[SIZE=3][FONT=century gothic][COLOR=deeppink]Where there is a will, there is a way . . . so, WAY TO GO, Amberlee!!! I was a cheerleader in Junior High (never made the squad in HS . . . darn) so I'm here for sis-boom-bah, rah-rah-rah support in your efforts, and hoping all goes smoothly with your surgery!

There is a doctor's column in my daily newspaper, and he always recommends cutting out all refined stuff like flour and sugar foods. Weight Watchers has the right idea . . . slow loss increases the chances of not regaining the pounds. These fad/crash diets may show immediate results, but in the long term they are worthless because for example: nobody can subsist on just grapefruit!

I'm a vegetarian, but do eat some dairy and fish. I either steam or grill a week's worth of veggies on the weekend, and use couscous (takes 5 minutes to prepare) as a bed and vary my sauces. So for dinner each night all I have to do is arrange my veggies with the bed (sometimes it is pasta or rice) usually add some (previously steamed) tofu for protein, and drizzle on a light sauce or salad dressing and put the plate into microwave and presto, dinner is served! Saves me time during the week, since I don't have to actually "cook" any meals.

Surely this menu is boring to most, but I love the convenience, and I make a HUGE array of veggies, so I can switch off and they keep well for the week in containers. Now that summer is here, lots of fresh vegetables are/will soon be available, so I'm in my GLORY!!!

Well, here's to much success, Amberlee . . . YOU CAN DO IT!!!

BTW, did you notice any unusual furkid behavior shortly before the earthquake? I've heard that cats can sense atmospheric changes, and we can be forewarned if we are atune to our kitties . . .