Grrr....it happened again! I typed for the last 20 min, hit one wrong button, and BAM it was gone! So this will be a recreation post....GRR! LOL Anywho Felicia, I think you will get a variety of answers to this question. By now, we have pretty much found what works for each of us. I dont consider this a "diet", and try hard to stay out of that mentality. It truly has finally become a lifestyle change for me. Its just that my wants and needs have changed considerably. Some things I have to avoid completely. PRETZELS! I have eaten myself silly two times over pretzels. I just cannot have them, I have no control over them. I have not had refined sugar AT ALL. I dont want to know if I can tolerate a little bit. For me, SF works fine. With the wide variety of SF foods now, that are better than ever, I dont feel deprived. I need a chocolate fix, a piece of SF chocolate is good. I have several bags in my fridge. I eat a piece about once or twice a month. SF angel food cake is to die for. Put a little berries on top with SF whip cream.....instant satisfaction. I made SF cheesecake last Thankgiving. My family loved it, I had a tiny peice. I was good. My tatses have changed. Even crystal light is to sweet. I take those little individual packs that are supposed to go in 16 ounces of water, and put 1/2 pack in 24 ounces of water. I get a little flavor without it being to sweet. I dont beat myself up over choices. The one time I had a hotdog, I savored every bite. It was good....WAY good. But I havent wanted another. I loved every bite (even if it was only 5) of the soft pretzel I had at the amusemenat park this summer. At resturants I puruse the menu and make the best choice I can. The one thing that has gotten to me, is when something tastes yummy and I cant eat the amount I want. It has been a trial more than once. I have mourned it for a short time, but when all is said and done, it was no big deal. Leftovers make a great lunch! When i find myself getting restless with what I am eating, I try new recipes. I really think the trick is to keep a variety in your diet. I love to cook....so many recipes...so little time! LOL I eat whole foods now. Fast food just sound horrid now. I have found strawberries are the sweetest thing on this earth! When all is said and done, its not about dieting anymore, its about adapting to a lifestyle change. However you can adapt, and still feel satisfied, thats the lifestyle you need to continue. I eat healthier, I cook healthier, my family is not "suffering", and I dont feel guilty when I have an occassional splurge. Just that my "splurges" are way different now! LOL Lauri

Wow Molly, you are a breathe away from 100 pounds!!! WOWOWOW! Congrats. This summer I have been into fresh fruits and veggies big time. At the beginning of summer it was spinach salad with strawberries. Oh my word, I couldnt eat enough! I figure soon all that fresh yummy produce will dwindle, so Im indulging now. Hate to say this, some days it was only fruit and veggies, just didnt feel like meat. Not often, not every day, but probably 2-3 times a month. I know....protein always and foremost, just couldnt help myself! LOL I look at that as kinda "normal", people have a variety in their diet. And Lord knows, all we formely fatter people want, is to be "normal"! Lauri

Donna, I had all size ranges in my closet. It was a little while before I had to buy clothes. But work scrubs were another matter. When I got down to 2x, I had been wearing 5-6x scrubs (UGH!). My coworkers were like, go and get some new scrubs already! Same for my last ones, I was wearing 2x when I needed large! Again, my coworkers were hounding me to get ones. Im almost in a med size scrub now. But I have several pairs of those from coworkers. So Im sitting pretty good right now. I have turned my closet over several times already......I am a shopping fool now. Goodwill is the way to go! I have found such cute stuff. I just need to get this old stuff OUT OUT OUT. UGH, I cant seem to make myself just get to it, and do what needs to be done. Not for any psychological reasons, just lazy! LOL All in due time! Lauri

I have to agree with you. I am not dieting. I am working hard on ways to keep working my tool. I do not deny myself, but then I really don't have that many desires for what is known as the bad stuff. I think this is the same issue as when people would ask me if I would ever be able to eat normally again. I have always responded to them that I wasn't eating normally to begin with so I am learning to eat normally now. We have really brainwashed Americans into believing that super sizing this and that is the answer to all. Learning to enjoy a taste of something is what we need to learn. Do I taste something if I know it is laden with sugar- NO WAY. I don't want to dump. That is no fun. Will I taste something that is in a so so category- yes! My son had a Snickers bar about 2 weeks ago. (He has changed his eating habits as a result of my changes.) He brought me a taste. I ate about a 1/2 inch of a piece. Snickers had always been one of my favorite candy bars. The taste was enough. I don't crave them and have my mouth water when I see them now. That is the difference. No I don't diet. I eat to live a healthier happier life!!

Congratulations on making it to Onderland! Your hard work has paid off! Lauri