You guys are really doing great! Keep it up! I only check in once in awhile on this thread to see if you've strayed off topic because I am nosey. Since a "skinflint" childhood (as my older cousin called me, and a rather pudgy adolescence, I have been LUCKY enough not to have problems maintaining a level weight with more than a little effort at times. With each child (4) I breast fed and that made it easier to lose the weight after pregnancy, but then I never gained more than 25-30 pounds. Then, at other times when I would put it on, I found that if I walk 11 miles per week at a pretty fast clip of 4 to 4.25 mph (0% grade) on the treadmill, I can lose a pound a week without changing my diet. Now that I am sedentary (not very good for my health, I'm just lazy physically!) somehow with this came a lesser appetite. When I go out to dinner with my gal friends, at the end of the meal I look at my plate and theirs. Mine is usually still half there, and the ones with weight concerns are empty. It really is all about consumption and exercise. I take my hat off to each and every one of you for your successes so far!! And especially to Chip, because I share that addiction to smoking. It is the one challenge in my life that I regret not having the discipline to beat. My children just attended the funeral today of a family relative who died of lung cancer. So if you hold guilt every time you pick up a candy or bread, breathe easy knowing that all of us have our demons. Every cigarette I light, I think "You stupid person, how can you do this to yourself?!" Good luck to everyone, this seems to be a great support group! One more added benefit of lct!