[Zaebal]

Stay strong! I learned the hard way not to share my eating plan with friends or family--most took it as a challenge to make me fail. There is now distance between those people and me as I know they do not have my best interest at heart, even unintentionally. First round was successful largely because I was almost completely alone for the first 3 weeks and no one was around to sabotage as in the past. Round 2, the masses descended, telling me one piece of cake won't hurt, don't deny yourself, it's all about portions, etc. That round completely failed--I hate to admit but I really need to feel supported by the people I support. Round 3 was fabulous! My college-aged daughter slammed someone who was insisting I partake of something off protocol or else I was "being rude." She said, "Please don't do that! My mom is on a restricted diet on the advice of her doctor and I know she appreciates her real friends supporting her to make sure's gonna be okay." Wow, that did the trick! Ever since, whenever I get flack, I just say, "Oh, I'd love a scoop of that cream-cheese-whipped-topping-Oreo-and-ice cream cake but I'm on a restricted diet at the moment." It's funny how the word RESTRICTED immediately overrides MY frivolous dietary decisions with the impression that a higher medical authority has made this decision and trumps everyone else. It takes the fight right out of the conversation.