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Well, we had to clean the house of any and alcohol and drugs since DS is back and I'm on Day 2 of sober living. Just because I "can't" have it, i want a glass worse than ever, of course! But I'm gonna do what he's doing -- one day at a time -- I think that will help him. I'm thinking I'll restrict myself to the occasional glass when I go out with friends. If I have a hard time sticking to that rule then it's all the more reason I should stick to it! I think I've done SEVEN loads of laundry today....maybe eight. I don't think there's a dirty sock or shirt in the house.....until tomorrow! Speaking of which...the dryer is beeping! Laterz.

Thank you. I remember someone telling me one time that food addiction was the hardest to break. You can live without tobacco, drugs, alcohol. You cannot live without food. I have been struggling with my pride and not being able to do this "on my own". Your post has clarified for me that I am an addict. I need help and the lapband will be a help. That's all. The rest is up to me but there should be no shame in seeking help, in whatever form that comes in. Thank you.

Sunday, June 14, 2009 Surgery as surrender Having once been married to an alcoholic and having attended Alanon for many, many years, I've learned a lot about addiction. I know that we are addicts because we are addicts. Environmental issues can impact the predisposition of our genes, but once our addictions are triggered, we are addicts because we are addicts. I also know that in order to recover you have to be willing to do whatever it takes. You surrender your will to God and become willing to do whatever it takes, to go to whatever lengths it takes. For an alcoholic or drug addict that may mean going through rehab, going on meds to treat depression that could drive them back into addiction, working the 12 steps constantly, going to 90 meetings in 90 days, calling a sponsor and being sponsored, and never ever touching another drop of alcohol because once they start they can't stop. In a very real sense this surgery represents my surrender. I will always have to eat to live. Everytime I pick up food it can trigger my addiction. Having attended many Overeater's Anonymous meetings, I can testify that very few people are able to permanantly keep their weight off. Only those who are capable of being really anal seem to succeed. Weighing, measuring, checking every ingredient, counting carbs, calories, points, filling out food plans. These may all be good things but I'm not capable of them--at least not for long. Just the thought of doing these things gives me a panic attack. I hire people to do my paperwork and attend to details because I'm so bad at it. I've accepted my ADHD as a gift and I no longer try to be good at what I'm not good at. I do what I'm good at, which is being a highly flexible, very creative, gifted teacher. I generate ideas like confetti. My lesson plans are barely a guideline. By having this surgery, my stomach will become the weigher and the measurer. I can follow the simple food guidelines which will take me from clear liquids to 1000-1200 calories a day of healthy food without having to make food plans the rest of my life. Unhealthy food and too much food will make me very uncomfortable. I'll experience satiety--a completely unfamiliar feeling. And I'll be reprogramming the addiction center in my brain. It won't be easy. I'll still be triggered by the sight, smell, and taste of food. The surgery will be a jumpstart on food sobriety, like going into rehab. I'll still have to surrender my food to God every day. But with my body cooperating instead of fighting it, I stand a much better chance of success. This is the length to which I am willing to go to acheive food sobriety and better health. This is my surrender to God. If your stomach offends you, if it causes you to stumble, if its an obsession that takes you away from being able to love God above all and your neighbor as yourself--tie it off.

Sunday, June 14, 2009 Surgery as surrender Having once been married to an alcoholic and having attended Alanon for many, many years, I've learned a lot about addiction. I know that we are addicts because we are addicts. Environmental issues can impact the predisposition of our genes, but once our addictions are triggered, we are addicts because we are addicts. I also know that in order to recover you have to be willing to do whatever it takes. You surrender your will to God and become willing to do whatever it takes, to go to whatever lengths it takes. For an alcoholic or drug addict that may mean going through rehab, going on meds to treat depression that could drive them back into addiction, working the 12 steps constantly, going to 90 meetings in 90 days, calling a sponsor and being sponsored, and never ever touching another drop of alcohol because once they start they can't stop. In a very real sense this surgery represents my surrender. I will always have to eat to live. Everytime I pick up food it can trigger my addiction. Having attended many Overeater's Anonymous meetings, I can testify that very few people are able to permanantly keep their weight off. Only those who are capable of being really anal seem to succeed. Weighing, measuring, checking every ingredient, counting carbs, calories, points, filling out food plans. These may all be good things but I'm not capable of them--at least not for long. Just the thought of doing these things gives me a panic attack. I hire people to do my paperwork and attend to details because I'm so bad at it. I've accepted my ADHD as a gift and I no longer try to be good at what I'm not good at. I do what I'm good at, which is being a highly flexible, very creative, gifted teacher. I generate ideas like confetti. My lesson plans are barely a guideline. By having this surgery, my stomach will become the weigher and the measurer. I can follow the simple food guidelines which will take me from clear liquids to 1000-1200 calories a day of healthy food without having to make food plans the rest of my life. Unhealthy food and too much food will make me very uncomfortable. I'll experience satiety--a completely unfamiliar feeling. And I'll be reprogramming the addiction center in my brain. It won't be easy. I'll still be triggered by the sight, smell, and taste of food. The surgery will be a jumpstart on food sobriety, like going into rehab. I'll still have to surrender my food to God every day. But with my body cooperating instead of fighting it, I stand a much better chance of success. This is the length to which I am willing to go to acheive food sobriety and better health. This is my surrender to God. If your stomach offends you, if it causes you to stumble, if its an obsession that takes you away from being able to love God above all and your neighbor as yourself--tie it off.

I was banded 6/19/09. I lost about 14 pounds in the first 6 days and then I went back up 4. I am now at the end of the second week and am back down the 4. I do not feel like I have much restriction now. I will not do my first fill for a couple of weeks. I was always a drinker. (not alcoholic) Just always took in a lot of liquids. That was one of my concerns in doing the band was that I wouldn't be able to take a big drink. I decided to do it anyway because, let's be real which was more important my health or a drink of kool-aid. I am now 15 days out and I can drink as I want. I don't feel like I get a lot of restriction from food either. I was wondering if anyone else felt this way. I had some green beans 1/4 cup and 1/2 of baby potato and 1/4 cup of corn for a family dinner. I was full enough to quit eating and get up from the table but I wanted more and still felt some hunger. Is this all in my head or is it real. I know that it is way less than I would have eaten pre-op but still should I have been able to hold all of that? I have had no episodes of vomiting or sliming. Then the next day I could not eat 3 oz of tuna. Just curious and nervous I am doing something wrong. I think that my nerves stems from this being a new process and a new way of life. Feedback would be welcome.

Me too! Ditto! Holy moly! COOL!! <pouting> But I wanna meet you!!!! Guess I'll just have to take a trip to Australia someday! YIKES! Sounds rough! Glad it's going well! Now! PJTP: Nothing much going on. Hiding out at home for fear of the crazies out on the road heading to the lake and Yosemite. And it's hot. I hate hot. Nearly 100 here in the mtns. Yuck! Scanner was busy today with car fires involving grass, structure fires involving grass, grass fires involving grass. Y'all get the idea. We have a fireworks ban up here and yet people still do it. So a hot summer weekend, a fireworks laden holiday, alcohol and a bunch of idiots and we'll just pray that nothing horrific happens! :smile2: Woke up REALLY sore again today. It's been happening a lot lately. And tired too. Like can't-keep-my-eyes-open tired. I'm afraid it might be our mattress. I did this the last time we needed a new one. It's over 10yrs old at this point and with my weight, it's probably had it. I'll have DH help me flip it again and see if that helps at all. Speaking of tired. It's just after 10 here and I'm going to bed! Have a great night. Have a SAFE and FANTASTIC Independence Day! HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!!!

WTF? I missed this... why does Ebony think you have an eating disorder? More labor to make them. I'm surprised Animal Control hasn't been brought in. I was bitten by a dog like that once. AC was called and the people got out of it but then a month later he bit one of their kids and AC made them put him down. He only bit 7 people before something happened, not 20! Yes, I got my pants back. I had a bunch of bags on the bench in the changing room and the Talbot's bag fell under the bench. When I was consolidating all my bags, I forgot about it under there so I walked out without it. I only figured it out when I was showing Mini-Mac my purchases and it wasn't there! I just kept calling the store until someone found it. I knew it was in there somewhere. :eek: It's because they rock and are open. With coasters, you are strapped in. I'm always convinced they are going to rock too far and tip me out. I had the same experience when I made some protein bars. I used PB2 and they were still 100 calories per ball -- a ball the size of a walnut! Can you imagine if I'd used real peanut butter like the recipe called for? OMG! Do you realize how much ALCOHOL is in a martini?! Apparently not... Okay, a cosmo has 4 parts of vodka and 2 parts triple sec or Cointreau. A chocolate martini is 6 parts vodka and 1 part chocolate liqueur. Since 1.5 oz. of hard liquor is equal to 1 5 oz. glass of wine, each one was probably equal to 2-3 glasses of wine.

The BIG problem is "empty calories", I think. Often one or two alcoholic drinks isn't worth the 200+ calories (I don't do wine) so I often just decide I'd rather have food than liquor. Nice to know I can have a drink, though, if I want. Unfortunately most of my drinks of choice involved carbonation so I usually just pass.

So, as my FB friends know, I went out last night and got hammered. I don't know what happened. My BFF was there and she's known me through my truly alchie days after high school and she said she NEVER has seen me like that. I think I didn't have enough water through the day, and didn't eat anything, either. My band was a little bit picky and I'd just had pudding for lunch and coffee for breakfast. I'd never really had martinis before, and tried 3 different ones. (I also had sips of my friends, from what they ordered...) But that's it. 3 drinks and I was toast. I have never felt so sick in my whole life. I honestly thought I could die in the bathroom at the bar and that would be the end of me. LOL I know it sounds dramatic, but this is coming from someone who used to down a bottle of wine a night, pass out and do it again the next day. Even today my friend said she thought maybe something got slipped in my drink last night, but that's not really a possibility. I think I just was dehydrated and the alcohol didn't help. Whew! I'm on the wagon today for the 4th, though! I hope everyone has a great holiday!!! :eek:

Thursday, June 11, 2009 Goodbye to food---at parties:crying: I have at least 5 parties to attend over the next 3 weekends and I'm going to have to attend them without having food as a crutch. I'm going to have to bring food and not eat it. I have to talk to people without relying on food to allay my social anxiety and fear of putting my foot in my mouth in one of my impulsive, ADHD moments. I won't be able to gorge myself on foods I would never have in my home or buy for myself. That's the thing about parties. I love to go to parties because of the food, and I hate to go to parties because of the food. At my church we're into celebrating everything, and everything involves food--delicious food and lots of it. At school people bring special treats for everything. At weekly faculty devotions, the leader is supposed to bring a treat. If my husband and I want to do something special, we go to a cheap restaurant in order to stay within our budget. Family get togethers are dominated by food. I really don't know how to talk to people without food smoothing the way. Alcohol has never appealed much to me--its always been food. The food is killing me. More insidiously than alcohol or nicotine, it is still killing me. But unlike alcohol and nicotin and other addictive substances, I need it to live. How can something that God created so good, become so evil for me? Imagine a world that sin had never entered. Where genetic alterations that make some people prone to addiction had never happened. Where celebration never turns into debauchery--of any kind, either by choice or by uncontrollable compulsions and cravings. That's what paradise would look like, and what it will look like when Christ comes again to establish his new heaven and new earth. Party!

Thursday, June 11, 2009 Goodbye to food---at parties I have at least 5 parties to attend over the next 3 weekends and I'm going to have to attend them without having food as a crutch. I'm going to have to bring food and not eat it. I have to talk to people without relying on food to allay my social anxiety and fear of putting my foot in my mouth in one of my impulsive, ADHD moments. I won't be able to gorge myself on foods I would never have in my home or buy for myself. That's the thing about parties. I love to go to parties because of the food, and I hate to go to parties because of the food. At my church we're into celebrating everything, and everything involves food--delicious food and lots of it. At school people bring special treats for everything. At weekly faculty devotions, the leader is supposed to bring a treat. If my husband and I want to do something special, we go to a cheap restaurant in order to stay within our budget. Family get togethers are dominated by food. I really don't know how to talk to people without food smoothing the way. Alcohol has never appealed much to me--its always been food. The food is killing me. More insidiously than alcohol or nicotine, it is still killing me. But unlike alcohol and nicotin and other addictive substances, I need it to live. How can something that God created so good, become so evil for me? Imagine a world that sin had never entered. Where genetic alterations that make some people prone to addiction had never happened. Where celebration never turns into debauchery--of any kind, either by choice or by uncontrollable compulsions and cravings. That's what paradise would look like, and what it will look like when Christ comes again to establish his new heaven and new earth. Party!

I have 4 weeks till my first fill. You are absolutely right about the serenity. I find being around people or meetings that fill me with either shame or anger takes away my serenity and drives me into the food. If Bill Wilson were to attend today's OA meetings he'd either laugh his head off, or metaphorically overturn the tables of the moneychangers. At my Alanon meetings we talked about the steps and the principles of the program and how we were working them. As we recovered we talked less and less about the alcoholic, or we talked about the alcoholic only in terms of how we were working the steps in dealing with him/her. That's how OA needs to be. Maybe we should start our own on-line meeting, GAL-WLS (Get A Life-Weight Loss Surgery). We welcome recovering food nazis. Actually, I probably shouldn't make fun. These people have simply replaced one type of food obsession with another and their rigid adherance to a code is all they've got. They transfer their internal shame and need for control onto others. It's just another insidious form of this disease.

Morning All! I had an unexpected business trip yesterday... travelling by train is just so civilized! Lots of legroom, and lots of coffee! (I got to travel first class....whoo hoo - one advantage of a late booking!). So although I spent in total about 6 hours on the train, I got to read a book, have a sleep, prepare for the meeting, and have (in the evening return) as much alcohol as I wanted - wine before dinner, wine with dinner, aperitif after dinnner.... So to catch up on the news: Ebony - Have a great vacation? Beth - How many gallons of vinegar have you gone through? Slim - $135 per person for a reunion?? Man, you'd really have to love your relatives to pay that!! Brandy - 'travel whore'? Or I would SO love to be able to be one....love to travel, but the money is an issue. She - YAY!! Can't wait to meet you! Fanny - Wish we could meet you, but I understand the priorities. We'll have a drink for you! Lu et al - yes we need to choose a date soon. Between vacation request deadlines, and figuring out the budget to afford a trip, we need lots of prep time! Have a safe wonderful memorable 4th of July all!!

Jachut, you are so right. Looking for a hard stop with PBing isn't a healthy way to permanent weight loss. I tried it for a short while and I felt sick all the time. I am now trying to rely on myself. It isn't easy. It's like the alcoholics say...One Day At A Time.

A strawless non carbonated beverage would be wonderful. I know what you mean about everything socially being centered around food in one way or another. A friend of mine had her birthday a few days ago and tried to plan different things for the same day so that people who all aren't into the same stuff would get a chance to celebrate with her the options: Dinner (food), movie (popcorn, soda and hard to resist licorice), and some patio action at the Tavern downtown (alcohol and delicious deep fried foods). How exactly is one supposed to keep a social life with this thing? Anyways, glad to hear the you're doing well Fish. I'm sure that your "bitch-itis" will clear up once you have something to do. I know my two weeks were painful only because I was sooo bored. I probably could have returned to work after a week but I was concerned about the physical demands of my job interfering with the healing. I also have told almost all people about my band. If for no other reason than the strange stares and questions I was sometimes getting in the beginning about the quantity or type of food I was eating. Here's the awkward part though. I'm a lab tech in the St. B research centre and interestingly enough I work in a nutrition lab. It's sometimes hard to get students studying for a masters and PhD in nutrition or becoming a dietitien to understand where you're coming from. A lot of them were much more understanding than I expected I think because we're not just co-workers but friends and they understand how much I've struggled with this. Wannabe, they won't stab you multiple times. Actually I'm lying cause my first fill they poked twice but for a different reason than the norm. Dr. B was showing Nurse Phil (who is totally cute and I hate having to go in there in all my pudgy glory and lift my shirt to show off my big belly) how to do the fills and Phil couldn't find it so they got a new needles and Dr. B did it. But other than that time for my other fill and the un-fill it was only one poke. They find the port, theres a little poke kind of a little wiggling but it doesn't hurt and then you're done. I also tend to have an over active imagination so don't worry. I am really trying to look on the bright side of still being 12 pounds down. I guess I'm kind of frustrated because just before they took out some fill I had AMAZING restriction, maybe even too much. I was literally eating a little container of yogurt and a half banana for lunches and being stuffed, alas the back pain and un-fill and even though I'm now within 0.5 mL of where I was before the unfill I'm not feeling anything. I'm off to the family cottage tomorrow for an extended weekend so I hope you all enjoy the lovely weather this weekend and get outside!

Welcome. I am new too. I haven't set my surgery date yet but will have the sleeve with Dr Aceves. I am happy for you that your wait is less than a week away! I totally relate to being overweight and obese forever - started for me at age 5 or 6 and then obese since high school --for past ten years or so I have been around 300lbs on a short 5'3" body. I think that food addiction is harder than nicotene or alcohol because we can't just quit eating food altogether. Please post about your surgery experience and about whether you get any vacationing in at the same time.:tongue_smilie:

I had my band paid for by insurance - but we have since changed insurance companies and our new insurance says specifically it does not cover any surgery for obesity - now it covers all other dependancy problems - drug, alcohol, smoking - any other addiction -but it will not cover obesity - don't you think that is discrimination based on a person's weight - and don't you think a lawyer wouldn't have jumped all over this before now? I have always just wondered if anyone has ever tried to sue an insurance company for discrimination based on denial of benefits -

Right guys how am I gonna do this. I got banded on Friday and although Im not 100% I feel pretty good. Son has Graduation on Friday which lasts around 1-1 1/2hours service. Then on to a hotel for champagne reception for 2 hrs, take family out for meal then back home for party 30 guests. I have got caterers in to do the food so not too worried about that. I am more concerned if I am up to it and also covering up not eating or drinking alcohol. First born has worked really hard for this degree and it was all booked before my op. He is also getting presented with a Student of distinction, so proud and I really dont want to let him down. I tire quite easily at the moment i.e. emptying dishwasher is taking twice as long and Im pretty tired. Any tips please!!! Jx

I carry the Crystal Lite individual serving packets in my purse. I order Grey Goose vodka and water. I make sure to order a tall. Since being banded I am VERY careful not to overdo. Alcohol affects me soooooooooo much more than b/4. I try to order a side glass of water when I order a drink and also skip that second and third round that everyone else is ordering. Like Alexandra said...alcohol can make you very hungry. I have come home from a date with DH and feel that I am starving. I find that eating cottage cheese b/4 my one drink helps with that feeling. Not sure why. Have fun....be safe!

I read a lot of posts here and looks like my group. I was banded just about one year ago today. I lost 40 lbs. initially and in the last 8 months have lot NOTHING and have gained about 5-6 back. I exercise like crazy every day. I have started doing some weights for about 4 weeks now too. I do not measure so I will try some of the online trackers you guys are using. I feel like I am beating my head against the wall in trying to fix all the things that could be wrong with me and my band journey. I have a Realize Band with 7ml in a 9ml band. I keep waiting for this "magic" restriction spot that has just never happened. Doc's office has pretty much told me it is in my head. I really and truly do not eat sliders, candy, stuff like that . I really don't. I guess I eat too much period. I am trying to get back on the somewhat post-op diet and using at least one high protein shake a day and three very little meals. Let's see if that makes a difference. I am feeling like this is just one more diet that I have again failed at. I thought I would have lost so much more by now. I am so glad I did not tell too many people about this banding because I too would be trying to explain my lack of success to them. Ugh. :cursing: I am getting on LBT a lot now because I am a teacher and off for the summer. Once school starts the stress begins and I spend my nights grading grading grading. I barely have time for 6 hours sleep a night much less exercise! Then there is all that measuring, logging, etc. Probably not enough time in the day for all that and I am LAST on the list. I too have addiction in my family. I have a brother who is about 6'2" and weighs every bit of 500lbs. He is in a wheelchair with diabetes and all. I have a brother who is alcoholic, been sober for 20 years, now just heard he is taking pain pills. My mom was an alcoholic and so was her dad. I too stayed away from alcohol but FOOD now that seems to be another story. After a hard day, I sit down and say--I DESERVE IT! Gotta stop that. Again, now I am because I am getting enough sleep. When school starts and all the stuff needs to get done, parents yelling at you for no reason, etc. etc. I turn to it for comfort. I gotta break that one before school starts. So, enough of my pity party. I am going to watch, listen, and learn here. Maybe by next year I will get some more of this off. Any initial suggestions?? You guys are trying HARD and doing your best! You are an inspiration even when you have problems. We have all been there so it helps us feel like we are not alone! Sign me up! :tongue2:

The sugar free margarita mix is actually pretty good. I would make mine virgin because I dont' like the alcohol, but when I was on Atkins I actually drank it quite often. They also have diet cranberry juice that you could mix with vodka. I dont' know how carbonated Mike's hard lemonade is, but they do make a light version of that as well. Hey look at that...I CAN make alcoholic drinks healthy!!!

9 days, I probably wouldnt and I'm not one for strict rules, and denying yourself. But 9 days out from stomach surgery, alcohol really isnt going to do you much good. Also .... cocktail..... what sort? Some cocktails are HORRENDOUSLY high in calories. Personally, I'd stick with wine, something relatively low calorie like that. I think a healthy diet includes your fave tipple now and again, but its pretty hard to account for 700 calorie cocktails on a weight loss diet. Depends wht you mean by cocktain of course.

Three hours does seem awfully long (mine was an hour and I thought that was long). Mostly, I think, they are looking to see that you don't have an eating disorder, that you have realistic expectations for the band, that you don't have severe mental illness (like delusional thinking or hallucinations), that you don't have a drug or alcohol addiction, that you are getting the band for the right reasons (for yourself). They want you to be successful. Probably with the three hours they will talk with you about "head hunger" and using food for things other than strictly nourishment; might also talk about what to expect after you lose your weight (during my psych evaluation the therapist talked about the high rate of divorce among wls patients). They also will probably talk to you about your weight loss/gain history. They are not going to be concerned that you take an anti-anxiety medication--especially if your anxiety is controlled (I have clinical depression, but it's controlled with my medications, and they didn't blink an eye about it). Don't worry. They won't think you're crazy. :tongue2:

Okay I wanted to post this before everyone goes out and starts making plans for their 4th of July BBQ/Picnics. These are some calorie saving tips for the holiday. Please note that ALL servings are my sized servings so yours may be considerably less depending on your restriction. I attached the recipes to anything that I mention. 1. First and foremost...if you are going somewhere with people who don't eat healthy...TAKE YOUR OWN FOOD. 2. Salad Options a. Green salad - be careful of the dressings. Try Bolthouse Yougurt dressings (80 calories per serving and you really only need one serving. Or try the spritzers (good if you like sweeter salad dressings). They are found in the salad dressing aisle. b. Potato Salad - Try Fauxtato salad. I just ate some for lunch and it is pretty good. NO, it does not taste exactly like potato salad, but it is still pretty good. The entire bowl has 280 calories. c. Macaroni salad - I can't really think of a way to make pasta healthy, so this ight be something you want to avoid. If this is a MUST have, make the dressing healthier with FF stuff instead of the full fat stuff. d. Fruit salad is good if it is not made with real whipping cream. Also, be careful of the FF or SF cool whip...yes it is only 20 calores but there are 25 servings in the container so it is actually a pretty high calorie food. Meat: a. Hot dogs - Hebrew National makes a 97%FF hot dog that is pretty dang good and only 40 calories per dog. b. Hamburgers -Go with the leanest you can find. If you have a store where you can buy it out of the butcher's case that is going to be your cheapest option. If you are just buying it for you, then you can specify the amount of hamburger that you want. I just got 10 pounds of 7% hamburger for 2.99$ at Albertsons so it is on sale. We have a local store that sells 4% fat ground beef. Yes...it is more expensive but if you don't have to buy much of it, then it is worth it. c. Steak - Obviously find the one that is least fatty and trim off all fat that you can find. d. Chicken - This isn't a calorie suggestion but a cooking suggestion. Pound the chicken breast flat and cook SLOWLY. This will keep it more tender and by pounding it flat you don't have to cook it as long and therefore it won't dry out as much. Side Items - a. Buns - If you need to eat your burger on a bun, Oroweat has a new bun out that is 100 calories. It is pretty thin and they are pretty good. Don't fall for the WHOLE WHEAT, EXTRA FIBER, WHOLE GRAIN trap...check the calories. Another good bun to use is the Double Fiber English muffins (only 110 calores compared to 160 calories for buns). These extra fiber ones did have the least calories. b. Chips - If you need something crunchy, you have 2 really good options. Quaker rice crisps are only 70 calories per serving and are really good and come in a variety of flavors. Or soy crisps are 110 calories (but the serving size is twice that of the quaker cakes so they are pretty much equal). These again come in different flavors. The soy crisps are harder to find but check the health food section of your grocery store. c. Cheese - Use the 2% cheese if you can't bear to use the FF. However, I can't tell the difference so I save the extra 30 calories. Fruits and veggies - a. Veggies are good...DIP is bad. Ranch dressing averages about 150 per 2 TBSP and I read an article that when you dip your veggies in it you consume that serving size in about 6 dips. b. Melon is your best bet! Though be careful because I have gotten stuck several times. Watermelon is the best, but cantaloup and honeydew aren't much worse. It is about 100 calories per pound (and yes...I eat watermelon by the pound...but I can eat WAY more than the typical bandster). c. Strawberries are VERY good. I think 1 pound of strawberries is 140 calories. Dessert - a. A GREAT dessert is to take mixed berries (1 cup my serving size) and mix them with Dannon Fit and Lite yogurt. You dont need the entire small container, but you could use it if you would like. b. If you NEED cake, then try the SF Angel Food cake and put your berries over it. Drinks: a. There is nothing I can do about the calories in alcoholic beverages. I just am thankful that I don't drink!! b. The obvious is crystal light. c. Tea - Use Splenda or Truvia or other sweetner to sweeten. Alright I think that is about it. I know that most of you already know this, but we have a LOT of lurkers and some new folks so I thought this could be helpful for them and a good reminder for us! Fauxtato Salad.doc