Not to bash the guys, but so funny (and true!!) On the Next Survivor series: Six married men will be dropped on an island with one car and 3 kids each for six weeks. Each kid will play two sports and either take music or dance classes. There is no fast food. Each man must take care of his 3 kids; keep his assigned house clean, correct all homework, complete science projects, cook, do laundry, and pay a list of "pretend" bills with not enough money. In addition, each man will have to budget in money for groceries each week. Each man must remember the birthdays of all their friends andrelatives, and send cards out on time. Each man must also take each child to a doctor's appointment, a dentist appointment and a haircut appointment. He must make one unscheduled and inconvenient visit per child to the Urgent Care (weekend, evening, on a holiday or right when they're about to leave for vacation). He must also make cookies or cupcakes for a social function. Each man will be responsible for decorating his own assigned house, planting flowers outside and keeping it presentable at all times. The men will only have access to television when the kids are asleep and all chores are done. There is only one TV between them, and a remote with dead batteries. Each father will be required to know all of the words to every stupid song that comes on TV and the name of each and every character on cartoons. The men must shave their legs, wear makeup daily, which they will apply to themselves either while driving or making three lunches. Each man will have to make an Indian hut model with six toothpicks, a tortilla and one marker; and get a 4 year old to eat a serving of peas. Each man must adorn himself with jewelry, wear uncomfortable yet stylish shoes, keep their nails polished and eyebrows groomed. The men must try to get through each day without snot, spit-up or barf on their clothing. During one of the six weeks, the men will have to endure severe abdominal cramps, back aches, and have extreme, unexplained mood swings but never once complain or slow down from other duties. They must try to explain what a tampon is for when the 6-yr old boy finds it in the purse. They must attend weekly school meetings, church, and find time at least once to spend the afternoon at the park or a similar setting. He will need to read a book and then pray with the children each night without falling asleep, and then feed them, dress them, brush their teeth and comb their hair each morning by 7:00. They must leave the home with no food on their face or clothes. A test will be given at the end of the six weeks, and each father will be required to know all of the following information: each child's birthday, height, weight, shoe size, clothes size and doctors, each child's favorite color, middle name, favorite snack, favorite song, favorite drink, favorite toy, biggest fear and what they want to be when they grow up. They must clean up after their sick children at 2:00 a.m. and then spend the remainder of the day tending to that child and waiting on them hand and foot until they are better. They must have a loving age appropriate reply to, "You're not the boss of me." The kids vote them off the island based on performance. The last man wins only if...he still has enough energy to be intimate with his spouse at a moment's notice. If the last man does win, he can play the game over and over and over again for the next 18-25 years...eventually earning the right to be called Mother!

Denise - you can do it!!! Really - if I can ~ you can. Don't give in. Take it a minute at a time if you have to. You can have all the soup you want. All the protein drinks you want. Try the Jello SF FF pudding made with FF Carb Countdown. When I was feeling like I was not going to make it, a couple of spoonfuls of that and I was OK. When you want to eat, take a or a !!! You are not allowed at that pity party!! Not unless I can come too, and I'm not going - not today at least!!! Remember, self pity is like a wet diaper. At first, it is warm and comforting. All too soon, it begins to stink. Think of how good it will feel when you are more in control and you see that scale heading in the RIGHT direction!!! Hang in there my friend!! I have faith in you!! Hugs, N.

Afternoon everyone Sorry, I have my grandbaby today and I've been a bit busy. For crunchy - have you tried those Soy Crisps? They're soy protein chips kinda thingys. Pretty good actually and a good alternative to potato chips. I get them at Super Walmart near the rice cakes and such. Maybe try those when you want something crunchy. I'm not sure how many carbs are in them though - but they are higher in protein. Worth checking out. I have a date for my iron infusion!!!!! This Friday at 8am!!! Squee!!! It will take about 6 hours or so to do, so a long day - but worth it. I'll post afterwards to let you all know all the nitty-gritty details of iron infusions. Other than that - I'm freezing, and hanging in there. Generally I'm not feeling great; but it's amazing what some mineral makeup and fixing your hair can cover up. I may feel awful - but I look great! Without the covering up - I look terrible. 'Nuf said. Have a great day everyone. I hear the baby stirring from her nap. Traci

Hey Nancy! Yesterday was another binge day I would like to forget!!! The scale keeps moving the wrong way. This morning I made soup for Day 1 and started Day 1 today! It's 11:26 am in Saint Louis... So far so good. I've got to take this one day at a time. Although I can feel myself mentally marching towards that pity box! Hugs to all my supportive July babies!! Denise

Yikes, not even one M&M????? Oh, Monna, I'm sorry your intolerance to dairy has gotten so bad. I'm sure you've tried the Lactaid pills - they don't help at all? My niece is lactose intolerant and she takes them and does very well. In fact, she seems to be able to tolerate more lactose even without the pills. I guess maybe you should start a list of can's and cannot's - that's what I did right after I had surgery and then had the ulcer. Let us know how the rice protein goes. Finding it must be a celebration for you - I can't imagine how hard it is to get in good amounts of protein without my drinks and bars. Hugs, Nancy