Nowhere to go but up (uh, I mean down)

I'm back from a wonderful weekend of camping with friends at the Gorge Amphitheatre in Washington. Everything was wonderful, including the weather, the friends and the high-carb foods I bathed my appetite in. Let's just say that I'm starting from ground zero after this weekend.

This brings up one of the hardest things to accomplish when on a diet: saying "no" when you're enjoying yourself with those friends that aren't on a diet. And did I mention that these friends are all skinny-minnies, and drink Mountain Dew by the case-load and eat Pop Tarts and donut holes for breakfast? So, suffice to say, I joined them in their indulgences, to a degree. I had my share of donut holes and beer, but I didn't succumb to the levels of high-sugar soda pop and Pop Tarts for every meal. These are the most wonderful friends, all highly educated and professionals, but they definitely need to work on their eating habits.

Anyhow, I'm back on track starting today. My scale is out of batteries which is probably a blessing in disguise. The one good dieting choice I made this weekend was to reintroduce myself to one of the best low-carb snacking options I've discovered by bringing some veggies and (drum roll please) .... Toby's Tofu Pate (It's in most grocery stores) If you're one who fears tofu, I guarantee you a taste of this delicious dip will change your mind. As most of us on low-carb diets have found, raw veggies are a staple. I love dips, and am fond of spinach dip, guacamole, ranch dip, etc. But this tofu pate takes the cake. It is soooooo delicious (and 2 grams of carbs per serving, plus low in fat). Even my pop-tart and Mountain Dew friends eat it up regularly. It is hard to describe the consistency, some say it is like eating a very fresh egg salad. It comes in different flavors, my favorite being Jalepeno. All I can say is just try it on some carrots and cucumber slices. In fact, I'm going to go get some right now ...... More tomorrow.