speaking of diets and whatnot. Is there a group of us who are actively trying to not just eat better/be more active, but lose weight and/or size? I am thinking about a group willing to be pretty active with posting/tracking/sharing in a closed group somewhere.

I'll also post in the Buffistas kicking health's ass group.

Susan W. will probably want to.

My uncle told me it was type A that needed the meat when I was telling him I would actually love to be vegetarian, but I feel like I am going to kill someone for meat when I try, even if I get "enough" protein from other sources. He is a health vegan not an ethical vegan, whereas I am ethically sympatico, but after about five days I start looking at my coworkers and thinking about how tasty they look. I feel like a lion wanting to take down a gazelle!

I successfully went vegetarian for eight years, and I put on 60 pounds. I like meat, but I didn't miss it very much. It was just something I didn't eat anymore. When I went on Atkins for a couple of years and ate all the meat I wanted, I peeled off all the extra pounds. I seriously missed the carbs. The weight loss wasn't sustainable (I'm not in that lucky 5% of dieters who keep the pounds off), and a few years later all the weight was back, plus. No idea if that fits in with B+.

We're still at the anecdata stage.

This is almost entirely subjective; we're never getting out of the anecdata stage.

I've decided it's all so individual and there're so many variables, successful weight loss might as well be magic.

PS I didn't keep the weight off, because I cracked and had a potato or something! I did end up stopping trying to lose weight, because every time I did I gained it back plus 20, so I figured I should stop around 220, and now I just try to eat in a healthier manner and make sure I get my veggies!

The salad-heavy everything else-light diet has been working (slooooowly) for me the last six months. It has the virtue of being sustainable indefinitely since I'm not really depriving myself of anything, just being watchful.

Atkins always worked for a couple months and then plateaued for me, though I actually find it easier to stick to an extreme no-margin-for-error diet than just sensible portion control. I am not trading bananas and grain-based snacks for Charlie horses and constipation if I'm not showing continued weight loss in the bargain.

O+ and seriously overweight. I haven't eaten meat in about 30 years, and honestly I was super skinny when I did. I may love the carbs and fruits and veggies, but they may not love me. Still I can't imagine going back to being a carnivore so I just have to be choosier with my carbilicious choices.

Timelies all!

I seem to have angered the traffic gods somehow, if the last few days are any indication.

I actually find it easier to stick to an extreme no-margin-for-error diet than just sensible portion control.

Oh, me too. The more regimented the diet the easier it is for me up until I just can't take it anymore. And when I go off the plan, I really go off. Atkins is sort of a happy medium for me that I can sustain for many months, even years, although currently I am rather tired of it and wanting something else.

I don't think I'll ever be a person who just never eats refined sugar again, (or red meat or whatever). I'm not even willing to commit to never eating white potatoes again and I'm legit allergic. Sometimes it's worth the risk.

-t, I had no idea you have thalassemia. I have another friend who has a severe version of it. She wasn't supposed to live past 18 and she is in her 40s now.

I'm at the airport, eating dinner and waiting for my flight home from this crappy trip. Well, work wise I accomplished what I came out here for. My asthma is on a hair trigger so I keep reminding myself to go slow, take long, slow, deep breaths, and I'll be home soon.