Hi Michele, I am sorry to hear about your job,I too am 43 and I am going back to college fall 2007.I am going to be a Pharmacist,I have talked to several colleges and I think I am going to Kings in Wilkes Barre..I know I will feel a little out of place but I don't care...I am going for the same reason as the rest of them! whatever you choose to do I am sure will be great but don't let your age influence it. 43 is still young and tons of time till retirement. anyway I am glad that you know and admit that you are grazing for the wrong reasons. I can understand,I think we all can.............. Maybe a good idea is to get rid of the junk from the house so it is not there and you are forced to go healthy snacking.This is what I did right after the holidays.I threw everything out!the crackers,dorito's anything I can eat that is not good!! DH and DD have a special cupboard for their snacks and because it is theirs I respect that and will not touch any of it. You certainly do not want to sabbotage yourself at this point of the journey. I have started posting everyday our menus,if you can drop in and post your everyday it WILL HELP! If I can do anything to help let me know! hang in there!!! ((hugs)) Nancy

MichiGirl, I just wanted to let you know I am sorry about your lay-off. It's aways scary when you have to look for another job but hopefully you will find something you love to do. Also, I think you are very smart in recognizing that you were eating out of emotion and hopefully you will take notice the next time an issue comes along that makes you feel like you should eat the wrong things. It helps me to keep in the back of my mind, that I didn't go through this for nothing and I have to stay on course. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know I was thinking about you and hope that you have a better day today. Shannon

Yesterday I got my official lay-off notice. My last day will be the end of May. They are moving my department to another state where they work on the same product. It is not like I didn't know it was coming but it still was a shock to see it in writing. Even though I have known about this for 1.5 years I have done nothing to prepare for getting a new job except have surgery so I will not be discriminated against. I could have been going to college so that I can get a good job when I get laid off. But I just do not have that "yearn" to learn. I have worked here for almost 20 years. That is most of my adult life. I am only 43 so still have lots of years to work before retirement. What do I want to be when I grow up? I will get free access to an employment place to help me with these questions. Since I have worked here so long I will also get a nice departing money package. So after taking the summer off with DS I guess I will take my new body and start a new working life. My DH was so great last night. He has been bugging me since I found out about this to go to school and be a nurse or something else high paid. But last night he told me he will be there for me no matter what. Even if I just end up with some crappy job. So it is nice to have that pressure off. I used this news as an excuse to eat a bunch of cookies and other junk last night. I knew that I really didn't need it but just used the "emotional" excuse. This is dangerous territory to be treading in. My only saving grace is that I "Know" I was using the excuse. At least I wasn't mindlessly eating and not realizing why. Not that it makes it any better. MichiGirl

Can I play, can I play????????????? Ugh...ok, after each bite of everything lately, let's just assume that I have consumed one small candy cane, BECAUSE I HAVE!!!!! Ok, I am not yelling at all of you, I am yelling at myself. I CAN'T STOPPING EATING THEM!!!!!!!!!! I need to throw them away. I need an intervention. Ok, so besides all the candy canes, what have I eaten: B- 1 cup Kas****real with 1/2 cup light soy milk S - CANDY CANES L- 2 pcs. pepperoni pizza....what am I thinking? S - CANDY CANES D - 3 oz. broiled cod, cup of beef barley soup, 1/4 c. potatoes S - 1/2 c. total ceral with light soy milk and CANDY CANES!!! Exercise - playing with niece and nephew. Yes, that was a workout. Water - 100 oz. Supplements - good!!! Alcohol - none Lord help me!!!!! Jeanna

My point was to show you dont have to be scared to try things... Im not saying to try bread, sugary or fatty foods... I dont believe I listed any. As for eating lettuce... I eat romaine with spinach in my salad... romaine is nutritions and spinach has iron in it - both are excellent choices. Its hard to say if you are being to strict because you said you cant have fruits/veggies until 9 months out. Its important to eat a balanced diet and get as much vitamins and nutrients from foods. When you eat the same few foods constantly your body will get bored and you would typically not be getting everything you need unless you eat eating extremely well balanced. There are a lot of people out there who keep themselves limited like you. The majority of people I see who post are within their first year (typically around 6 months). I cannot say if that type of eating would last long term but I would think eventually it would... but thats just my opinion. For me it is a matter of personal choice... of wanting to live a happy well balanced life and be able to enjoy what I eat. For some I think limiting what they eat to just a few things allow themselves to have more control. They may fear if they eat more than what they consider safe they will get off track. In many cases that is true because surgeons warn against drinking soda or trying sugary foods because if you find you can tolerate you may go crazy. Also it could be a trigger food... kinda like people who smoke and drink... they want to quit smoking, but then they have a drink and just have to smoke. Not comparing in any way shape or form but thats what anexorics do - they eat the same few foods that they deem "safe foods" so it gives them a sense of control over their eating (well, lack there of). I just state that to give a backup of how people feel in control of themsevles. Good luck to you!