It's taken me about three years to retrain my palate to expect and appreciate fewer carbs and sugars. But I really don't crave sugar the way I used to. I didn't really believe that was going to happen, but as I say, years. It's totally worth it.

Felicitations, bonny, on the Anniversary of Your Natal Day! May there be many more to celebrate.

Bitters! Fancy flavored bitters! Cardamom bitters and about two drops of rose syrup in soda water is delicious.

Oh, that sounds delicious. juliana gave me a taste of some chocolate bitters at one of her restaurants once, and it was amazing. But cardamom may be even better.

Do bitters taste anything like fernet? They sound like they should. I have memories of my parents' bar including bitters but I don't think I ever tasted it (them?).

Trudy, but even then, some people can't do it for 4 weeks. I know what you mean, because I was on modified Atkins for 6 weeks years ago.

It's just a peeve with me. It was the most effective diet (not just weight loss but I felt REALLY good) I've personally been on and if I could manage it pescatarianly I'd still do it.

if I could manage it pescatarianly I'd still do it.

Tim recently got an official evaluation for ADD (diagnosis: yes indeed, he has it), because he just really wanted the medical seal of authenticity on his diagnosis. Anyway, the psychiatrist who did his evaluation talked about non-drug ways to help ADD symptoms. She was very big on dietary changes (hence the goal to get off sugar). But she said that they recommend lots of veggies and meat. Dairy is bad, grains are bad, all starches are bad, and oh lordy is sugar bad.

Well. He's a vegetarian (with exceptions for shrimp and scallops), so "veggies and meat" become 90% veggies. That's really not what I would call balanced. With no dairy (why no dairy? that's so weird), he would get virtually no protein. Plus, he works a really physically demanding job, so I think some damn carbs are called for. Me, I sit in an office chair 8 hours a day and my muscles don't need a lot of fuel, so I could cut back on the starches. But his muscles need some ready fuel. I'm not saying he's an athlete, but his job is physically demanding, and I can't imagine telling an athlete to eat only veggies and meat and oh my god no starches. That would be HELL on them.

was it beth above who said eating frequently helped her? I actually think that I felt better when I did that as well (and part of Atkins to nod to Trudy). It may be that Tim can cut down on sugar, but even things out so he doesn't have 3 large fries and a baked potato in one sitting (exaggeration, but you get my point).

He may not have a lot of latitude with breaks at work though. I don't know.

That's no fun for Tim. Ugh.

One thing from my Atkins days that I can still use is the awareness of what is going on with my blood sugar -- when I stopped bouncing it around so much I really liked that feeling.

So now if I start to feel it drop I'll eat some protein (when I'm good and have nuts on me). Or if I do indulge in something simple-carby I will also eat protein to prevent the hard spike -- cookies with milk exist for a reason!

He may not have a lot of latitude with breaks at work though. I don't know.

He has less latitude than I do with a desk job (sometimes he doesn't eat lunch until 3:30 if an unscheduled customer shows up with a load of scrap), but I think he could keep nuts or something at work to eat.

even things out so he doesn't have 3 large fries and a baked potato in one sitting (exaggeration, but you get my point).

Naw, that's me. (I loves me some potatoes.) His lunches are usually a veggie burger on a bagel (possibly with salsa as a condiment), some cubes of cheddar, baby carrots, and 2 clementines. So fairly well-balanced. But his psychiatrist would have that lunch cut down to...baby carrots. *Maybe* the veggie burger if it wasn't too starchy.

I think people should eat what they want. I'm no one's food police. I think it's probably a good thing if people eat what makes them feel physically good. People can be physically healthy and eat starches. I read it on the internet.

Yeah, Tim can't just eat baby carrots. Meat really does simplify a lot of things portability-wise - you can only eat so many hard boiled eggs.

And I say that as a person who REALLY likes hard boiled eggs.

Andi, good memory! I am home from surgery; all went well. Tired, sore and loopy.

Thanks for well wishes! Must rest now...