ah one thing i forgot from my weekend binge update was to mention that next week I'm off to italy for 3 days for work. Has anyone been there while dieting? I'm also veggie so not sure how to avoid all the usual foods...please advise!

You will find it easier to follow your plan there than you might think. I grew up in Germany and have vacationed in Italy quite a few times. Here in the USA people associate Italian food with pasta - that is a very small part of Italian cuisine. Pasta is mostly just a part of the meal, not a meal in itself. You will find a wide variety of veggies offered there (usually combined with a piece of meat, but I'm sure you can get around that). If you are a coffee drinker, be aware that their coffee is much stronger than American coffee. It is brewed Espresso style.

Do you eat any fish at all? There are great fish dishes there.

Italy - you will have so much fun

Be cautious though, there are many pickpockets. Buy a moneybelt - the best investment you can make.

Most of all, HAVE FUN!

Never give up! Never surrender!

Katrin