I don't have a passport and have never been out of the country, much as I would like to. It irks that after nearly four years of living *thisclose* to Canada and not getting up there, *now* I would need a passport to do it, too.

I'm just telling myself that eating less is probably about the same for me as for people who are trying to quit smoking. It's hard, but it can be done. It's frustrating to always want to eat.

The thing is, it's not like quitting smoking, in that you can quit smoking entirely. Eating, not so much.

I'm with Hec with the exception that most of the waiters we encoutered were also lovely helpful people. Some of them even let me speak broken horrible French at them.

I am willing to give France another try. DH probably won't but I do want to try to wipe that day off the books entirely, if possible. Perhaps with a Franco-speaking Buffista as a guide the experience would be super fun!

We were only in Paris for one day, but every person we encountered was lovely. We were expecting rudeness at every turn but it didn't happen. Of course, as we were leaving we decided that even if we were treated like shit, it would be worth it to be in Paris. What a beautiful place.

Perhaps with a Franco-speaking Buffista as a guide the experience would be super fun!

Reason #53 to move back to Paris...

Meh, I'm a HUGE JERK, so I think Paris won't bug me at all.

And I think I could get some scientists at the Observatoire to at least grudgingly meet me for lunch off the beaten track.

Motivation for weight loss , or anyother health improvement is complex. ( BTW, I do not believe that weight loss = health improvement)

reasons why I want to lose weight include better blood sugar numbers and less getting in my own way. More clothing options are my vanity reason.

But day to day motivation changes. and sometimes there is none.

And I lose weight very slowly. and I gain muscle faster. So the scale isn't my friend

In short, as long as your motivation is positive for you , and you are willing to recognize how your body works -- good for you

I'm not always sure that it is possible to eat less. sometimes eating less slows metabolism.

I think I'm going to do a fish fry for supper. I got some lovely Canadian bluegill fillets I need to prep.

Paris left me with mixed feelings. We did meet rude people -- who seemed annoyed when we tried to speak french. but most people were just people. I don't think I get the Paris mystique. There were other places I went that I like better