Weight loss... It is so hard when food is my biggest vice! I need a little but overall I just need to get back into shape. We do have a gym in our apartment complex we just moved into and I plan to make use of it. Now I just need someone to keep me in check and to watch what I eat.

I have been on a pseudo low-carb diet (mainly avoiding bread, pasta, rice, potatoes) - and its worked really well for me. Sadly I have always been a carb junkie, so it was difficult in the beginning - but once my body adjusted its been easy to stick with it.

I used to count calories and worked out in the gym, but that did almost nothing for me. With this diet I've lost over 80 lbs - so I think the key is to find a diet that works for you and stick with it - all of us are different. Although if Jay is a really good cook - dieting might be difficult.

Thanks for your comments. I am happy with my weight loss so far - going from obese to just now overweight - still have 25 lbs to lose though.

I understand the carb thing. I would go eat Indian food and eat mostly naan, I never thought I could live without pasta, rice, breads, etc. The trick is going to be how to I re-intergrate those back into my life.

I think a diet is a very personal thing. I have tried so many diets that worked for others and had no affect on me. I would never assume my diet would work on anyone else. Sounds like your diet is working for you - 20lbs - great work.

comparing gardens...

pumpkins: 3 varieties @ 2 ea. (jack-o-lanterns, atlantic giants, baby-boos <white>) all thriving and i couldn't be happier. hello, carving contests!
zucchini: 6? can't remember. all thriving. hello, zucchini bread!
watermelon: 2 doing ok
bell peppers: 4 doing ok. slated for salsa. makes me bummed we don't have onions.
jalapeno: 1 doing ok. i won't eat them, though.
cucumber: might be down to 2. june rain seems to have killed a couple. pretty bummed that they're struggling. had high hopes for these suckers.
eggplant: 2 doing ok. i've never eaten eggplant. this might be a reason to try.
tomato: 9. 8 doing awesome, 1 struggling. not sure how we're gonna use all these suckers when ripe.
rosemary: 1. going to be a while before this little one can thrive.
basil: 1 doing ok.

I miss yoooooooooooooooooou.

That school and work schedule sounds nuts. Good luck with the eating healthier. It's so much easier to eat better when you stay home than when you go out. I'm sure you can do it though