentages in Protein, fat and carbs. My daily carbs are within the right percentages, but my fat is typically too high and protein too low. The fact that most days I don't get my total calories high enough is an issue. Then take into consideration that I exercise 6 days a week, sometimes twice a day, it further depletes my body of the fuel it needs. All this thinking and calculating is making my brain explode. I've said it before and I'll say it again - being fat was easy! :biggrin:

First and foremost, ask your physician and follow his/her instructions. The advice varies from surgeon to surgeon and you should follow your own. I think I was on the treadmill after about a week. I started off really slow with no incline. I think my speed was something like 1.9 miles an hour and I only did 15-20 minutes. The object was not to lose weight and inches in the beginning. I was more focused on getting into a workable routine for myself and finding an exercise I enjoyed enough to get me to do it more than once every few days or weeks. Exercise isn't just beneficial for you physically. Your mental health benefits as well simply by knowing you're doing something to get yourself on the road to good health.

Thanks for the tip. I remember Steph suggesting carb and protein numbers when we first started, but I've forgotten. Yes, perhaps I need to choose differently. I'm a carbo-holic but I've not been paying attention to those numbers, just the calories. We went out for sushi with friends tonight. And I saved half of my daily calories because I knew I'd be eating rice. I wish I'd read you post before I left, I would've chosen sashimi instead. Oh well, I shall struggle onward.... Today's numbers: Total calories = 1,089 (net = 934) Carbs = 167g Fat = 24g Protein = 46g Water = 48oz I don't think I can get any more water in tonight. The rice is in my tummy and it might explode if I try. :thumbup: Thanks again Janet. I'm going to study my numbers more closely and make different choices for eating.

Jeez Louise. I wish I had the energy to work up that much stink. :thumbup: It tires me out just reading what you do, but it guilts me (in a good way) into not slacking off. :biggrin: I'm envious of your lifestyle. I'd love to travel in an RV for part of the year. To me it would be a dream vacation/living style. I've always loved to travel and see the country (any country) slowly, rather than flying above it. However, DH isn't an RV type of guy. :w00t: His idea of roughing it is staying in a hotel with a broken a/c unit. :thumbup::wink: I'm more of an outdoors kinda girl; I can bait my own hook, clean my own fish, and all that jazz, except I think I'm over camping in a tent. An RV would be perfect for me. That guy's a total jerk. King Jerk from Jerkanistan! Good luck with your fill. I hope it's uneventful and that it gives you some much needed restriction. Yanno, I'm not so sure about that. :crying: I got on the scales this morning, my official weigh-in day isn't until tomorrow, but I wanted to see where I stood, well I'm up 1lb from last week. *sigh* I've really watched what I've eaten this week, so it's frustrating. Maybe I'm calculating wrong. Or maybe I'm eating too much too late. The morning is really difficult to get food down. Not necessarily because I can't, but because I'm not hungry. But come 3pm my appetite kicks in. I've still kept my cals within range, but maybe if my metabolism has slowed down, my body's not breaking them down like it should. Here's hoping tomorrow the scales will be kind to me and that extra pound will magically disappear. :thumbup: I guess it's time to try another strategy. I typically work out first thing in the morning after dropping my son off at the bus stop. In the beginning I needed to do this because I knew I just wouldn't get myself to the gym later. But maybe I have to get some fuel in my stomach before working out. So come Monday I'll come home instead, have some breakfast, wait about an hour and then take myself up to the gym. We'll see how that works for a little while. I'm fortunate that I have the luxury of being able to do that whenever I can because I'm a stay-at-home-mother. As for being able to go to sleep when I'm hungry, it's probably more head hunger than actual hunger. Like I said last night, I'd just had dinner an hour earlier, so I wasn't physically hungry. :thumbup: I used to use sleep to cure everything that ailed me. When I was coming down with a cold, I'd take a nap. If I had a headache, I'd take a nap. Earache, same thing. My brain was programed to know that nothing feels bad when you're asleep. So going to sleep when I'm hungry cures me of that. :thumbdown: I know, it doesn't make any sense at all, but my crazy brain believes and accepts it. :cool:

Karri, got my fingers crossed for you for your exercise today. :smile2: Kari, that was a cute joke. And oh so true. :smile: Janet, I was just thinking about the old regulars myself the other day. I wish they'd come by and give us an update and say 'hi'. I've had a pretty good food day, although I'm feeling hungry right now and I just finished dinner an hour ago. :thumbup: I'm going to see if I can hold out until I go to bed and hopefully put myself to sleep before the demons catch me. Today's totals: Total calories = 920 (net = 552) Carbs = 120g Fat = 37g Protein = 39g Water = 64oz Just hold out for 2 more hours on the food......

Before I forget, Kari is there any news from your doctor about the issue you were having with keeping food down?

I got one more glass of Water in last night, so that puts my total to 56oz. Not bad. :tongue: I would have tried for the last glass, but I wanted to get to bed early-ish. I slept solidly although I could have done with another hour or three. I still haven't tried my Lean Cuisine Swedish Meatballs. They've been on my mind since Karri mentioned them the other day, I just haven't been able to fit them into my meal plans yet. :wink2: Wait a second.... who just said that? There was a time when I could have fit a meal like that in as a snack. Or an appetizer before the real snack between my meals. :w00t: Sometimes I don't recognise myself. I like it that way. :crying: Anyway, nothing else to say. Off to start my day.

Janet - congrats on the 'scrawny' comment :w00t: and the plastic surgery consult. I hope it works out well enough so that you can afford a full body make-over. You deserve it. I've only managed 48oz as well so far. I'm about ready to give up and call it a day but I'm going to try and push through. :cool2: Karri - I really can't offer you any words of comfort as far as your MIL goes. I don't think there are any. I can only imagine how difficult it is for you to have to go through this with your DH. All my best thoughts are with you and your family. I've had a good day today. My total carbs are under my allowance and I've had 2 exercise sessions today, so that makes my numbers look good. I'm hoping I can get to bed at a decent time and go to sleep quickly. With that thought in mind, I best head off now and try to get that other 16oz of Water in. Total calories = 1,028 (net = 128) Carbs = 126g Fat = 34g Protein = 58g Water = 48oz

Kari, I forgot to thank you yesterday for your suggestions. The turkey dinner sounds yum. I like savory and sweet in the same dish, and you can't go wrong on stuffing. :laugh: I'm going to put a few different kinds in the freezer for when I'm feeling too lazy to cook for myself. With this recent calorie counting I'm doing, I find it far easier if it's all calculated for me instead of having to go through the search option of all the ingredients in a meal. Yeah, I'm lazy. :laugh: I got my last bit of water in last night like I said, so I made it to 64oz yesterday. Go me! and YAY Janet! :frown: This morning I'm feeling tired. It took me forever to get to sleep last night. I just couldn't get my brain to shut down. I was physically tired because I had a couple of exercise sessions yesterday, but my head wouldn't stop thinking. :thumbup: Does anyone know when Steph is due back?

Good thoughts to your MIL from me as well. And to the both of you. It's a trying and stressful time for all concerned. And you're off to the gym for 2 hours? :thumbup: That's the Karri we know and love. :frown:

You're sneaky. :laugh: And I love it! :laugh: It was exactly what I needed to get me back in the game. I've had 56oz so far today and I'm determined to get that last glass in before going to bed. It'll probably mean I'm up a couple of times in the night to go tinkle, but I'll worry and complain about that later. :frown: I've had a good food day. YAY! Totals are: Calories = 875 (net = -7) Carbs = 113g Fat = 32g Protein = 28g Water = 56oz :thumbup:

Go figure you would sneak in while I was making my post. I'll take that bet.

Good morning ladies. Well, it's still morning as I start this 11:58am. Today I'm hoping to eat some food. I think I'm hungry. Maybe I just think that because I haven't had any solid food yet, just coffee. I worry that I'll try something and it'll get stuck. Maybe I should do a day of mushies. Your food choices were good yesterday Karri. You inspired me and I went out and bought some Lean Cuisine Swedish Meatballs this morning. I think I'll wait until tomorrow to try them though. I've never tried any of the Lean Cuisine meals, so if anyone has a favorite, let me know. I also bought some Fiber One bars. Oat and Peanut Butter. I was there in the grocery store and the shelves are stacked to the brim with Halloween candy! I'm not a big candy eater, but peanut butter M&Ms sprang to mind. It was tough walking past those aisles, but as I turned my head the other way I spied the Fiber One bars so picked up a box of those instead. Go me! Today I must, must, must try to get my water in. I'm only just now starting on my first bottle. It's a really pleasant day out so perhaps I'll go sit on the balcony with my book and sip on a bottle or three of water. Hope you're all behaving yourselves. :laugh: Will check back later.