I'm doing good on my diet this week! Day 2. No cheating. Salads and chicken. Still not off the diet soda but tomorrow I may be ready for that.

Hey nowire,

I felt really bad for the first week or so when I got off the diet soda. It really wanted me back. I started drinking Perrier and that seemed to help a little with my craving for a "fizzy" drink. Good luck!

Met with the Kaiser Permanente nutritionist. Brought my info on the "hyperhomocysteinemia" (inability to process B6/B12) and my allergy results. Explained that I was looking for help developing healthy eating menus around these food and health issues.

I was given a few printouts on smoothies. I was referred to the KP website for links to healthy eating. I was told to eat 3 meals a day and maybe a snack. I was told to watch my portion size. I was told to substitute side salads for fries when I eat out. I was told to eat whole wheat rather than white bread. I was told to not eat everything when I eat out, but to try to bring home leftovers due to oversizing. I was referred to a 12 week class on healthy eating for people with heart disease, diabetes and those who are facing bariatric surgery. I was shown the government food triangle and a laminated oval that shows portion % on a dinner plate.

No sample menus. No book or diet recommendations. Nothing designed for the cooking-challenged, menopausal, plump woman that I am. She did agree that I am overweight and on the cusp of obese. Thanks.

So, in other words, I was told nothing new. I left feeling as if I had lost an hour of my life that I will never get back.

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I did read a saying that made me laugh: "Some people consider their body, a temple. I consider my body more of a bouncy castle."

I'm eating a cheeseburger with some asparagus. I feel fat and ugly so I got a burger. Better than the FRIENDS fish I really wanted...

I hate chicken. It literally sticks in my throat/esophagus. I hate fried chicken even more.

hey sunny, have you tried italian lentil soup?

it is sooo good, soooo easy, and extremely healthy.

i'll toss dried lentils in the crock pot, with enough water or preferably stock as needed per directions on the bag. you may have to add more water as it cooks down, just keep an eye on it.

i also add a couple links of (cooked) ground hot italian sausage (removed from the casing and crumbled), just dont go overboard - and make sure to squeeze it to death with a paper towel to remove as much grease as possible.

you can throw in onions, garlic, oregano, basil, cubed or shredded carrots, squash, turnip, spinach, chopped tomato - anything like that, that you might have on hand.

let it cook all day, keeping an eye on the moisture level to make sure it's still SOUP! serve nice and hot with a good, dark whole grain bread (i like rye).

enjoy!