Was sorry to hear about your heart 💗 attack, but happy to know you are on the road to recovery.  Unfortunately some medical issues defy eating well.  Some of us may be large but relatively healthy while I've heard fit athletes who eat well and exercise lots having heart issues, and people with low cholesterol who also have heart issues.  Cholesterol numbers are only an indicator not a certainty.  You just never know, so you just do your best.  You'll be back on your feet in no time and working out a good balance for what works for you.

The missing word for some reason was calcium......one of the highest rates of calcium for vegetables

Has anyone ever tried cooking/eating cauliflower leaves? 
I  hadn't ever thought about it until now.

Hi all - so how is everyone's NY resolutions going?
Mine are/is going along nicely  thank you 

Happy New Year one and all.....have a safe, healthy and happy 2018.

Many of us will be making resolutions and taking stock of our lives and our health.

I think the No 1 resolution is usually one of "losing weight".  Always a good start.
Strike while the iron is hot and be determined to see it through.   I am committed to see the end of my weight struggles this year.  I'm so done of being a "yo-yo".  I didn't start on 1 January, I restarted mid October - just after my birthday.  So far I have lost 8kg (17lb).   Not bad since I'm post menopausal.  My age is another issue because I have to talk myself out of the "I'm too old - why bother" - "everything won't shrink back" .  No it won't and I won't be miraculously young again either.  But if I had found this lifestyle years ago, it would have made a huge difference then.

I have been on and off F2S for a few years now...think I started in 2012.  I have always done well when I commit to this lifestyle - unfortunately life got in the way and I have fallen off many times, BUT  I have always climbed back on and continued.  Sometimes being so disheartened by putting on the weight I had lost.   

It's not that I find it hard to follow this lifestyle but the fact that I couldn't cope with events that had me returning to old habits.

The positive, and yes there is a positive, is that I know what to do.   I know how to substitute, I know how to cook almost carb free,  I have learned coping skills and I know that unless I give "permission" to myself to fail (by having something I know is so bad for me) I CANNOT FAIL.

I don't cry over 'spilt milk' and fall off the wagon because something unexpected happened - for example,  I went out for coffee with a friend and had an almond milk latte and then when I finished I found out that they used sweetened almond milk at 9 carbs/250ml.   That's almost half my daily intake of 20 carbs.  I would have had black with cream if I had of known.  My bad - I should have checked beforehand but cafe was sooooo busy, I assumed they used same brand as the other cafe.....

Word of advice - NEVER ASSUME!!!!!!

I have to adjust what I was planning on having for dinner....sigh.

So everyone,  know it is never too late and it doesn't matter if your skin ends up being  a bit loose.  It too can be fixed - it's up to you as to how.  Exercise helps and surgery if it doesn't.  It depends on what you can live with.  But, firstly, you have to lose it 

One step at a time.....what's the saying? - a journey of a 1000 miles starts with one step.  You just have to take that step.....

Just remember, there is always someone here to help....take care everyone.

Update....my mind told me a big fat NO.  I did take a slice. I ate the unsweetened whipped cream and the strawberries on top.    I was proud of myself.

The cherries were the problem though.  I had a few but didn't realise how many carbs were involved.  Was somewhat surprised.  Still better than eating pavlova (commercially made base).

Wouldn't it be nice if everything just sucks back in.... maybe in another time and dimension.....sigh

Well, needless to say, Christmas is coming along at a cracking pace - 37 days (omgosh) I didn't realise how close until I looked it up just now.

Planning is everything.  Sometimes you can wing it and hope it all turns out alright, but it's better if you have a Plan B (or C, D, E - you get my drift).  Most people have ham or turkey which is easy (watch out for honey or sugar glazing though).  I always turn up with something I have prepared - especially in the dessert section.  Whilst  you can usually get away with something on offer from the mains section, few people cater for our lifestyle - thinking fruit salad is good for those watching their weight.  Actually I've know people to throw in a tin of syrup laden fruit into the fresh fruit and adding marshmellows.  lol

I usually take mini cheesecakes which everyone loves, especially when I tell them it's sugarfree.  Then I can easily have 1 or 2 with some whipped cream (watch out for the added sugar variety) without drama.   I make a nice almond meal sponge cake with whipped cream and sf choc ganache also. 

Anyone got some helpful ideas???