We went to The Heartland Diner south of town for lunch, to celebrate the first day of snow here. It's a perfect greasy-spoon diner, with all homemade food and lots of truckers and farmers in their seed caps and coveralls. Very real, very down-home.
 
I had my usual cheeseburger with mustard and chips-no-fries. Not a big problem, right?
 
Then, my friend Cheryl and I started talking about how great it would be to have a biscuit with gravy… and … well, we ordered one. BUT I only was going to eat a bite or two of it, just to have a taste. Then after we finished lunch we sat around visiting and it wasn’t until I got halfway home that I turned to my friends in horror and said, “OMIGOD!!! I just ate chips dipped in white gravy. I scooped all the gravy off that biscuit with my chips and ate every bit. I ate potato chips dipped in GRAVY!!!”
 
I feel so polluted.

  Janice Taylor on New Morning, Hallmark Channel with Timberly Whitfield.  Click here to watch this segment of the show.  Woo Hoo!  A VIDEO!!! 

Get JIGGY withOur Lady of Weight Loss
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Ingredients:  penne, one lb. box * 1 tablespoon butter * 2 cloves garlic, chopped * 2 large leeks, chopped * white wine, two splashes * 3 ozs. goat's cheese * shelled walnuts, chopped into pieces * parsley leaves

Instructions: Place penne is large pot of boiling salted water and cook.  I know you know how to make pasta!! * In a large saucepan, melt the butter * add garlic and leeks, saute for 4 to 5 minutes * spash in the white wine * cook until the wine has reduced * add to pasta * crumble in goat's cheese, walnuts * give a good stir and garnish with parsley (if you like)

Dear OLofWL ~  I want to start of by saying that I read your book and love it!  I have been overweight all my life and at the age of 26 (about 9 months ago), I was standing at 5 feet 2 inches and weighed almost 190 pounds. Your book helped me stay motivated, knowing there were other women who went through the same thing I did. Today, I am 161 pounds and counting. I need to get down another 30 pounds or so.

I have a very technical question :-)  I have been plateauing for the last 4-5 months around the 163-160 pound mark. Hmmm...it is frustrating..and I know in theory that this is normal.  Any suggestions? Thank you for the inspiration! ~ Sujata

Dear Sujata ~ Plateauting happens to the best of us.  Yes, I hit a plateau that lasted quite some time, and I am happy to say that the scale finally caught up with me and 'paid' me what it 'owed' me.  Here are a few suggestions that can help to move you forward:

If you bite it, you must write it * change your pattern of eating (if 3 meals a day; switch to 5 mini-meals or visa versa) * watch your white sugar/white rice/white flour intake (I'm not saying to do a low-carb plan, just get rid of the stuff that's not good for you) * shake your booty a bit more * try a new activity * drink plenty of water * watch your sodium intake.

Hope that's helpful. A study by the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences of The University of Vermont found that web-based support programs are as effective as traditional face-to-face meetings - so be sure to keep in touch with us; let us know how you are doing.  We are with you every inch of the weigh. ~ OLofWL

Dear OLofWL ~ I ordered four of the All Is Forgiven, Move On mission bracelets.  One for myself and three for friends - not necessarily because of problems with weight loss but because of depression.  Depression causes feelings of guilt, and we need to move on.  Wearing the bracelet reminds us of this. ~ KS

Dear KS ~ I'm thrilled that you and your friends have found that the AIF-MOVE ON wristband has helped to move you through your depression and feelings of guilt. When we are experiencing guilt, we are essentially withholding love from ourselves. So, yes, let it go - MOVE ON and love yourself. Thank you for sharing. ~ OLofWL

* * * 

Dear OLofWL ~ I had a fight with my husband (all his fault).  Not so bad, but still - HE just couldn't leave the 'issue' alone.  Finally, I took my All Is Forgiven, Move On wristband off my wrist and slipped it onto his!  We had a good laugh.  So thanks for helping me make peace at home!!  These wristbands are multi-purposed! ~ Sandi M.

Dear Sandi ~ We (Janice and OLofWL) are getting such a 'kick' knowing that the wristbands are not only helping people 'move on' in terms of their weight loss goals, but in a multitude of ways that we had not imagined.  Keep on thinking 'out of the forgiveness box.' ~ OLofWL

Want to 'Chew the Fat?'write OLofWL