Greetings!

By way of introduction, I am Wendi's (along with several other people represented in this competion) Aunt Laureli.

I am very excited about this opportunity to join this blog, and rub shoulders (cyber-ly speaking) with all of you motivated, and physically superior people!

On the other hand, I need to humbly, honestly, and very gently break the news to each of you that,

"I am going to win," Laureli whispered shyly, looking at her toes. (Well, not quite yet.)

Well... good.

Now that little unpleasant fact is out in the open, and out of the way, maybe we can all get down to the exciting business of helping each other become more physically fit.

I love the trash talk. (Jenny, who knew you and Omar are so good at it?)

However, how about mixing the trash talk with a few tiny morsels of support?

For instance, about the third or fourth day of a diet without sugar, many people find their bodies going through a sort of withdrawal. At worst, they may feel a little dizzy or nauseated. They might even think they have a touch of the flu.

At best, many people start to really crave any kind of sweets, and may find it difficult to walk by the candy/ice cream/bakery aisles without salivating embarrassingly. (Sometimes, I have considered carrying an inflatable canoe and paddle, for just such occasions.)

My best trick for staying on my diet at such times is an easy, 3 ingredient recipe:

AUNT LAURELI'S INSTANT SUGAR FIX:

1 teaspoon (or so) Jell-o POWDER (any flavor)
1 cup hot water
1 tablespoon cream (optional)

Pour the hot water into a mug, and add the Jell-o. Stir to dissolve. Then add cream if desired. Sip slowly.

It's warm, comforting, sweet, and instantly gives you the strength to easily turn up your nose at any Cinnabonn Cinnamon Roll, Tillamook Mudslide Ice Cream, or even Costco's Key Lime Cheesecake.

So thank you again for your obliging acceptance of my future coronation as your "Queen of the Losers." I promise to be a gracious winner, and try not to brag about my success too often.

I am certainly looking forward to this little journey with all of you, mostly so I can see who comes in second place.

But for now, let us put aside this disheartening talk of "winning" and "losing" (I understand the disappointment you must feel right now,)
and instead bouy each other up by providing your very best tips for resisting temptation! (Resistance is not always futile!)

Aunt Laureli