If, like me, you can look back at the many diet plans you tried over the years you may recall how you felt when you found a plan where you actually started losing weight and your clothes started fitting better. There was this feeling of. WOW, I'm actually doing this and it's working. Remember that feeling of re-gaining your self esteem - feeling more in CONTROL? But, then after losing a few pounds and feeling cocky about it you gradually started re-introducing those very things that made you fat - and pretty soon, boom!, back to square one - or worse. This forum is about sustainable weight loss and how to achieve it. I want you to have that feeling of control and I want you to like yourself ALL the time. Don't accept that you are overweight and there is nothing you can do about it. Don't utter those awful words to yourself that kill any chance of a better life "well, I'm fat and that's what I am." Bullcarb!

I keep washed and fresh celery in foil in the fridge to use as dipping scoops for this recipe or I use those terrific parmesan cheese wafers which satisfy the crunchy urge that seems to come over me frequently. This is a filling salad that can be inserted in a scooped-out tomato, set atop a bed of lettuce or eaten by itself.

Two large cans of Chicken of the Sea Albacore Tuna - drained

One can of Maria's quartered artichoke hearts - chopped

Five stalks of fresh celery - chopped or sliced to suit

Enough Mayo to suit your desired texture - remember Mayo is just about carb free and if you can stand the taste use low-fat Mayo

Salt & Pepper to taste

Dash of curry - less than quarter teaspoon

Teaspoon of Dill weed

Three hard boiled eggs - chopped

Finely shredded mozzarella cheese - about 1 cup

1/2 cup Macadamia nut pieces if desired

Mix all ingredients in a serving bowl that has a tight lid or a tupperware container so that you can munch on this later. If kept cold it will keep for 3-4 days without getting soggy or stale. If it has been sitting for a while stir with a fork to mix. Serving size is an ice cream scoop full containing less than 4 net carbs.

This is a photo from the April 5th, Nashville Tennessean of Christian Golczynski, son of SSgt Marcus Golczynski, a Marine killed in action in Iraq on March 27th. Presenting the flag at SSgt Golczynski's funeral in Nashville is Lt Col. Ric Thompson. Many readers have been touched by this photograph depicting a child doing his best to act like a man. SSgt Golczynski was just short of finishing up his second tour of Iraq when he was killed.

He explained the reason for his second tour to his son shortly before his death in this way, "we fight and sometimes die so our families don't have to." By the look on Christians face here it looks as though he is trying his best to remember his Dad's words. 

I really hate to see things like this. It makes me feel like nothing has changed. This little ditty was purportedly written on a Marine barracks door near Iraq but it could have been discovered, inscribed with a bayonet on a bullet-scarred wall in Vietnam some 40 years ago. It is a not-so-subtle message that speaks to the gut of the frustration that troops on the line feel when they are away from home and under the stress of combat. (I know, I felt plenty of it myself) It's only natural for troops in that situation to want the world to stop and pay attention because "I could lose my life here sports fans, and many of us already have." So how can the folks back in the "world" carry on like there is nothing to worry about? It may seem that way sometimes but I don't think it's as bad as that statement suggests. Let me try to explain: Read the rest of this entry »

This could be your Marine! We invite our readers to submit their favorite Marines to be recognized here. Active duty, discharged or retired Marines that are important to you personally. Just submit a picture and a short bio and we will let you know what month to look for. We will add our own Marines from time to time, family, friends, friends of friends, etc. I have a retired Master Gunnery Sergeant that lives two doors down. He is quite a character and was a Drill Instructor at PI for 8 years. Any of you Marines out there that remember being called into the Duty Hut for a one-on-one with your DI will appreciate this: Bobby, as we will call him, converted his garage to a Duty Hut! I would swear I was in a quonset hut and I start to shake every time I go in there, thinking he is going to ask me, "WHAT'S YOUR FIFTH GENERAL ORDER, PUKE!" But seriously Bobby, thanks for your inspiration, motivation and to always, "lead by example, Marine."