Thanks for the great advice, I didn't know about the muscle swelling. I will try to keep up the exercising because I do feel better after I do it. I just want instant gratification, that's all. I feel thinner when I am moving, doesn't that sound weird??? Amy

Thanks Carla I haven't seen the south beach ready meals in teh grocery store over here - shame. All I find is the store ones full of carbs & processed cr@p even if they are low in calories - I'm nto too keen to eat stuff like that. But I will be on the look out for South Beach as they are low in carbs arn't they? I enjoy tuna salad so will definitely add that to my menus.

hmmm high protein snacks...i'd go for beef jerky, low fat cheese sticks, those little tuna cans, rolls of deli meat/cheeses in a ziploc...i can't think of anything else right now. I'm pms'ing so i'd like something bizarre like fritos and chocolate frosting but i don't give in (doesn't stop me from wanting though). ANDI

I will take beef and chicken lunch meat with a slice of cheese rolled up and no bread. Its quick and easy. I also take cans of chicken or tuna and mix a small amount of light mayo and pickle relish. Put it in some tupperware. You can add a tomato and slice of lettuce and build a beautiful little tuna salad by putting the leaf down, almost quartering the tomato and putting the spread on top. With a little salt and pepper it is to die for. If you have a microwave at work you can get the south beach dinners. they are usually about 300 calories and easy to make. they go on sale all the time so I will grab them up when I see them. You figure 3.00 dollars a day for a full meal is not bad when you consider what we would have bought in the past. Carla

Ok, I finally started exercising. I joined a gym that was under construction in Feb/07 and it finally opened in December. So, now I am doing the treadmill at least 2 times a week, mostly 3 and I have gained 1 or 2 pounds!!! See...this is why I don't exercise. I haven't really exercised in months and I stayed pretty steady with my weight, Now I am exercising and gaining. Ugggghhhhh. That being said, with all the stress I have, I do enjoy going and working up a sweat, it feels good and I feel better after I am done. Also, does anyone have any good "on the go" snacks that are high protein and low carb. I know those carbs are killing my diet. I think I did a carb overload last week, I started to feel funny, sweaty and shakey at work, so I had someone test my blood sugar....it was 52! Yikes! No wonder I felt so crappy. So I had a turkey sandwich and felt better after a while. Does anyone else have the low blood sugar issues. It has happened several times to me. Amy