Diablo360X - I actually always counted my calories - In fact I was a national level competitive athlete for all of my teens into my early 20's - I only had problems once I had children. I had two 10 pound babies back to back and had about 70 pounds to loose - which I did and kept it off until I hit 40 and once again had 2 back to back pregnancies. I am under serious medical supervision. I don't eat crap (nor have I ever!!) and I can tell you that when I was thin and fit I could eat twice what I can eat now. The fatter you get the easier it is to get fatter! If you have never been obese you have no idea what it is like or how people treat you. I am not a stupid person, I have two degrees, I don't get my information from fitness magazines. I am very aware of fruit GI - I eat mostly berries, and even then only in the morning and only with protein. I eat mostly green vegetables. I have multiple food allergies (wheat, rye, barley, oats, corn and rice) so it's not like I have ever stuffed my self with bonbons! You need to stop being so self righteous and maybe try to be more helpful.

From my personal experience - a resounding no! Carbs for me and many are a killer as they raise insulin levels which is a hormone that will make you gain weight - I don't eat ultra low carb but I do keep my carbs under 100 per day and I spread them out through out the day and always eat with protein and I do not eat refined carbs (no sugar, noodles, rice, potato or other grains) I eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. For years I ate a very restricted fat and calorie diet and got fatter and fatter and fatter!

@ messamermom - I am sooo trying that!

I also have ceiac and many other food allergies so I have gone paleo - lately I have been trying to be greener so I have a breakfast smoothy - my current favourite 1 c frozen raspberries, 1/2 frozen banana, 2 T lemon juice, 1 T almond butter, 1/2 cup spinach, and 1 T of chia seeds - delicious and holds me to lunch time. I also try frittatas - a quiche with no crust - slice and dice any favorite veggies or meat then cover with egg and bake - slice and keep in freezer until ready to use. handy is helpful

glad to have you back!!!

Hildi72 - I used to get killer cravings for chocolate - I used to buy the best chocolate chips I could find - I'd measure out an ounce of them - count the chocolate chips and figure out the calories per chip. The ones I had were 2 calories each. I could count out 10 chocolate chips and savour each one - let it slowly melt in my mount enjoy and not feel guilty for my 20 calorie snack!!

they pay food engineers BIG BUCKS to engineer foods that we can't live with out - seriously they trigger the same centres in the brain that drugs like heroine do! We ar still largely driven by our ancient genetic coding that was created in a time when both sugar and fat were serious rarities and when found we would gorge on then to stave off starving. No wonder the population is almost double the size is used to be!! Once you go cold turkey it does get a lot better!

I had always heard that eat breakfast you'll lose more weight but it NEVER worked for me - I'd eat breakfast then I'd be starving all day long until that is I found out I was eating the wrong stuff. Eating carbs for breakfast just starts you on the insulin roller coaster BUT eating proteins really does help. I am always in a rush in the morning so I make up a bunch of frittatas on Sunday night have them individually sliced and just keep them in the freezer until I want one. Then it's 30 seconds in the microwave and I'm out the door. Made a huge difference. I'd make one broccoli and cheese, one pepper, onion and tomato and the last one would be what ever was left over probably through in some sliced ham. They are delicious! If anybody wants the recipe message me!

The mason jars work well for pre-made salads - you can make your complete salad up (sans dressings) and pop them in the fridge and grab one for lunch each day - it's healthy fast food! I have never really had to worry about lettuce going bad we eat it so fast. I keep mine in a big zip lock though. Never use metal knives if you are going to cut it - the lettuce will rust.

My little guy has wheat intolerance too! For his lunches we usually give him leftovers from the night before in a little thermos (he is 5!) He also loves brown beans, soup with rice crackers, meat roll ups (meat, cheese, lettuce rolled up) he always takes a container of fruit and one of veggies. Lately he has started asking for baked potatoes - we went on a road trip and Wendy's serves a baked potato with broccoli and cheese - he will get that with a 1/2 order of chilli - he loves it!

Kstubblefield - I really enjoyed your latest post - I wanted to see your true before picture so I started at the beginning and went through all 36 pages! It was fun - Everybody has done so well - it is truly motivating :) And you have made a tremendous sustained effort!!!! I hope you are proud of your self and realize what a fantastic role model you make!! Thank you :) YOU LOOK GREAT!!

this is awesome - thank you so much for sharing it!

I am also from Ontario - and although we don't have our weight on our license we do have our pictures My old one was taken week after I got married almost 6 years ago when I was at my lightest weight since high school (before babies 3 and 4) I cried last September when I had to renew my license and have another photo taken 80 lbs heavier!!!! I used to like to whip it out to remind my self that I wasn't always as big as I am right now - now I just have proof that I was really this fat boooo! As soon as I get to my goal weight I am paying to get a new picture!!!

I'd be happy to be your buddy - I have been here a while too but find my old buddies are dropping off!

I have never tried it in coffee - i may have to - i have it with my chicken or sauteed with veggies - add a bit of lime and cilantro and you have a party! I am up in Canada so I need a chisel for mine too!

I was doing a low fat version of Atkins and was doing great - lost 30 pounds this summer - then I had to revert to "The Canada Food Guide" way of eating to have some tests done - and with in a few weeks I was feeling crappy and started craving more and more sugars! at first it was more carrots, more beets, then sweet potatoes and brown rice, but by last week it was "give me some m&m's and no one gets hurt! I restated on the program on Tuesday and am starting to feel (and look) better already! Even my medical team agrees - carbs are not for everyone! For me they are nasty and addicting - it's like smoking you can't live half your life as an addict then think you can become an occasional smoker - it just aint going to work!

eating at home is a breeze but eating out can be extremely challenging - I always have a stash of safe food with me just in case. Honestly many of the "gluten" free products are terrible - very expensive, full of chemicals and loaded with carbs and calories - eating real unprocessed food has been all that works for me. focus on fruit, veggies, and protein! Many celiacs later become lactose and glucose intolerant. There can also be an issue with alcohol as our bodies do not produce enough of the enzyme required to break down alcohol so intoxication can happen with very little alcohol - I found out the hard way!! Sometimes I think that it has been a blessing in disguise! The biggest thing your daughter needs to know is that not sticking to a totally gluten free diet will lead to major problems in both conceiving and carrying a pregnancy.

I got a pair of lululemon yoga pants and 10 classes at my favorite yoga studio - pumped to go tomorrow!!

I let my kids eat when ever they are hungry but they have to eat real food - we have fruit, veggies, yogurt, and usually some sort of left over in the fridge. Treats are for occasional consumption only. So far it has worked out well, I have a 17 year old a 16 year old and a 4 year old. and they are all thin! We also try to exercise as a family too - we go for long walks, play catch, play badminton in the back yard, swim at the beach and play catch. The kids have seen us work out at home, go to the gym and go to yoga. I think the biggest part of it is walking the walk - what you show them is far more important that what you tell them!

I joined the newmarket weight loss challenge last september (2010) and someone there mentioned it - I spend a lot of time on my comouter and I have and i-phone so I thought it might jsut be the thing for me - I used to write it all down in a little book - but that was one more thing to carry and hey all the figuring is done here for you - I also love the social aspect of it all - I have met a fantastic group of people here!