The great news is that your blood sugars are better which is a sure indication that you are on the right track.  Give yourself a pat on the back and back away from the scale, at least for a little while. 

There are lots of ways to measure your progress:  blood sugar, measurements, how you feel and, of course, what the scale is doing.  Post your meal plans and you'll get good feedback from the forum members.  Don't forget to drink water.  Your body uses it to flush the fat from your body.

You have made a great choice to join the FTS family.  They're all hear to be a cheering section.

I'm really glad to see Doug's opinion of "cheat" days.  I know a woman who "takes Saturday off" from her low carb eating and can't figure out why she isn't losing very much weight.  Perpetual sugar cravings can't be worth it.

Is the question of "cheat days" an indication that the person doesn't understand/fully embrace FTS?

Welcome, Jenna58.  I have another pasta substitute:  shredded cabbage.  You can steam it a little bit if you want.  If the sauce is hot, I don't think it's necessary. 

I hope you enjoy the journey to a new you.  Chime in any time. 

Jo,
I'm 59.  I gained weight because of my thyroid problems.  It has been removed so I'm dependent upon thyroid meds for survival.  I tried other ways to lose weight including Weight Watchers.  Nothing worked and I was constantly hungry.  My doctor told me to get the book, join the forum and get serious.  I went off carbs cold turkey and will never go back.  Even my doctor is amazed at my progress in spite of my hypothyroidism fighting against me.

There is new research that shows that the TSH ranges most docs use is too high.  Your doctors are being conservative but I understand how doctor hopping isn't realistic.  If you ever have the chance to have a primary care doctor who is a DO instead of an MD, you may have more luck getting him/her to look at the whole picture, not just the test results.  I'll keep your overall health and well-being on my prayer list.

My husband would waste away to nothing.  He wanted to support me when I got started and he lost 10 pounds and everyone started to ask him if he was sick.  He looked gaunt and it isn't attractive on him.  We have an FTS dinner together but his maintenance carb level is well over 100 per day.  He has made better choices of which carbs he eats, though.

I had to tell him to put the weight back on because one of my goals was to weigh less than him and I didn't want a moving target.  I'm well below that now but I was serious at the time.

I agree with TooSweet that planning ahead is hugely important.  If you are a list maker, write down what you have available and what your menu plan is.  When you are in the midst of a craving is not the time to figure out what you are going to eat.  Food journals are a really good tool and I think it is easier to keep an accurate journal if you do most of the work ahead of time.

If you're not a list maker, try having a separate place (shelf in the refrigerator, corner of the pantry) where you keep your FTS-legal food.  Sorting through the shelves in the midst of a craving can sabotage your efforts.

(I know, Doug, that getting the non-FTS stuff out of the house is better, but sometimes that isn't realistic.)

Cioppino
½ tablespoon Marjoram
¾ teaspoon Sage
½ tablespoon Basil
¾ teaspoon Rosemary
¾ teaspoon Thyme
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
1 clove minced garlic
20 raw clams or mussels
1 large cooked crab
20 raw prawns
1 pound white fish fillets
1 large (~29 ounces) canned tomatoes
2 teaspoons salt
3 ounces tomato paste
6 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon pepper
¾ cup white wine

Mix herbs together to be layered with fish.

Layer fish and herbs in a large pot as follows:
Clams, 1/3 mixed herbs, crab, 1/3 mixed herbs, prawns, remaining herbs, white fish.

In blender, mix all remaining ingredients except wine.  Pour sauce over fish in pot and simmer 45 minutes.  Add wine and simmer 25 minutes more.  Stir Cioppino and serve.

Makes 6 servings.

My husband got this recipe when he took a cooking class in the late 1970s.  He and a friend thought it would be a good way to meet women.  It didn’t work for that but he got a really good recipe out of it.

Do you think this looks okay as it is?  The tomatoes and tomato paste are my concerns but it is so good that it is probably worth budgeting the carbs for.

Wow, Tony!  Great find.