I tried so hard to make it through the holidays without going off my diet. I made it through the parties, the Christmas Eve get together with family and Christmas Day. At those activities, I ate some things and was very careful BUT I did not eat sweets or junk food. It is very hard to guage how much one is eating at these functions. BUT on the day AFTER Christmas I decided to start eating the leftover cookies, chocolate, etc. Trust me to make it through the hard part and cave in when there is no pressure from other people, just myself. So I decided to eat my sweets for a few days and then get back on. I managed for 3 months to stick with it so why couldn't I just get back on it? That is the hard part. It takes approximately 21 to 30 days to get refined sugar out of one's system. So with that I will have to start over. I wasn't losing really fast anyway, only 1/2 to 3/4 of a pound a week. I used to lose faster than that when I was younger but one's metabolism slows down as we get older. I also joined the YMCA a month ago which sure helped me to feel better, working out daily. So altogether, in 3 months, I've lost 13 1/2 pounds--not a record lost but at least it's something. But I think I need to scale back my eating somewhat--not starving oneself but I could cut back a little and maybe the weight would come off easier. Let's face it--it is easier to stay with it when one is losing weight at a faster rate. Obviously, losing too fast isn't healthy but at the same time, having extra weight on one's frame isn't healthy either. So on to a NEW YEAR!