Dec 2nd, 2002:  Well, I might as well admit it. I stumbled on Thanksgiving day.  I was doing fine until the pumpkin pie came out, and then before I knew it - it was in my mouth.  I took 3 bites & realized it really wasn't that wonderful, but finished it anyway since I didn't want to offend anyone.  No big deal.  The earth didn't shake, my thighs didn't expand immediately - it was going to be OK, right?

It wasn't too much longer before the cravings started to kick in.  My body wanted more of that sugar.  It demanded it.  What in the?  I hadn't gone through this when I first went on the diet - why was my body doing this to me now?  I spent the whole weekend surrounded by sweets that I had not experienced any longing for when I had baked them a few days before.  After one slice of pumpkin pie, these sweets lured me something terrible.  I wanted them so bad that I actually got cranky.  My neck tensed up.  I got a pounding headache.  It was horrible.

Protein Power didn't adequately warn me of this.  To help inspire me to stick on my diet, I picked up a copy of the newest Atkin's book and was thumbing through it.  Sure enough, there it was in there - the carb addiction symptoms.  That's exactly what I was experiencing.  I was going through the DT's.  I bought a can of diet pop and the sweet taste actually calmed me down . . . it was like drinking a glass of wine or something.  There was this physical reaction, even though the pop was sugar-free.  I know Protein Power spoke of your body being tricked by the sweet taste of aspartame & that they recommend to avoid it . . . if my body was tricked, well at least it left me alone for a while.

It took until Sunday night before I felt physically better.  Those 4 days were easily the hardest on my diet - and all because of one innocent-looking piece of pumpkin pie.  Sheesh.

I was so crabby about having to resist sugar all weekend that I spent $4 on 8ounces of raspberries and ate them drenched in heavy whipping cream.  It was wonderfully decadent, and only mildly naughty since they are a "maintenance food" rather than an "induction food".

I've taken myself out of induction - I've been eating nuts and went through a phase with the raspberries.  I have no cravings for bread or sugar (anymore!), so I'm not planning to permanently add those back in - ever.  The more I read, the more I realize that our bodies just do not need that crap.

I haven't tried the size 5's on since last weekend, but then they were all they way up, buttoned, and zipped.  They give a new meaning to the word "tight", but they are definitely on my body.  I could theoretically wear them out in public, providing I did not value my circulation.  Although that sounds like fun, I think I'll wait and see where we're at by Christmas! 

I've been walking for 20 minutes each morning - very good for me and the dogs.  Loving the cold morning air - never in a million years would I have dreamed I'd be out walking in the dark when it's 6 degrees outside.  But I love it.  Today I also did 30 situps (which I could definitely feel), and 10 push ups - not the girlie kind either.  Funny, the "real" pushups have been completely beyond me for years, but they weren't that hard today.  My arms still look flabby, but they must have some strength to them.  Must be because I've been doing all the lifting/carrying since Don hurt his back - what an easy way to work out!

Scale told me 120-121 over the weekend.  Not too bad . . . only 2-3 pounds to my goal weight!  I put on a pair of my size 8's to go to a Christmas party this Saturday & asked the hubby if I looked skinny.  He replied that I looked fine, but my pants were a little too big to be flattering.  Wohoo!!!  Talk about motivation to eat well while at the Christmas party.  I was more than pleased to fill up on lettuce salad, ham, and deviled eggs!

The size 5's are still not looking good.  It wouldn't be so bad, except the rise looks like it's cutting me half.  Not comfortable and certainly not flattering.  I did try & buy 2 pairs of size 6's over the weekend though - that's a full size smaller than the 8's (and too rapidly moving into 10's) I started out wearing 45 short days ago!