As many of you may know, I suffered a series of computer problems.  I am
back to having my regular desktop and a new Sony Vaio - thanks to the
generosity of my darling boyfriend.  You see, when the desktop crashed, I
ordered a Dell laptop so I could have a second machine.  The specs said it
was 9.1 pounds and when it came in, I could have sworn it was closer to 30.
Too much to carry around.  My darling BF insisted that I send it back and
replaced it with the 4.5 lb Vaio which is a lovely machine.

When I got it, I never bothered to set up Outlook Express to read newsgroups
because I was so busy catching up.  An enormous amount of my work is
computer based, including online education for nurses so it was a
devastating loss to have the crash.

Meanwhile, I am at goal - 115 - down from from 143 on April 24.  I have been
following the South Beach Diet (as best as I can follow anything) and
walking four miles most mornings.  I feel great.  Shopping is fun.  Trying
to figure out new ways to increase calories without suffering the sugar
cravings is exciting.  I keep thinking I am overdoing it but the scale
occasionally goes down to 113 and 114 and I am already having problems
finding clothes that fit.  Talk about going from the sublime to the
rediculous.  I used to shop the 'regular' stores hoping that something in a
12 or 14 or extra large would fit.  Now, I am in a size one pants at the gap
and Old Navy and The Limited.

I am still at about 25 percent body fat.  I would like to be closer to 20
without losing or gaining any weight   Does this seem reasonable?  Today I
will  visit a personal trainer.  I delayed doing any real strength work
other than sit ups and push ups until I got to goal so that I can eat enough
not to be wasting my time.  I have also agreed to play tennis at a level
higher than I am accustomed to in the fall.  I think the personal trainer
will be good for increasing my strength and power on the court.

The most exciting thing is that my fasting blood sugar is down, my energy
levels are up and on the rare occasion that I do indulge in something sweet,
I no longer embark on the Merry Go Round of insulin dependence.  It was only
in the last ten pounds that I lost weight anywhere besides my gut.  30
pounds may not be a lot for some people but consider that I lost ten inches
from around my waist.  That should tell you disproportionate my weight was.

Wish me well on my latest endeavor.  I really, really don't like resistance
training but maybe Jimmy, the trainer, can make it fun for me.

Julianne