Mooorrrrnnnn'in!!!! Well, yesterday I ate TWO cinnamon buns which accounted for about 75% of my points for the day. Glad to say they are now out of my system. I am not angel but at the very least I am a very satisfied devil! Maxed my points yesterday and refocussed on better foods today. Crunchy red deliciuos apples, low fat (almost NO fat) rice pudding, planning soup for supper with low fat meat (realized I have not had much protein ... again!). To catch up a wee bit: ((((((Yellowhair & DH)))))))). I am prone to return to medication for diabetis, hence another incentive to behave (diet controlled). You were right to drag him to the doc like you did. Men. Never understand how they can just let things go or pretend that nothing is wrong. He owes you a treat I would say. Glad to read your post and that you were firm when you had to be. Big hugs coming your way! Kathy, I would love to have gone shopping with you. Especially with my wieght and body changes of late. Don't want to spend money on clothes again, yet....but quite happy to shop second hand. Sure can find gems in there if you have the time to look! Miss Walmart. MaryAnn your post about being surprised with your weight after your school break was a good trial run to see how you can handle maintenance after you reach goal - might not be as hard as you thought. You've done good girl! Beverly I know its hard but you are making better choices right now and reading the menu more and I bet labels too...so, in small ways, you are pulling yourself forward. Glad to see ya posting! Alice..really happy you are participating with us. We are with ya all the way. Don't forget small goals count, you can do this! We can all do this. Its wonderful to make new friends too! Keep us posted on your activities and thoughts! I have gone back to the MSNBC news site to read more nutrition articles. I think I am going to spend some time printing out inspirational articles and put them in a binder for when I need to read them. Never hurts to have them at hand. Today is a better day, it's also my last day this week (I booked tomorrow off). Want to make some soup tomorrow, do some laundry and get out for a stroll/fresh air. Have my nurse coming for a home visit (she is part of my outpatient clinic for my depression management). I tell ya, it never hurts to ask for help. I applaud all of those professionals who are always there when I need them. Life has it's challenges and I prefer to take the bull by the horns! Yeeeeee hhhhhhaaaaaaaaaa! Let's make today count! McPeg

Wouldn't we all like to change places with our cruiser today?? Oh McPeg - hugs!! If they wanted to get rid of you they would have. You must be doing something right. If you love the job as much as you say smile pretty and kill them with kindness. They have the power because they write the check. I had a job and boss I loved and changed departments (not my choice!) and ended up with the worst boss in the printing plant. I lasted 2 years. If you can't take it get out of there and go somewhere there is less pressure or ask for a transfer there. It sounds like they are giving you a chance at least. Lots of places are "all business". My cousin (a woman) owns her own business and it is like a tomb in that office. You have had a lot of headaches the past few weeks and deserve all our hugs for that. Hang in there! big big hugs to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The banquet last night was a long drawn out affair I should not complain about free food but - the chicken was breaded fried and had ham and American cheese in it. It looked like a loaf of bread. The Athenians would never have touched that! The salad was really fruit with some dairy sauce on it. About the only healthy thing was the carrots. I passed the dessert right to hubby so that was good at least. The entertainment was good but there was too much of it and after kids singing, testimonials (it was a children's ministry appreciation dinner) and thank yous, group singing with a guy who kept saying "one more time!", kids dancing then they called up a speaker! He was good but I was ready to bolt for the door. I do not need to worry about my doctor's appt Monday because it turned out I had scheduled my appt. and the dog's appt. 10 minutes from each other so we know which one was put off another 2 weeks ;-) I made the Italian pasta dish that I posted the recipe for supper and hubby loved it but boy is it spicy! It would be great food when someone has a cold. If you try it, precook the sausage and cool it before slicing. I had too many things going on at once and overcooked it a little but that did not hurt anything. I thought it "needed" something so added a spoonful of fat free sour cream to my dish. I used frozen pepper stir fry for the peppers and picked the onions out so was a little low on peppers and added mushrooms. Red, yellow and orange peppers here are $4.00 a pound. Hmmm maybe I sould grow some this summer.... Oh heck gals I have been losing and gaining the same 8 pounds forever. BUT I am still 46 pounds lighter than I used to be! It makes a big difference in your life. My problem is I had quit going to the doctor's for years so he did not see the biggest me. To ME I am thin! Mom has tried to find the WW bagels everywhere so she went to the store where she bought them and ordered 10 packs! The manager said they were suprised how many people are asking for them. MaryAnn did you go out on the motorcycle? Hubby wants me to ride with him but it is bad enough riding in the car. You know you (and me!) are getting old when a late night is 10 pm. YH what is O'Charlies? Sounds like a pub. Hmmm do we need to do a 5 pound challenge? Haven't done a challenge in a while. Well big hugs to all who share this torture er/a struggle. Have a great tomorrow! Kathy

Alexa: Thank You !!! I just recieved another Email about Banana's. Guess it is Diet related. Always wondered where my Brain power came from. I eat banana's almost every day. It is also high in Fibre. Might help some Grouchy people. LOU - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Bananas A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas. He said the expression "going bananas" is from the effects of bananas on the brain. Read on: Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!! This is interesting.. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again. Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose & glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained & substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses & conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet. Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood & generally make you feel happier. PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood. Anemia : High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood & so helps in cases of anemia. Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food & Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure & stroke. Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, & lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert. Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives. Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach &, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes & re-hydrates your system. Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief. Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up & avoid morning sickness. Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling & irritation. Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system. Overweight & at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate & chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady. Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture & smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity & reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach. Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical & emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan. Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium & magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal. Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain & regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack. Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%! Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin & place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape! So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A & iron, & twice the other vitamins & minerals. It is also rich in potassium & is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!" PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, & rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit !!!

I've not used the Justin single serve but see them. Like little 'ketchup' packets. I've had a fridge in probably the past few dozen hotels with a small top freezer. Most memorable to not have one recently. We do seek out more boutique hotels over the chain variety. I use TripAdvisor for reviews. Most in NYC don't charge for the first couple bottles of water but do make money if you tap into the full fridge of beer and soda and snacks. (why i suggested to call ahead and ask). It is a money maker so many have them. I had to clean out a fridge of soda crap to fit the giant Katz's pastrami i only ate one quarter of during a last winter snow storm...took it home to DH and noticed the water was complimentary so froze it to keep the meat beast cold. I'm with Annie about issues with small snacks especially in the heat. My food need goes way down and just need a bit of small protein or tiny bits during the day. No big meals. Need water. Nothing worse that getting peckish and spending time looking for a mini snack. Having something small in your bag familiar is much better than looking for it. Fine dining while traveling is one thing but sometimes the sites to see are most important and food can often just be about 'fuel' for getting from one place to the next. This post made me check my 'city' bag. Some things have been in there for months. I don't even chew gum but for some reason have some. The 'Krave' jerky is really good. All over the city now. Even in a pharmacy that seems to be on every corner now. Probably expensive but i get promo cases and hand it out to the homeless usually. I'll be all over WallStreet tomorrow and i just need fuel and water not a restaurant. My work provides that but as a visitor i would want the same....