Thankyou so much for responding to me...this is without a doubt the hardest time of my life!  Someone said that God sent a "mysterious potato (jicama) to me in the supermarket as a way to find you guys and you know, I think you are right!  There are no coincidences and maybe he saw the suffering and said, well, she likes to cook new things, but will never know what to do with it and voila!  There was Doug making food in his backyard? (It looked like Key Largo-I LOVE the Keys-another connection!)  So God was listening and knew I would try the Internet instead of a cookbook!  And at least he didn't hit me on the head with it!

The other miracle is that Doug responded immediately!  And then others...gee that felt good.  Not an auto-reply, but a promise that "I've (we've) got you.  WOW! WAS THAT POWERFUL!!!  I have walked three times in one week since then and have shopped for the "tray" of healthy snacks to pick on because although I am a gardener, and cook from what is in the garden...in emotional times sweets call my name.  Carrots and celery and other things work though as long as they are right there and do not take prep time!

So I am listening and VERY grateful for your support.  Baby steps are ok, but life changes are in order.  A friend said to give up to God the things I cannot control and this is what I am doing "just for today" with the Serenity Prayer as well.  Thankyou! Love, Kathe 

I got VERY shakey and kept feeling the same as "going low", hypoglycemic!  I do not like this feeling and feel that it isn't safe.  What am I doing wrong?  And I thought Ketosis is dangerous and not good for your kidneys.

 :'(Subject: Help?
 

Dear Doug,
 
     Where to start.  I stumbled on your book when I Googled recipes for Jicama.  I watched a few of your videos, ordered the book immediately and read it this AM!
 
     I was not a FAT kid-always slim throughout childhood, teenage years and early adulthood.  I lost most of the weight after the brith of each of my three sons fairly easily, without any more effort than a simple walk every day.  I too, am a writer and an artist AND a TAXI driver, with many sedentary hours. I LOVE gardening-vegetables and herbs which I cook with in all foods.  I do not eat or serve my family processed foods or have a lot of junk and RARELY-fast foods!
 
     After the birth of my fourth and fifthe children (two girls), however, EVERYTHING CHANGED!  I had gestational diabetes with the fourth only and gained 55 lbs I never really lost.  On Weightwatchers w the 5th child, I gained only 35 lbs, loosing very little.  So I went in about 12 years from weighing 98-104lbs to 160,170,180 to 219 where I am now.  At 5'2", well it is FAT!  I have tried exercising, diets etc, only to loose the same 10lbs.  All of the sacrificing and time spent does not seem worth a few pounds over the course of many months of discipline.  I always give up and feel ashamed.
 
     My husband/best friend of 31 years left me, disgusted over my appearance-he moved in with a young, thin Brazilian woman who has no children, no cellulite and whose sole hobby is him.  I have never cried so much in my entire life and believe him when he says it was my own fault.
 
     The bottom line is, I need to get healthy (I have Type 2 Diabetes that is untreated as yet).  My best friend says I should loose weight as the best revenge, but honestly, I couldn't do it with his constant criticism, and revenge is not really for me.  ( I am a very busy person with a commissioned portrait business, and three kids and a grandson still at home.  I have recently been nominated as an Honorary Rotary Member because of my service hosting Gift of Life Children.  And to combat feeling crappy, my daughters and I signed up to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and a local Soup Kitchen.
 
     Do you think this change in eating-eliminating sugars will work for me?  Do you have any suggestions?  I am desperate for support and encouragement....man does that sound wimpy...but it is true.
 
     Please, if you have some ideas, I would love to hear them.  Should I join WWatchers but use you cooking methods?
 
                                                                   Sincerely,
 
 
                                                                   Jilted in Jersey