Chillin' in Cali

Just spent some time with Little Man, Beth, and Dom. What a treat. It was so nice to go and experience central Cali weather, fresh produce from the farmers' market, great cooking by everyone I encountered, fun shopping, beautiful beaches, and lots of fun games!

We stayed up way too late, chatted up a storm, and just had a wonderful time. My only complaint? Not long enough. But I kept thinking how the boys (all 3) would love it there, and that next time we shall have to drive there and spend more time.

Thanks to Beth, Dom, and Aidan for being excellent hosts. Come stay with us soon, won't you? I also took some pictures of their home so we can copy them in our remodel. ;)

The final diet update

I weighed in this morning at 168.8, which is great because I've dropped off the "extreme" protein and am eating just a normal diet now, sans sugar, except in moderate doses. I've fluctuated between 168 and 170, and am happy. Would I like to weigh less? I suppose, but I feel healthy and am still working out and striving for a healthier lifestyle, and so am good with where I am. I don't plan to post regarding this again unless something exciting happens. :)

As a side note, I found this bit of information helpful, albeit not really unexpected. Gonna go get me some (well, except for the wine and tea, of course)! This is taken from the South Beach web site:

20 Unexpected Antioxidant-Rich Foods
There's been a lot of press lately on the benefits of antioxidants, the cell-protecting nutrients found in a wide range of foods that help combat heart disease, cancer, the effects of aging, and other conditions. To help you add more disease-fighting antioxidants to your diet, we’ve created this quick, alphabetical list of 20 foods you may not have realized are excellent sources of antioxidants.

Note: To get the most from your meals, be sure to eat a wide variety of these foods. Those listed are recommended for all Phases, except fruits, dark chocolate, wine, and sweet potatoes, which you can enjoy starting in Phase 2.

Apples (Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Delicious, with skin)
Artichokes (cooked)
Beans (black, red kidney, pinto, dried)
Blackberries
Blueberries (cultivated, wild)
Cherries (sweet)
Chocolate (dark)
Cranberries
Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, brussels sprout, cauliflower, kale)
Pecans
Plums (black, red)
Pomegranates
Prunes
Raspberries
Strawberries
Sweet potatoes
Tea (black, green, white, oolong)
Tomatoes
Walnuts
Wine (red)