My hair has become very dry and brittle. Any suggestions as to vitamins or suppliments that can help that? Thanks in advance. Nona

Hi there Elaine, I am trying to eat a high protein diet. My cholestrol was 228. I do eat alot of mayo to moisten my food. I am back drinking my Atkins Advantage drink at least once a day. I am trying to be good Have a great day.....Lorraine

My LDL was 110 and my good cholesterol was 149. My PCP says for a high protein diet that is good. But I am concerned about the LDL. That shouldn't be over 80. So I cut down on the red meat and upped the shakes. It's now 92. I'm still working on it. Menu for today: am shake b-fast, 1c cottage cheese, low fat, 1 low carb tortilla, and two oz low fat sharp cheese spread. snack:apple lunch: 2oz pork chop, 1/2 c brown rice, 1/2 cauliflower with low fat cheese sause (leftovers from supper) snack:shake supper: 3oz chicken and a salad w/bleu cheese dressing, just 2tbsp, but its Maries,(yum) IF I have dessert, its a sf/ff/ popcicle or fudgecicle. It's about 1000 calories. Nona

Shannon, So good to see you ! Sounds like you're still as busy as ever, isnt it great being able to keep up with the hectic pace? , unlike before when we were draggin around all the extra cargo to boot. Best of luck with the new niece/nephew and I hope things work out for you and your husband as well (baby-wise) .. and I'm sure you will look fabulous at the wedding ! Elaine

Hello everyone! All is well here in Pittsburgh. Winter has been strange weather this year....no snow on the ground!!! School is going well. I have 2 rotations left and then I am finished the end of April!!! My job at the Sleep Lab is going well so far. I don't get to work often enough to feel completely comfortable with everything yet but I hope in the next month that will change. I am working a bit more than normal over Spring Break in hopes that I will have a chance to get the routine down pat. Right now I only get 1-2 days/week but it isn't consistent. This weekend I head to my Sister In Law's wedding in Virginia. She is ~15 weeks preggers and due mid August. They planned to get married in October but decided to move it up when they got the unexpected news. In Laws aren't thrilled but it is toooooo late now! ;( I bought the cutest black dress with lavendar sweater/satin sash in a SIZE 10!!! whooo hooo ...and it is almost too loose when I wear it with my body slimmer now! Especially in the BOOBS!! UGH These saggy deflated bags are gonna kill me! I don't remember ever hating trying on bras before to this degree! I am wearing Medium tops or Petite Larges and 10-12 bottoms depending on fit or Petite. I love it when LARGE bottoms are too big!!!! Best feeling in the world! I am weighing in at 146.2 this morning and according to my Tanita Body Fat Scale-- 35% body fat. I can eat 2193 calories a day to maintain my current weight. (according to the scale) I would say I eat more than most of you. I probably get on average 1500 calories a day. Some more...some less just depends upon the snacking urges. Some days are better than others but I know that I don't go over my maintain calories number. I plan to lose 6.2 more lbs. Wanting that 140 number!!! But I am just letting it happen on its own. I got down to 148 in the beginning of December and then it went back up to 151/150 a few days later for about 2 months for no particular reason. I think the 148 was a fluke that day!! But with me eating even more than I recall from before Xmas...this past month I have lost 4 lbs. I am definitely NOT doing anything to create this weight loss. I am eating all the wrong things, not getting in my water, drinking more caffeine filled coffee than I ever did and the only exercise I get is working at the hospital (I do try to take the stairs more often than ever in my life!!!!). My doctor at my 1 year check up didn't care ....I was happy with the way I look in my clothes....I told her I did want to lose 10 more lbs but that if it didn't happen --no big deal. They know I plan to attempt getting pregnant starting in May/June and said don't worry! They said to try after the baby. So if I lose the 6 lbs between now and then....great! But then I plan to get FAT on purpose and the # won't matter for a while. I will be making an appointment with the Nutritionist when the time comes to learn how to get in my extra needed calories etc for the baby. I am already taking Prenatal vitamins in replacement of my Flintstones plus the required addtl iron, Vit C and Calcium. I stopped my birth control the end of December in hopes of seeing IF and when I have a normal period. I have been on BC since August 1991- the day I started college. I was only off for 2 months last DEC/JAN for surgery. So far...no major issues. I see my OBGYN Mid March. I got my Jan period around the 28th but started late last night for this month. That only makes for 3 weeks...but the Jan period was only about 2 1/2 days. I hate not knowing what to expect. I never had a regular period when I was in high school. Didn't have any problems but it wasn't on a regular cycle either. Maybe 4 weeks, 6wks etc...wasn't every other month though so I am not too worried about PCOS. I hope I don't have conception issues. I am not sure how willing I am or what drastic measures I will go to have a child. I am not "desperate" to have children at this point in my life. The idea is growing on me since it is more of a reality now. But I think we would adopt first before we spend years of medical poking/prodding like several of my friends who are still childless. I was actually quite upset that my SIL got preggers (she is 22 and not mentally, financially, or ever healthy enough --always sick-- to be reproducing!!!) ...my In Laws were VERY VERY upset and it really bothered me because I was hoping that their 32 yr old responsible son would be the first one to give them the much desired Grandchild. BUT like MOTHER like Daughter... my hubby was 3 months premature if you know what I mean! And to top it all off they do not like the future Hubby at all. I was really surprised that it would bother me that we didn't give them the first grandchild. We will most likely have the first on my side of the family but they aren't bugging us for them like the hubby's side is. I know his sister will be a very loving mother but it is going to be a HUGE struggle for them and my husband and are I concerned about her future. The 2 of them don't have many common sense brain cells OR intelligence brain cells to rub together. But she is and has always been BABY crazy!!! But you can't live on LOVE alone. Can you? They are 14+ hours away or an expensive last minute flight from both sides of the family if they need help. We worry about her even as aggravating as she can be! I hope to have some new pictures after the wedding! I am getting a fancy updo!!! I hope to look MAHVELOUS!!!!!